According to research conducted at the University of Edinburgh, increased protein levels present in the fallopian tubes of female smokers may contribute to risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy, also commonly known as tubal pregnancy, occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted elsewhere than the womb, usually inside one of the fallopian tubes. About 30,000 women experience ectopic pregnancies each year in the United Kingdom.

Findings of this study indicate that female smokers may be as much as four times more likely to experience ectopic pregnancy as non-smokers. The chemical, cotinine, which is found in cigarettes, contributes to increased levels of a protein known as PROKR1. This protein can reduce the fallopian tube motility, preventing eggs from moving from the ovaries to the uterus.

Picture Credit : a11sus

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