[Control of early pregnancies by vaginal sonography]

151 patients with suspected early pregnancies between 5 to 10 weeks were examined by transvaginal section scanning. Pregnancies could be verified as early as 16 days after conception while the first heart beat actions were seen after 21 to 22 days. In early pregnancies where heart actions could not be shown at first examination a second look was taken after the 6. week dated from conception. beta-HCG-units were found in a range of 59 to 55,000 mU/ml. 3 pregnancies in the 5th, 6th, respectively 7th week escaped our detection by the first examination. In 44 cases screened after the 6th week we did not prove heart actions. In all of these patients controlled measurements showed either values below or borderline low compared to normal scales.