The rising incidence of heterotopic pregnancy: two case reports

Two cases of associated intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy are presented. In the past combined pregnancy was thought to be a rare obstetric event, with an estimated theoretical incidence of one in 30,000 gestations. A review of the medical records of the Sint-Augustinus Hospital revealed 3 cases of combined pregnancy out of a total of 12,338 pregnancies during the 5-year period January 1981 to December 1985. These data confirm recent communications which state that literature concerning heterotopic gestations has greatly underestimated its rate of occurrence in Western countries. For patients who have been treated with ovulation-inducing medication, the theoretical risk is particularly substantial.