Covid 19 infections and ectopic pregnancy

Updated February 2023

Although the rates of Covid infections and hospital admissions appear to be falling in the United Kingdom there is no place for complacency.

There are still issues about GP appointments and that many are virtual either telephone or zoom. As ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose even with a face to face consultation, if you think that you may have an ectopic pregnancy you should be seen face to face without delay this maybe at an early pregnancy assessment unit or  at the accident and emergency unit at the hospital.

There is no clinical or scientific evidence that Covid-19, or any of its variants, can cause ectopic pregnancy. Furthermore any form of management including drug treatment with methotrexate or laparoscopic surgery does not put you at an increased risk of developing Covid-19 and there is no need to self isolate after treatment.

Whilst Covid restrictions have changed, things are not back to pre-pandemic activity in the health service. The number of face-to-face consultations with health care professionals is still lower than the pre-pandemic. Many general practitioners are now offering phone consultation rather than face to face meeting. This maybe acceptable in many conditions, but not in women who may have an ectopic pregnancy, as it can be difficult to diagnose and failure to do so can have devastating consequences. This could mean that those patients with an ectopic pregnancy are presenting later with serious symptoms which may result in more women requiring hospital admission and surgery rather than medical management. Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency and women need to be carefully assessed including pulse blood pressure and usually abdominal palpation.

Due to the serious condition women should seek help without delay and the Covid pandemic should in no way change this. Should face to face consultation not be possible with a health care professional, attendance at an early pregnancy assessment unit or accident and emergency unit is vital. If you think you may have an ectopic pregnancy, please don’t delay in booking a face-to-face appointment. Please read the below advice and visit our home page (and click on the link “Have You An Ectopic Pregnancy?”) for guidance on what to do if you may have an ectopic pregnancy.