Continuing increase in the number of extrauterine pregnancies
Hoogendoorn, D.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 128(27): 1279-1281
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 6462276 Document Number: 425552
The rate of extrauterine pregnancies is continuing to increase. The number of women admitted to hospitals with extrauterine gravidity began increasing in the early 1970s. As a rule, the IUD prevents the fertilized egg from lodging in the uterus, but not its unexpected lodging outside of the uterus. In 1977, 6% of 2421 women aged 18-37 were IUD users; in 1982, 14% out of 2926 used an IUD. Pill users decreased from 64 to 45%. The percentage of marriages in which one or both partners were sterilized has increased, with the same percentage between the ages of 15-28. Hospital admission due to extrauterine pregnancy increased because of the following factors: increased IUD use, salpingitis, and unsuccessful sterilization. The number of sterilizations has decreased, although extrauterine pregnancies have not. The progestegen-only pill is hardly used anymore and thus should not be an influencing factor. IUD use and the increasing frequency of salpingitis are regarded as the main causes for the increase in extrauterine pregnancies.