Ectopic pregnancy deaths nearly doubled in the US, ProPublica analysis finds

Nearly 200 women in the United States died after ectopic pregnancies between 2020 and 2025, compared with about 100 in the previous six years, according to a ProPublica analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

The increase occurred nationwide but was steeper in states with strict abortion bans. ProPublica reported that experts could not establish that the bans caused the deaths, but said documented delays in care warranted investigation.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. It can cause fatal internal bleeding if treatment is delayed. Treatment may involve surgery or methotrexate, and ectopic pregnancies are almost never viable.

The report documented lawsuits and regulatory findings involving alleged delays or refusals of care in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. In Texas, hospital data showed that 310 more patients experienced substantial blood loss after an ectopic pregnancy in 2023–24 than in 2018–19, an increase of about 29 per cent.

ProPublica said the reasons for the national rise remain unknown. Potential factors include disruption to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, unequal maternal health outcomes, limited research and possible infections. Ectopic pregnancies are not comprehensively tracked through diagnosis data, limiting what can be established about individual cases.

Experts cited by ProPublica said more research is needed to determine the role of abortion restrictions and other factors. The report said the increase has received little scrutiny despite data indicating a potentially preventable rise in deaths.