The definition of the word ectopic is “an abnormal place or position.” An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. More than 90% of ectopic pregnancies occur within a fallopian tube. The danger of the fertilized egg implanting in a fallopian tube is that the tube cannot expand like the uterus to accommodate the growing embryo, so it is in danger of bursting.
Ectopic pregnancies are more common than you’d think. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, they occur in about 1 out of every 50 pregnancies (20 out of 1,000).