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Summary
The incidence of ectopic pregnancy in Australia appears to have doubled between 1971 and 1980. This trend mirrors rising rates of venereal disease and pelvic inflammatory disease in women.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Ectopic pregnancy poses significant risks to maternal health.
- Understanding trends in ectopic pregnancy incidence is crucial for public health.
- Previous data suggested potential increases in ectopic pregnancy rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine trends in ectopic pregnancy incidence in Australia.
- To investigate potential contributing factors to observed changes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Queensland Hospital Morbidity Collection.
- Comparison of trends across different Australian regions.
- Review of potential biases in data collection.
Main Results:
- Ectopic pregnancy incidence, as a proportion of total births, appeared to double in Queensland between 1971 and 1980.
- Similar upward trends were observed in two other Australian regions.
- Notifications for venereal disease and hospital admissions for pelvic inflammatory disease showed analogous increases in Queensland.
Conclusions:
- The observed doubling of ectopic pregnancy incidence is likely a genuine trend.
- Rising rates of sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease may be contributing factors.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore causal links.