BACKGROUND: Heterotopic pregnancy is the simultaneous occurrence of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. With an incidence reported to be between 1:8,000 and 1:30,000 pregnancies, heterotopic pregnancy is a rare entity. However, the increasing use of assisted reproductive techniques has contributed to the increasing incidence of heterotopic pregnancy during the past years. CASE: This is a rare case of a hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in a patient with a heterotopic pregnancy six months after successful medical management of tubal ectopic pregnancy. The heterotopic pregnancy was managed expectantly with successful pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSION: Heterotopic pregnancy should always be considered, especially in patients with prior history of ectopic pregnancy and those undergoing assisted reproduction. Its treatment is a challenge as serial beta-hCG is not useful in diagnosis or follow-up, and medical management with methotrexate is contraindicated with an intrauterine pregnancy. Heterotopic pregnancies in select cases can be managed expectantly with strict monitoring and serial ultrasounds, and the viable intrauterine pregnancy can be saved.
BACKGROUND: Heterotopic pregnancy is the simultaneous occurrence of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. With an incidence reported to be between 1:8,000 and 1:30,000 pregnancies, heterotopic pregnancy is a rare entity. However, the increasing use of assisted reproductive techniques has contributed to the increasing incidence of heterotopic pregnancy during the past years. CASE: This is a rare case of a hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in a patient with a heterotopic pregnancy six months after successful medical management of tubal ectopic pregnancy. The heterotopic pregnancy was managed expectantly with successful pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSION: Heterotopic pregnancy should always be considered, especially in patients with prior history of ectopic pregnancy and those undergoing assisted reproduction. Its treatment is a challenge as serial beta-hCG is not useful in diagnosis or follow-up, and medical management with methotrexate is contraindicated with an intrauterine pregnancy. Heterotopic pregnancies in select cases can be managed expectantly with strict monitoring and serial ultrasounds, and the viable intrauterine pregnancy can be saved.