Ectopic pregnancy deaths rise amid U.S. abortion restrictions

An analysis by ProPublica reveals a significant spike in deaths related to ectopic pregnancies in the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that nearly 200 women died from the condition between 2020 and 2025, compared to approximately 100 deaths in the preceding six-year period.

While the surge began during the COVID-19 pandemic, the death rate has continued to climb even as other pregnancy-related deaths subsided. Experts suggest that state-level abortion bans have contributed to these fatalities by causing documented delays in medical care. In states with restrictive laws, medical providers may hesitate to treat ectopic pregnancies due to fears of criminal penalties, often waiting for an ‘ironclad diagnosis’ before intervening.

Because ectopic pregnancies are non-viable and often require termination to prevent organ rupture and catastrophic bleeding, the legal uncertainty surrounding abortion services has created life-threatening delays. Patients in states like Texas and Oklahoma have reported being denied or delayed treatment at multiple hospitals, with some seeking care in states where abortion remains legal.