Ectopic pregnancy following tubal sterilization surgery

In a consecutive study of 100 women with the surgical diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy confirmed by histologic examination, 7 women were found to have had prior tubal sterilization surgery. In 3 of these cases the sterilization procedure was bilateral tubal fulguration. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy must be given careful consideration if patients conceive after a tubal sterilization procedure of any type.