Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine
Volume 19, Issue 3 , Pages 80-83, March 2009

Pregnancy of unknown location

Emma Kirk MBBS is at Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK

Tom Bourne FRCOG PhD is at Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Abstract 

All women with a positive pregnancy test who do not have a pregnancy visualised on transvaginal ultrasound, whether it is an intra-uterine pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy, should be classified as having a ‘pregnancy of unknown location’ (PUL). Expectant management of haemodynamically stable asymptomatic women with a PUL has been shown to be safe. Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin levels, serum progesterone levels and mathematical models all have a role in the prediction of PUL outcome, which includes: a failing PUL, an intra-uterine pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy. Surgical intervention in the form of diagnostic laparoscopy or uterine curettage does not have a role in the routine management of women with a PUL. This review article discusses the various aspects of management of women with a PUL.

Keywords: ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy of unknown location, progesterone, serum hCG

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PII: S1751-7214(08)00242-X

doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2008.11.012

Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine
Volume 19, Issue 3 , Pages 80-83, March 2009

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