Which of the following conditions can lead to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy?

Prepare for the Reproductive Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to confidently approach your exam.

An increased risk of ectopic pregnancy is significantly associated with prior pelvic infections. Conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can lead to scarring and adhesions in the fallopian tubes, which may hinder the passage of a fertilized egg to the uterus. When the normal pathway is obstructed due to these changes, the egg may implant in the fallopian tube rather than the uterine lining, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy.

Other choices, while relevant in different contexts, do not typically have the same direct association with ectopic pregnancies. For example, regular use of hormonal contraceptives can actually help to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy by preventing ovulation or fertilization altogether. Having multiple pregnancies may increase the complexity of a woman's reproductive history but is not a well-established risk factor for ectopic pregnancies on its own. Routine surgical procedures, depending on the type, might carry some risk factors but are not broadly implicated in the way that prior pelvic infections are. Thus, the most significant link to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy is through the history of pelvic infections.

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