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Objective: To compare the frequency of ectopic pregnancies (EP) in women hospitalized yearly in relation to IUD insertions and number of live births, evaluating possible associated variables and characteristics of diagnosis and treatment., Methods: In a cohort cross-sectional study, data was obtained from 151 women with EP hospitalized between 2000 and 2004, comparing the number of EP with that of live births and IUD insertions, annually. Variables studied were: age, schooling, marital status, current use and history of previous IUD use, history of abortions, infertility and EP, treatment and surgery performed, site of insertion, unruptured/ruptured EP, length of hospitalization, blood transfusion and complications. Analysis of frequencies was performed and multiple linear regression procedures were used for variables that could be associated with variation in the ratios studied each year. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee., Results: The frequency of EP did not increase in the five years studied. Only the percentage of women with previous EP was associated with prevalence of EP. Age of 80% of the women ranged from 20 to 34 years, 61% did not use contraceptive methods, 4.6% currently used and 10% had used IUD, 42% reported having had an abortion, 18% infertility and 15% a previous EP. Hospital admissions occurred in 69.5% of women with ruptured EP. Treatment was conservative for 20% and radical surgery for 80% of these women, 47% of women remained hospitalized for > 4 days. There were 20.5% of transfusions and five complications., Conclusion: Frequency of ectopic pregnancies remained unchanged in the period under study and only the percentage of women with previous EP was associated with frequency of EP.

Background: Brazil is a country with a high prevalence of tubal ligation, which is frequently performed at the time of delivery. In recent years, an increase in tubal reversal has been noticed, primarily among young women., Objectives: To study characteristics correlated with the procedure, determine frequency of intrapartum tubal ligation, measure patient satisfaction rates and tubal sterilization regret, in a sample of post-tubal patients., Methods: Three hundred and thirty-five women underwent tubal ligation. The variables studied were related to the procedure: age at tubal ligation, whether ligation was performed intrapartum (vaginal or cesarean section) or after an interval (other than the intrapartum and puerperal period), health service performing the sterilization, medical expenses paid for the procedure, reason stated for choosing the method and causes related to satisfaction/regret: desire to become pregnant after sterilization, search for treatment and performance of tubal ligation reversal. The women were divided into two groups, a group undergoing ligation in the intrapartum period and a second group ligated after an interval, to evaluate the association between variables by using Fisher's exact test and chi-squared calculation with Yates' correction. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institution., Results: There was a predominance of Caucasian women over 35 years of age, married, and with a low level of education of which 43.5% had undergone sterilization before 30 years of age. Two hundred and forty-five women underwent intrapartum tubal ligation, 91.2% of them had cesarean delivery and 44.6% vaginal delivery. In both groups undergoing intrapartum tubal ligation and ligation after an interval, 82.0% and 80.8% reported satisfaction with the method. Although 14.6% expressed a desire to become pregnant at some time after sterilization, consultation regarding sterility occurred in 3.4% and 2.3%, respectively, and one woman underwent tubal reversal. The most frequent reasons for choosing the method were satisfaction with the number of offspring (35.5% and 46.7%) and medical indication (41.6% and 32.2%), respectively., Conclusion: The incidence of intrapartum tubal ligation was higher when the last delivery had been a cesarean section. No difference was detected among the groups regarding rates of satisfaction and regret after performance of the sterilization procedure.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of women with ectopic pregnancy submitted to surgical treatment at the HMCP from 1995 to 2000; as well as to evaluate some characteristics of these women and the treatment performed., Methods: The study was retrospective. Data was obtained from medical register of women submitted to laparotomy with the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Variables studied were: patient's age, place of birth and occupation, status of ectopic pregnancy (with or without rupture), type of surgery, complications and duration of hospital stay. Data was analyzed in a descriptive way, followed by logistic regression analysis., Results: Ninety six cases were studied. Age of the majority of women (65%) ranged from 25 to 35 years; 6% were adolescents. Of all patients 30% were employed. Distribution according to status of pregnancy: the study showed that 66% presented rupture; 79% of the patients were submitted to salpingectomy with or without ooforectomy., Complications: The most frequent complication was acute anemia, including one death due to DIVC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), and 12% of the patients had to receive blood transfusion. The average time of hospital stay was of 3.63 days (SD+/-0.81). Prevalence of ectopic pregnancies did not change during the period of study and was responsible for 11.2% of the total number of laparotomies., Conclusions: For the period of this study, the number of women submitted to laparotomy due to ectopic pregnancy remained quite high and unchanged For control, this situation requires preventive measures at different levels. Ectopic pregnancy is a severe pathology and induces high rates of morbidity. It remains a challenge for gynecologists.