BACKGROUND: Conservative treatment of ectopic pregnancy using methotrexate for medical management has been considered an alternative to surgical intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To present and discuss cases of ectopic pregnancies seen in our institution from 2007 to 2010 successfully treated using single dose methotrexate.

METHODS: All patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy seen in our institution from 2007 to 2010 who met our selection criteria for medical treatment were included in the study. Cases were included only when the diagnosis was made either on serial βhCG or with ultrasonographic features of an unruptured ectopic pregnancy: 1)an empty uterine cavity, 2) adnexal mass

RESULTS: All of the nine cases of unruptured ectopic pregnancies treated using 50mg single dose intramuscular methotrexate were successfully resolved without need for surgical intervention. There was a significant reduction in serum βhCG after the single dose of treatment with minimal side effects. Complete βhCG resolution was achieved (100% success rate) in all medically treated cases with a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 35 days of serial βhCG monitoring.

CONCLUSION: Conservative management using single dose methotrexate is a safe and effective option to surgical intervention in the treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancies. However,it is reserved for patients that satisfy the strict criteria for medical treatment. This mode of treatment offers minimal side-effects, has the advantage of avoiding invasive surgery and a cost effective method of treatment.