In August 2023, Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence + the Machine, experienced a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy that nearly claimed her life.
Ectopy pregnancy is condition, where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, led to the rupture of her fallopian tube and severe internal bleeding. Welch credits the swift actions of her doctor with saving her life, highlighting the importance of immediate medical intervention in such critical health emergencies.
Despite the severity of her condition, Welch continued to perform, even while experiencing pain during a festival appearance. She later described the experience as stepping through a door "full of women, screaming," and said the ordeal was both physically and emotionally wrenching in an interview given to The Guardian.
The incident profoundly influenced her upcoming album, "Everybody Scream," described as her most raw and furious work, set to release on Halloween. Welch reflects on the pressures female artists face compared to male counterparts, her own addiction and mental health battles, and how the trauma of the pregnancy loss made her feel unsupported by the industry.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. This condition is a medical emergency, as a ruptured ectopic pregnancy can cause severe bleeding, infection, and sometimes, death. In the United States, approximately 1% to 2% of pregnancies are affected by ectopic pregnancy, and it accounts for about 2.7% of pregnancy-related deaths. 1
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can include abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, dizziness, and weakness. If the fallopian tube ruptures, the pain and bleeding could be severe enough to cause additional symptoms, including fainting and low blood pressure.
Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include pelvic inflammatory disease, smoking, prior ectopic pregnancy, fallopian tube surgery, and infertility treatments.
Reference
1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. “Ectopic Pregnancy.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK539860/.
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