Comprehensive bibliometric analysis of assisted reproduction–related ectopic pregnancy
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has transformed infertility treatment but is associated with a 2–5-fold increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (EP) compared with natural conception. Despite accumulating evidence, a comprehensive bibliometric evaluation of ART-related EP (ART-EP) research—encompassing its evolution, knowledge gaps, and collaboration patterns—remains lacking. This study aimed to systematically map the ART-EP research landscape, identify critical gaps, and characterize global collaborative networks in alignment with the evidence-based optimization goals of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Methods: Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (1982–2024), yielding 1,304 eligible articles. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R package bibliometrix to assess temporal trends, geographic distribution, authorship and institutional networks, journal impact, and keyword co-occurrence, thereby identifying research hotspots and knowledge diffusion pathways. Results: ART-EP publications increased markedly after 2011, peaking between 2019 and 2022. China ( n = 335, 25.7%) and the United States (U.S., n = 187, 14.3%) were the leading contributors, forming four principal collaboration clusters: U.S.-centered, China-centered, Central European–Nordic, and transatlantic Indo-European networks. Shanghai Jiao Tong University ( n = 31) and Shandong University ( n = 26) were the most productive institutions. Core journals, including Fertility and Sterility and Human Reproduction , dominated the field, while imaging and clinical journals facilitated multidisciplinary advances in diagnosis. Citation burst analysis underscored the reduced EP risk associated with frozen–thawed embryo transfer (burst strength 10.08, since 2014) and the predictive role of endometrial thickness (burst strength 5.05, since 2020). Two major keyword clusters emerged: therapeutic strategies (e.g., methotrexate) and reproductive outcomes (e.g., live birth). Recent research trends have focused on recurrent implantation failure (burst strength 3.09, since 2022) and fresh embryo transfer (burst strength 5.53, since 2021). Conclusions: ART-EP research primarily focuses on embryo migration, donor gametes, and transfer techniques, with key risk factors including tubal pathology and procedural variables. Emerging priorities include protocol optimization and deeper mechanistic insights into EP pathogenesis. These findings provide a comprehensive evidence base to inform clinical decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen international collaboration, ultimately improving the safety, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency of ART.
Authors: Su Mao, Yu-Xin Dai
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417441982