Can an ectopic pregnancy be prevented?

The best way to prevent an ectopic pregnancy is to practice safe sex methods using condoms and to not get a sexually transmitted infection.The most common cause of an ectopic pregnancy is an abnormality of the fallopian tubes.  The fallopian tubes can be damaged by either abdominal or pelvic infections or vaginal infections that extend up through the cervix and uterus and into the fallopian tubes.  Sexually transmitted infections can cause damage to the fallopian tubes, and this is a very common cause of future ectopic pregnancies.

You cannot prevent ectopic pregnancy, but you can prevent serious complications with early diagnosis and treatment. If you have one or more risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, you and your doctor can closely monitor your first weeks of a pregnancy.

If you smoke, quit to lower your risk of ectopic pregnancy. Women who smoke or who used to smoke have higher rates of ectopic pregnancy. The more you now smoke, the higher your risk is.

Using safe sex practices, such as using a condom every time you have sex helps protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a common cause of scar tissue in the fallopian tubes, which can cause ectopic pregnancy.