Heterotopic pregnancy following ovulation stimulation with clomiphene: a report of three cases

Heterotopic pregnancy was a medical rarity, prior to the use of ovulation inducing drugs and advent of assisted reproduction technology. Three cases were encountered in the course of clinical practice in a teaching hospital, over a period of six and a half years. Two of them occurred in association with ovulation induction with CLOMIPHENE and the third case with no identifiable underlying cause. We postulate dizygotic twinning, highest among the Yoruba race of Nigeria as a possible aetiological factor. One of the two cases following CLOMIPHENE has been highlighted in more details, together with a review of literature. Diagnosis in all cases was made in retrospect following surgical intervention for the ruptured ectopic components. All the patients presented with persistent pregnancy symptoms, with sonographic confirmation of viable intrauterine fetuses which were carried to term.