Is ectopic pregnancy the leading cause of women's infertility?

[lpn2rnstudent, LPN, RN]

I took an exam today and there was a true false question worded something like 'ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death and the leading cause of infertility'.

I chose false.

I got the question wrong.

[jojotoo, RN]

I would have guesssed PID.

[TiredMD]

I took an exam today and there was a true false question worded something like 'ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death and the leading cause of infertility'.

I chose false.

I got the question wrong.

Really? Bizarre.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20070315/849.html

Causes of Female Infertility:

1 - Ovulation Disorders (40%)

2 - Tubal Factors (30%)

3 - Endometriosis (15%)

4 - Other (10%)

5 - Uterine/Cervical Factors (3%)

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I would say an ovulatory disfunction is the leading reason.

But, ectopic may be the leading cause of maternal death, but also the loss of a fallopian tube, which increases your risk for infertility.

[lpn2rnstudent, LPN, RN]

Really? Bizarre.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20070315/849.html

Causes of Female Infertility:

1 - Ovulation Disorders (40%)

2 - Tubal Factors (30%)

3 - Endometriosis (15%)

4 - Other (10%)

5 - Uterine/Cervical Factors (3%)

Thanks.

I have been searching for a credible source for quite some time. No sooner did I post this thread and I found one!

[bigmona]

i have read polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is the leading cause of female infertility.

[future L&Dnurse]

I don't know for certain what the leading cause of female infertilty is, although my guess would be some form of ovulatory disorder such as PCOS, but I do know that ectopic pregnancy is not it.

BUT, the question also asked about maternal death, so you need to look at both. An undetected ectopic that ruptures the tube can kill a woman. So if you're looking for something that is the leading cause of maternal death AND infertility, then ectopic pregnancy is very likely it. The question is not worded very well, though. I probably would have gotten it wrong too, honestly!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

That's an ovulatory disfunction!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

i wouldn't think ectopic pregnancy would fall under the ovulatory dysfunction catagory. the ovary functioned as it was supposed to. it did exactly what its supposed to do, it released a mature egg, which was fertilized. now just because the egg didn't implant where its supposed to doesn't make the ovary the problem.

the question stated "ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death and the leading cause of women's infertility"? it is neither. the answer should be false

it isn't the leading cause of infertility (ovulatory dysfunction is by 40%) incorrect implantation of the egg isn't an ovulatory problem. and from what i'm finding online ectopic pregnancy is one of the causes but its not the leading cause. i recall our maternal health lecture that violence/abuse/murder were among the top causes. according to the who here's the breakdown

table 5. causes of maternal death in developed countries [color=#ffffff]morbidity

[color=#ffffff]percentage

other direct causes of deaths 21.3 hypertensive disorders16.1embolism 14.9other indirect causes of deaths14.4 haemorrhage 13.4 abortion 8.2 ectopic pregnancy 4.9 unclassified deaths 4.89. sepsis/infection 2.1 hiv/aids 0.0

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Ok this is an older article (Feb 2000) but its stating that ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester. (same site as TiredMd's but an older article than his)

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000215/1080.html

but its still not the leading cause of infertility.

In order for your question to be true, both parts of it must be true. If we use my article where it says it is the leading cause of maternal death than that part of the question is TRUE

BUT!

The second part says it is the leading cause of infertiltity which is FALSE, no where can i find that any site is claiming ectopic pregnancy is THE leading cause of infertility.

This is a question I would challange with the teacher. I'd really like to know the rational for the TRUE answer.

[vashtee, RN]

"pid is the leading cause of infertility. "a single episode of pid results in infertility in 13% of women."[1] this rate of infertility increases with each infection."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/pelvic_inflammatory_disease

the world may never know. :)

[lpn2rnstudent, LPN, RN]

Update to the thread yesterday about a test question on my OB exam. The question was a True or False question that said:

Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death and the leading cause of female infertility.

I chose false. I got the question wrong.

I emailed my instructor with data proving that ectopic pregnancy is not the leading cause of infertility, and with data out of my textbook that states that ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester, but not the leading cause of maternal death.

She still states that I am wrong. Her rationale is that my data conflicts with the textbook. My textbook states that ectopic pregnancy is a leading cause of infertility in women, but not the leading cause. My textbook states that ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of death in the first trimester, but not the leading cause of maternal deaths.

*sigh*

It is very difficult for me to just accept this. I am concerned that if I proceed to the next level to dispute this I will just make things harder for myself in the long run. It is two lousy points, but two points that I feel I deserve.

Any advice?