Investigating Outcomes and Associated Risk Factors of Heterotopic Pregnancy Following In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer Cycles

Abstract Research Question: To study the outcome of heterotopic pregnancy (HP) and related influencing factors after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and to provide clinical experience for the treatment of heterotopic pregnancy. Design: Observational study. Results Our data revealed a HP incidence of 1.27‰. Among the 66 patients with HP, 5 underwent conservative treatment (7.58%, 5/66) with a live birth rate of 25.00% (1/5). Laparoscopic surgery was performed on 61 cases (92.42%, 61/66), with a live birth rate of 77.05% (47/61). ​Further logistic regression analysis revealed that the average diameter of the intrauterine gestational sac prior to laparoscopic surgery, the absence of a fetal germ and fetal heartbeat within the intrauterine gestational sac, and an extended duration of laparoscopic surgery were risk factors affecting pregnancy outcomes (P < 0.05). Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery is an effective method for the treatment of HP, and laparoscopic ectopic resection of ectopic pregnancy lesion does not seem to affect the continuous pregnancy and live birth of the intrauterine gestational sac. The mean diameter of the intrauterine gestational sac on the day of surgery, the development of the intrauterine gestational sac, and the duration of surgery can affect the patient's pregnancy outcome.