Pattern of Clinical Presentations and Risk Factors of Ectopic Pregnancy in Women Presenting to Tertiary Care Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.2505Keywords:
Abdominal Pain, Clinical Presentation, Ectopic Pregnancy, Pelvic Infection, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Status, Vaginal Bleeding.Abstract
Background: Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized ovum implants outside the uterine cavity, most commonly within the fallopian tube. It remains a serious cause of early maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in developing regions where delayed diagnosis is frequent. Various factors such as infection, previous pelvic surgery, miscarriage, and subfertility can damage the tubes and increase the chance of extra-uterine implantation. Objective: To determine the pattern of clinical presentations and risk factors of ectopic pregnancy in women presenting to tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was carried out from August 2024 to February 2025 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Methodology: Sixty women aged 18–40 years with confirmed ectopic pregnancy were included. Demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, and predisposing factors were recorded. Data were analyzed for mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The mean age was 27.23 ± 4.59 years. Most patients belonged to the lower socioeconomic class (60.0%), were illiterate (80.0%), and lived in rural areas (51.7%). Vaginal bleeding was observed in 28.3%, abdominal pain in 8.3%, and shock in 10.0%, while 53.3% presented without obvious symptoms. The most common risk factor was infection (33.3%), followed by previous surgery (15.0%), subfertility (11.7%), and miscarriage (10.0%). Conclusion: Ectopic pregnancy is more common among young women from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Pelvic infection and surgical history are major contributing factors.
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