An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants in tissue outside of the uterus, and the placenta and fetus begin to develop there. The most common site is within a fallopian tube; however, ectopic pregnancies can occur in the ovary, the abdomen, and the lower portion of the uterus (the cervix).
Review Date:
9/4/2009
Reviewed By:
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
