Complications after miscarriage, abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy
Also known as: Complications following abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes, and it cannot result in a healthy pregnancy. If the pregnancy continues, the fallopian tube can burst and cause life-threatening internal bleeding that requires immediate surgery. Early signs can include light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain, while emergency symptoms requiring immediate medical care include abdominal pain, shoulder pain, vaginal bleeding, and feeling dizzy or faint. Treatment involves using medicine or surgery to remove the ectopic tissue to prevent damage to organs.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
The uterus, or womb, is the place where a fetus grows during pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg grows in the wrong place outside the uterus. It usually occurs in the fallopian tubes. These tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy can occur in the ovaries, abdominal cavity, or the lower part of the uterus (cervix).
Ectopic pregnancies can't end in a healthy pregnancy because the egg cannot grow. If the pregnancy continues, the fallopian tube can burst. This can cause internal bleeding, which can be a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate surgery.
What increases my risk of an ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy often happens because there is a problem with your fallopian tubes. But sometimes it's not clear why an ectopic pregnancy happens.
Factors that may increase your risk for an ectopic pregnancy can include:
- Previous ectopic pregnancy
- Prior pelvic, abdominal, or fallopian tube surgery
- Certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Endometriosis
- Becoming pregnant while using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control
- Becoming pregnant after a tubal ligation
Other factors that may increase your risk can include:
- Smoking
- Being older than age 35
- Infertility treatments
What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?
You may not notice any symptoms at first. Or you may have some of the usual signs of pregnancy such as a missed period, breast tenderness, or nausea.
Early signs of an ectopic pregnancy may be light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Ectopic pregnancy can be a medical emergency. Get medical care right away if you have these signs:
- Abdominal (belly) pain
- Shoulder pain
- Vaginal bleeding
- Feeling dizzy or faint
How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?
An ectopic pregnancy can't be diagnosed without blood tests and an ultrasound. Your health care provider will do a pregnancy test to confirm that you're pregnant. They may do a pelvic exam to check for areas of pain, tenderness, or a mass.
What is the treatment for an ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy needs treatment to stop any damage to your organs. Your provider will use medicine or surgery to take out the ectopic tissue.
Losing a pregnancy can be devastating. An ectopic pregnancy is like a miscarriage, but it must be treated to prevent problems. People cope with grief in different ways. It may be helpful to discuss your feelings with your provider or a counselor. Many women who have had ectopic pregnancies go on to have healthy pregnancies later.
Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
Next to it in ICD-10
- O03Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion)
- O04Induced abortion, incomplete, with other or unspecified complications
- O07Other or unspecified failed attempted abortion, without complication
- O30Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
- O31Complications of multiple pregnancy
- O47False labour (Braxton Hicks contractions)
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Complications after miscarriage, abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy?
O08 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Complications after miscarriage, abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy?
JA05.Z: Complications following abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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