Ectopic pregnancy deaths in the U.S. have nearly doubled in recent years, according to a ProPublica analysis of CDC data — and the problem is significantly worse in states with strict abortion bans. Ectopic pregnancies, where an embryo implants outside the uterus (most often in a fallopian tube), are almost never viable and require prompt termination to prevent life-threatening rupture and hemorrhage. Maternal health experts widely agree these deaths should be preventable.

The analysis reveals that while the initial spike coincided with COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, deaths have continued to climb even as hospital systems stabilized — with the sharpest increases in abortion-ban states. Physicians in those states report hesitating to treat ectopic pregnancies without an ironclad ultrasound confirmation, fearing criminal penalties. But early ectopic pregnancies are often invisible on ultrasound, meaning delays can stretch days or weeks — dangerously increasing rupture risk. Patient accounts from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas describe being turned away from multiple ERs before finally receiving care.

By the Numbers:

• ~200 ectopic pregnancy deaths occurred from 2020–2025, vs. ~100 in the prior 6 years
• Texas saw 310 additional cases of significant blood loss after ectopic pregnancy in 2023–2024 vs. 2018–2019 — a 29% increase
• The CDC's Division of Reproductive Health lost most of its ~100 employees under the Trump administration
• The U.K. identified a similar doubling of ectopic deaths in 2021–2022 and implemented national policy reforms within two years

Why it matters: Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of first-trimester maternal death, yet it remains chronically underresearched and underreported. With federal research capacity significantly reduced and abortion-ban states not investigating whether their laws contribute to maternal deaths, experts warn the U.S. is losing the infrastructure needed to understand — let alone reverse — this deadly trend.