[Heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization]

Abstract

Until December 1991, 1171 pregnancies had been established in Denmark after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Thirteen of these pregnancies were heterotopic (1.1%). Three patients were asymptomatic, four patients presented with an acute abdomen, five had abdominal pain and only two patients had vaginal bleeding. In five cases the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy was made by ultrasound, while eight cases were diagnosed at the time of surgery. Eleven patients were treated in the first trimester, while two patients were treated at 23 and 38 weeks of gestation, respectively. In nine of the thirteen cases the intrauterine pregnancy resulted in term delivery. Heterotopic pregnancy occurred in 1% of pregnancies following IVF-ET. Abdominal pain was the predominant symptom, while vaginal bleeding was absent in the majority of women. In most cases removal of the ectopic gestation allowed the intrauterine pregnancy to proceed until term.