Ectopic pregnancy is a condition that affects about 1% of pregnancies. In a normal pregnancy, an egg is fertilised by sperm in a fallopian tube (the tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb). The fertilised egg moves into the womb, and implants itself in the womb lining, where it grows and develops. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg is implanted outside the womb.
Over 95% of ectopic pregnancies occur in a fallopian tube, which is known as a tubular pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies can also occur in an ovary, in the abdominal space, or in the cervix (neck of the womb).
Left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can be fatal. It can split (rupture) the fallopian tube causing internal, abdominal bleeding which can lead to life-threatening levels of blood loss.
However, the number of ectopic pregnancies that result in death is very small. For example, during 2000-2002, there were 31,000 ectopic pregnancies in the UK. Out of these, only 11 (0.035%) resulted in death.