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Every month, females of reproductive age release an egg or ovum from one of their ovaries during the menstrual cycle. This egg travels from the ovary towards the womb via the fallopian tube, where it may or may not be fertilized by sperm.
The fallopian tubes are around 4 inches long and are lined with hair-like structures on the inside called cilia. These cilia move to push the fertilised egg along the fallopian tube in the direction of the womb where the egg can then bury into the wall of the womb (implantation) and develop further.
In an ectopic pregnancy, the implantation process occurs outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Since this space is not suitable for a baby to develop, the fertilized ovum does not grow into a baby. If not detected in time, an ectopic pregnancy can cause severe complications in the mother and can even kill her.
Normally, the cilia within the fallopian tube help propel the fertilized egg into the womb. If the fallopian tube has been damaged due to obstruction or blockage (due to pelvic inflammatory disease, for example) the fertilized ovum may never reach the womb, instead implanting and developing in the fallopian tube itself.
Risk factors and causes of ectopic pregnancy include: