Ectopic pregnancy is now one of the leading causes of maternal death in the United States.
In 1984 and 1985, both the numbers and rates of ectopic pregnancy increased. Since the rate of ectopic pregnancy remained unchanged for white women, the rate increase appears to be driven by the increasing rate among women of black and other races. Heightened awareness of the condition and improved technology may also be factors resulting in the decreased case-fatality rate. The condition takes its toll in fetal loss, in the number of work days lost during hospitalization and recuperation of young women who are primarily healthy, and in the financial burden of caring for these women. This surveillance report includes data for 1984 and 1985.