Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2016 Jul;59(4):316-318. 10.5468/ogs.2016.59.4.316.

Heterotopic pregnancy after a single embryo transfer

• Lee JS
• Cha HH
• Han AR
• Lee SG
• Seong WJ

• KMID: 2329054
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2016.59.4.316

Abstract

Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare and life-threatening condition which is defined as coexistent intrauterine and ectopic gestation. The risk of ectopic and heterotopic pregnancy is increasing due to the increased risk of multiple pregnancies with the aid of assisted reproductive technologies. However, it hardly happens in the setting of single embryo transfer, since single embryo transfer significantly reduces the incidence of multiple pregnancies. Surprisingly, we experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy after a single embryo transfer caused by coincidental natural pregnancy during assisted reproductive technologies. An infertile woman who underwent, during her natural cycle, transfer of a single embryo that had been cryopreserved for 3 years was found to be heterotopically pregnant. After an early and successful management with laparoscopic right salpingectomy, she finally reached at full-term vaginal delivery.

Keyword

Assisted reproductive techniques; Heterotopic pregnancy; Single embryo transfer

MeSH Terms

Embryonic Structures
Female
Humans
Incidence
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Heterotopic*
Pregnancy, Multiple
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
Salpingectomy
Single Embryo Transfer*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Ultrasonography revealed an intrauterine gestational sac.

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  Fig. 2 Ultrasonography revealed a dilated tubal structure mimicking acute appendicitis.

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