Nonoperative management of ectopic pregnancy. A preliminary report.

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is increasing throughout the Western world; at present it is uncertain how much of this increase is due to the disease and/or its antecedents and how much due to better means of diagnosis. That the treatment of the obvious or ruptured ectopic pregnancy should be surgical is beyond doubt. However, in view of the natural tendency of some ectopic pregnancies to terminate in tubal abortion or complete resorption, it is questionable whether surgery is always necessary in every early case or whether some patients can be monitored by means of rising or falling levels of beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) until tubal abortion or resorption occurs. This may be the best means of preserving tubal function and fertility.