Abstract:
Introduction: Since from the very beginning, early pregnancy losses and ectopic pregnancies has been a counterpart
of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The rate of multiple gestations is also high compared to spontaneous
pregnancies. Therefore early prediction of outcome is important in pregnancies following assisted reproduction
treatment. Serum beta hCG has been found to be predictive of pregnancy outcome.
Objective: To describe day 14 post ovum pick-up(OPU) hCG concentrations and the doubling time of serum beta
hCG among pregnancies following ART.
Methods: A retrospective cross sectional analysis of 144 ART cycles resulted in pregnancies performed during
2003 to 2008 was carried out at Vindana reproductive health center. Post OP U day 14 Serum hCG concentrations
and the predicted doubling time of hC G were compared in relation to pregnancy out come. Pregnancies were
classified as viable pregnancies (both singleton and multiple), miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.
Results: The mean hCG concentration was 124.55 IU/I in viable pregnancies and 47.10IU/I in non-viable pregnancies
(P < 0.001). The mean hCG concentration was 102.13 IU/I in singleton pregnancies and 198.20 IU/I in multiple
pregnancies (P < 0.001). Miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies had mean hCG concentrations of 52.22 IU/I and
33.43 IU/I respectively. Pregnancies miscarried had a predicted hCG doubling time of 34.82 hrs whereas in ectopic
pregnancies it was 69.04 hrs (P=0.01). Doubling time of hCG had no significant difference neither between viable
pregnancies and non-viable pregnancies nor between singleton pregnancies and multiple pregnancies.
Conclusions: A single hC G reading on day 14 post-OPU helps to predict continuing viable pregnancies and
differentiating singleton from multiple pregnancies. On the other hand predicted doubling time of beta hCG has a
predictive value in differentiating ectopic pregnancies from early miscarriages
