Since decades the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has risen in most western countries including four to five folded increased rates, suggesting an "epidemic". Increasing incidences of ectopic pregnancy was reported in Sweden until 1988 and 1989 when a peak of 17.3 cases of ectopic pregnancy/10,000 women in fertile age was registered. Between 1990 and 1991 the incidence decreased from 16.8 to 14.9 cases of ectopic pregnancy/10,000 women. The mortality in Sweden 1985-1991 was 0.15/1000 (3 deaths in 20,486 cases of ectopic pregnancy), the lowest case-fatality rate ever reported.