Heterotopic pregnancy, simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine gestations, is a relatively rare conditon with an estimated incidence of 1 in 30,000 pregnancies in a natural cycle. But the incidence of heterotopic pregnancies has been increased because of rising incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic surgery, intrauterine device, the use of various ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, gamate intrafallopian insemination. The early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is very difficult. So there is a higher maternal morbidity, mortality and fetal loss. Thus careful pelvic examination, combined with serial beta hCG determinations and transvaginal sonography to evaluate the adnexal region are important. We experienced a case of 34-years-old multiparous women with heterotopic pregnancy in natual cycle confirmed by surgical removal of ruptured right tubal pregnancy and sonographic finding of the intrauterine pregnancy, which carried the intrauterine pregnancy to term delivery without complication at 39+5 weeks of gestation, and report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Early Diagnosis ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Fertilization* ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insemination ; Intrauterine Devices ; Mortality ; Ovulation Induction ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Ultrasonography

Over the last 20 years, the frequency of multiple pregnancy has increased mainly because of the introduction of exogenous pituitary gonadotropins in the treatment of infertility. Since the advent of assisted reproductive technology, the concern about ectopic implantation of embryos has increased dramatically and it continues to be a major complication of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Bilateral tubal pregnancy is the least common type of ectopic implantation of two embryos. Of all extrauterine pregnancies, 1:725~1:1580 are bilateral1,2. Simultaneous tubal pregnancies have been reported in natural cycles, recently, after ovulation induction, in-vitro fertilization2,3. The high incidence of ectopic pregnancy associated with IVF-ET continues to be a problem and frequencies of between 2.4 and 12.4% have been only a few reports of simultaneous bilateral tubal pregnancies following IVF-ET4. This paper describes a case of a simultaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy after IVF-ET in a 33 year old patient. The diagnosis was confirmed by diagnostic laparoscopy performed 25 days after embryo transfer(sixth week of gestation), which revealed bilateral tubal pregnancy. Bilateral salpingectomy was performed. With a review of the literature on this topic, diagnostic aspects and treatment options are discussed.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Fertilization* ; Gonadotropins, Pituitary ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Laparoscopy ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Salpingectomy

Some women may not be able to carry their own children even when capable of conceiving biological offspring. In-vitro fertilization and embryo-transfer (IVF-ET) through surrogacy can now make this possible for these women. Surrogacy however, is still considered unacceptable in the Philippines due to moral and legal issues. This article will explore the need and acceptability of surrogacy in this age of IVF-ET in a country where the prevailing social norms and religious values still disapprove of third-party assisted reproductive technology (ART). Medical indications that would benefit from gestational surrogacy were enumerated and briefly discussed. The differentiation between traditional and gestation surrogacy, as well as commercial and altruistic surrogacy were defined. IVF with gestational surrogacy is a feasible solution to a number of medical difficulties in the carrying of a gestation. Strictly regulating the practice and restricting its use only to cases with legitimate medical indications will prevent its misuse and exploitation. Moral issues, admittedly will still remain an issue particularly for commercial surrogacy. However, limiting these only to altruistic and gestational surrogacy in some cases may be an acceptable compromise.
Child ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

Ectopic pregnancy is a common medical problem that is difficult to diagnose and potentially may lead to significant mortality or morbidity. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is definitely increasing due to the rise in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pelvic surgery, intrauterine device (IUD), and assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Combined ectopic gestations are much rare and their true incidence is unknown. Multiple ectopic gestations may occur in a variety of locations. The majority involve one or both fallopian tubes. We report a case of combined tubal and cervical pregnancies, and discuss their management.
Embryo Transfer ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Incidence ; Intrauterine Devices ; Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

Although assisted reproductive technology is associated with higher rates of interstitial pregnancy and heterotopic pregnancy, heterotopic pregnancy after bilateral salpingectomy is still extremely rare. We report a case of heterotopic pregnancy after bilateral salpingectomy in an in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer patient, who underwent cornual resection by laparotomy due to ruptured cornual pregnancy. However, 3 days after surgery, the remaining intrauterine pregnancy miscarried, and a dilatation and curettage was performed.
Dilatation and Curettage ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Salpingectomy

Heterotopic pregnancy, simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is an extremely rare case. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy was about 1 to 30,000 pregnancies, but it has increased after wider use of assisted reproductive technology. The rising incidence presents a serious problem as the diagnosis of this potentially fatal condition is often missed. Careful pelvic examination combined with serial beta-hCG determinations, and transvaginal sonography to evaluate the adnexal region are necessary prerequisites for early diagnosis. We report a case of heterotopic pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET) with a brief review of literature.
Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gynecological Examination ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

We report 3 cases of successful pregnancies in women with a history of surgeries for gynecological malignancies and postoperative infertility, achieved by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. All the 3 patients had clinical pregnancies without cancer recurrence. In such cancer survivors with infertility, the ovarian reserve is severely impaired by cancer therapies and assisted reproductive techniques should be the primary option.
Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; surgery ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

Rapid progress has been made in the field of infertility since the first IVF (in vitro fertilization) baby was born in 1978. Controlled ovarian stimulation with FSH is currently the standard procedure for ovarian stimulation before follicular aspiration. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists have been used to prevent endogenous LH surge during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.The goal of controlled ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins is to obtain a large number of mature oocytes and thereby improve the likelihood of obtaining an adequate number of embryos for subsequent transfer. IVF was initially presented as a treatment for tubal factor infertility but was quickly utilized in other areas in the field of infertility, such as male factor infertility and even ovarian failure. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is a more recent approach for male factor treatment, which allows the sperm to be directly injected into the egg using micromanipulation. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be performed on embryos prior to the embryo transfer. The complications associated with the IVF program include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancies. The multiple pregnancies are directly related to the practice of transferring multiple embryos at embryo transfer. Each IVF clinic publishes its pregnancy rates. However, comparisons between clinics are difficult because the success rates vary depending on the distribution of underlying causes and age of the patients. The current take-home-baby rate is only 34.7%. In 2005, the Korean government enacted a law to regulate many aspects of IVF practice.
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Jurisprudence ; Male ; Micromanipulation ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Ovulation Induction ; Ovum ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pretreatment with transdermal estradiol (E₂) compared to oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) response in normal responders undergoing fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) cycles. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of normal responders undergoing fresh IVF-ET cycles who received pretreatment with transdermal E₂ versus OCPs prior to fresh IVF-ET. The total days of ovarian stimulation, total dosage of gonadotropins, total number of oocytes, and mature oocytes retrieved were noted. Pregnancy outcomes after ET were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 2,092 patients met the inclusion criteria: 1,057 and 1,035 patients in the transdermal E₂ and OCP groups, respectively. Patients in the OCP group had a longer duration of COS (10.7±1.63 days, p<0.01) than the E₂ group (9.92±1.94 days). Patients in the OCP group also required higher cumulative doses of gonadotropins (2,657.3±1,187.9 IU) than those in the E₂ group (2,550.1±1,270.2 IU, p=0.002). No statistically significant differences were found in the total and mature oocytes retrieved or in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage, and live birth between the groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that compared to OCPs, pretreatment with transdermal E₂ is associated with a shorter duration of ovarian stimulation and lower gonadotropin utilization, without compromising the oocyte yield or pregnancy outcomes in normal-responder patients undergoing fresh IVF.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cohort Studies ; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined ; Estradiol* ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Live Birth ; Oocytes ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Superovulation ; Transdermal Patch

OBJECTIVE: Assisted reproductive technology has been associated with an increase in multiple pregnancies. The most effective strategy for reducing multiple pregnancies is single embryo transfer. Beginning in October 2015, the National Supporting Program for Infertility in South Korea has limited the number of embryos that can be transferred per in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle depending on the patient's age. However, little is known regarding the effect of age and number of transferred embryos on the clinical outcomes of Korean patients. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the effect of the number of transferred blastocysts on clinical outcomes. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Fertility Center of CHA Gangnam Medical Center from January 2013 to December 2014. The clinical outcomes of 514 women who underwent the transfer of one or two blastocysts on day 5 after IVF and of 721 women who underwent the transfer of one or two vitrified-warmed blastocysts were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: For both fresh and vitrified-warmed cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth or ongoing pregnancy rate were not significantly different between patients who underwent elective single blastocyst transfer (eSBT) and patients who underwent double blastocyst transfer (DBT), regardless of age. However, the multiple pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the eSBT group than in the DBT group. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of eSBT and DBT were equivalent, but eSBT had a lower risk of multiple pregnancy and is, therefore, the best option.
Blastocyst* ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Single Embryo Transfer