Ezat Hajmolarezaei
Farzane Khoroushi - Assistant Professor of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Central Khorasan, Iran
Mahboubeh Haddad - Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Panahi - Faculty of Medicine, Emergency Department, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Azade Beiglarzadeh - Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Shohre Khatami - Internist, Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran

Cervical ectopic pregnancies (CEPs) are rare, comprising less than ۱% of ectopic pregnancies. Due to the rich cervical vascularity and the incompatibility of the cervix to hold an advancing pregnancy, there is a marked increase in the potential of hemorrhage following the CEP leading to mortality, morbidity, and infertility experienced by the implicated women. CEPs are more difficult to diagnose and get identified at later gestational ages. CEP is one of the rarest forms of ectopic pregnancies and most commonly it is a consequence of Assisted reproductive technology (ART); while definitive risk factors are not fully known. Possible risk factors include cervical and uterine anomalies, previous curettages or cesarean sections, smoking, tubal factor infertility, or In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Our analysis of literature in ۲۰۰ patients; while was restricted to case series retrospective studies, showed that a history of previous C-section, uterine curettage or D&C procedures, and history of using Assisted reproductive technology might be some potential risk factors. The increasing application of Hegar dilators was hypothesized as the cause of the rise in CEPs. Dilation and curettage (D&C) might also make the subject vulnerable to CEP development in the future. Previous D&C history could be a potential predisposing factor that is common among CEP patients. In this review, we critically reviewed these potential risk factors. In conclusion, the risk factors of CEP and its effect on fertility are also not studied properly. The rarity of these cases makes it difficult to predict as well if the risk of their recurrence is elevated.

Cervical Ectopic Pregnancy, Cervix, Risk Factor, Ectopic Pregnancy