Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy

The estimated prevalence of ectopic pregnancy is 1-2% worldwide. In the United Kingdom nearly 12 000 ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed each year, which gives a prevalence of 1.1%. Although death after ectopic pregnancy is rare, the burden of disease is high owing to the cost of diagnostic tests and expensive treatment. Serious adverse outcomes in ectopic pregnancies are typically caused by delayed diagnosis; this highlights the need for primary care and secondary care health professionals to be familiar with the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, its clinical symptoms, and the local facilities that provide care for women with early pregnancy problems. In recent years it has become more common to treat women with ectopic pregnancy conservatively in the outpatient setting. General practitioners increasingly advise women on different management options and support them during follow-up.