Heterotopic Pregnancy Causes, Signs, and Diagnosis

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A heterotopic pregnancy is a dangerous pregnancy situation where a person has two pregnancies at the same time. These types of pregnancies are common among people who are going through IVF. Here is what you need to know about this type of pregnancy, including how often it occurs and how it is usually treated.

Heterotopic Pregnancy

Heterotopic pregnancy is the existence of two simultaneous pregnancies with separate implantation sites. One pregnancy is a viable intrauterine pregnancy (occurring in the uterus) and the other of which is a non-viable ectopic pregnancy (occurring outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube). This type of pregnancy can be very dangerous and is made all the more difficult by the fact that most parents wish to keep the viable pregnancy while having to terminate the other.

Rates of Heterotopic Pregnancy

Like all multiple pregnancies, heterotopic pregnancy is most common in couples who conceive with assisted reproductive procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF). As many as 1 in 100 assisted pregnancies result in a heterotopic pregnancy.

While far less common in women who have a spontaneous (natural) conception, some estimates suggest that the rate of heterotopic pregnancy is still significant, ranging from 1 in 7,000 to 1 in 30,000 pregnancies.

Symptoms 

A woman experiencing a heterotopic pregnancy may or may not have symptoms. This is especially concerning since half of these pregnancies are only diagnosed when the fallopian tube ruptures.If symptoms are present, they may include:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Bloating
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Mild-to-severe abdominal pain or cramping
  • Nausea
  • Pain in the side
  • Vomiting

If you are experiencing severe pain, heavy bleeding, feeling faint, or have any other worrisome symptoms, go to the emergency room, as a ruptured tube can be deadly if untreated.

Diagnosis 

Quite simply, it is difficult for doctors to diagnose heterotopic pregnancy in its early stages. Women may have vaginal bleeding and cramping, but these are symptoms that can occur even in a normal pregnancy.

At the same time, it is easy to miss a heterotopic pregnancy during a routine ultrasound since the technician may only check the developing fetus in the uterus and not think to look beyond that. If there is a suspicion of a heterotopic pregnancy, it usually is only by week four or five that it can be confirmed or ruled out by ultrasound.

Until then, the pregnant person would need to be monitored closely with blood tests until a definitive diagnosis can be made. The same should apply to people who have undergone an assisted reproductive procedure if experiencing any of the above-listed symptoms.

Treatment 

Any fetus located outside the uterus cannot survive, and its presence could cause potentially life-threatening bleeding in the mother if a tissue spontaneously ruptures. As a result, these pregnancies must be terminated.

The good news is that it is often possible to do so without terminating the healthy intrauterine pregnancy. This process typically involves surgery, which may or may not require the removal of the affected fallopian tube.

While heterotopic pregnancies carry an increased risk of miscarriage (particularly if a rupture is involved), around 67% of women are able to carry the intrauterine baby to term. If you have experienced loss of a fetus due to a heterotopic pregnancy, it is perfectly normal if you find yourself grieving that baby even if the other is fine. Allow yourself to feel and share that loss with others you trust.

2 Sources
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  1.  Bildner, A. M. Sonographic detection of a heterotopic pregnancy in natural conception. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 2014;30(2):92–96. doi:10.1177/8756479313517768

  2. Gibson KR, Horne AW. Ruptured heterotopic pregnancy: An unusual presentation of an uncommon clinical problem. BMJ Case Rep. 2012;2012. doi:10.11362Fbcr-2012-007423

Additional Reading
  • Baheti, S. and Jayakrishnan, K. "Heterotopic Pregnancy in a Natural Conception." International Journal of Infertility and Fetal Medicine. 2010; 1(1):41-43
  • Bildner, A. "Sonographic Detection of a Heterotopic Pregnancy in Natural Conception."& Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 2014; 30(2):92-92.

By Krissi Danielsson
Krissi Danielsson, MD is a doctor of family medicine and an advocate for those who have experienced miscarriage.