HUMAN CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN LEVELS IN CONCEPTION CYCLES AFTER UTERINE AND TUBAL EMBRYO-TRANSFER

Objective: To describe the rate of rise of beta-hCG levels in normal s ingle gestations after uterine and tubal embryo transfer. Design: A pr ospective study from 1991 through 1992 in which infertility patients w ho conceived after ovulation induction and ET were monitored with seru m beta-hCG levels. Setting: Infertility unit at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Patients: Ninety-eight wom en conceived after ovarian stimulation and ET. This study included onl y patients who conceived after uterine ET (n = 12) and tubal ET (n = 2 5) and had an exponential rise of beta-hCG levels and sonographic evid ence of an intrauterine gestation. Results: The rate of rise of mean b eta-hCG levels after ET preceded that of tubal ET by 24 hours until da y 14 when the two approximate each other. Conclusion: There appears to be a unique interaction between the trophoblast and endometrial surfa ce that may account for the early detection of beta-hCG after uterine versus tubal ET.