Incidence of ectopic pregnancy. First results of a population-based register in France.

A population-based register of ectopic pregnancy was established in 1992 for two French departments, with the primary aim of monitoring the trend in ectopic pregnancy over a prolonged period. In this paper, data collected during the first year of registration (1992) are analysed. The rate of ectopic pregnancy was 20.2 per 1000 live births, 15.8 per 1000 reported pregnancies and 9.5 per 10,000 women aged 15-44 years. The ectopic pregnancy rate per 1000 live births increased steeply after the age of 30 years and especially after the age of 35 years, whereas rates per 10,000 women of reproductive age steadily increased until the age of 35 years and decreased thereafter. The rates of ectopic pregnancy were lower in spring and summer than autumn and winter. These results are discussed and comparisons with similar studies conducted in the USA and Scandinavia are attempted.