Smoking Increases Ectopic Pregnancy Risk
Smoking increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tubes and occasionally in the ovaries. A University of Edinburgh research team has reported that smokers are four times likely to develop ectopic pregnancy than non-smokers.
According to the study, published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Pathology, female smokers have higher levels of PROKR1, a type of protein, in the fallopian tubes. Excess PROKR1 in the fallopian tubes impairs contraction of the muscles in the walls of the fallopian tubes. This prevents the fertilized egg from traveling into the womb, leading to ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy is one of the major causes of infertility in women. Besides terminating pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy might rupture the fallopian tubes.