Ectopic gestation following emergency contraceptive pill administration.

Author(s): Nielsen CL, Miller L

Affiliation(s): University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.

Publication date & source: 2000-11, Contraception., 62(5):275-6.

Publication type: Case Reports

Emergency contraceptive pill prescription following rape is common. We report a case of ectopic gestation after emergency contraceptive pill failure and review the literature on this rare complication. A 26-year-old woman with a normal menstrual period 2 weeks before was administered an emergency contraceptive pill 8 hours after a single sexual assault. The assault was her only sexual activity before and after the emergency contraceptive pill use. Forty-six days following the assault, the patient presented with a right ampullary tubal pregnancy of 59 days gestation and underwent emergent surgery for ectopic gestation. To prevent a delay in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, we recommend that providers and the package insert advise women, that ectopic gestation can occur with emergency contraceptive pill failure.