Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors for ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a study among women who conceived after IVF treatment and evaluated the possible risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. The parameters evaluated were demographics of the patients, cause of infertility, and risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, including tubal infertility and previous ectopic pregnancy.

RESULTS

Of 365 women, 18 women had an ectopic pregnancy and 347 others had an intrauterine pregnancy (control group). The incidence of IVF ectopic pregnancy was 4.9%. The mean age was 34.2 ± 1.4 years in the ectopic group and 34.3 ± 0.2 years in the control group; mean BMI was 23.8 ± 1.0 in the ectopic group and 24.5 ± 0.9 in the control group. Previous ectopic pregnancy, previous IVF ectopic pregnancy, or smoking did not affect the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy in this population. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that tubal factor infertility and previous surgery for endometriosis were risk factors for IVF ectopic pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Tubal factor infertility and previous surgery for endometriosis appear to be risk factors for ectopic pregnancy after IVF treatment. Other factors that usually contribute to spontaneous ectopic pregnancy, including previous ectopic pregnancy, pelvic infection, and smoking, were not risk factors for IVF ectopic pregnancy in our study.