Hoai's first ectopic pregnancy occurred in her left fallopian tube. This is a dangerous condition because as the fetus grows, it can rupture the fallopian tube, causing massive internal bleeding and threatening the mother's life. Hoai underwent surgery to remove the left tube.

Her second ectopic pregnancy occurred at the junction of her right fallopian tube and uterus. Doctors removed the remaining fallopian tube and a portion of her uterus. The loss of both tubes meant natural conception was no longer possible. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was her only option, but she had to wait at least a year for her uterus to heal before attempting pregnancy.

In early 2025, the couple sought IVF treatment at the Fertility Center of Tam Anh General Hospital (IVF Tam Anh TP HCM). Doctor Nguyen Thi Thuy assessed Hoai's uterus as well-healed, with good ovarian reserves, giving a positive prognosis for successful IVF.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Thuy (right) consults with a patient. Illustrative photo: Thanh Luan

Doctor Thuy stimulated Hoai's ovaries with a tailored dosage of medication, retrieving 15 mature eggs. Embryologists selected healthy sperm from her husband and injected them into each egg. After culturing the eggs in a dynamic incubator system, six high-quality day-5 embryos were produced.

Due to Hoai's prior uterine surgery, minimizing the risk of multiple pregnancies was crucial to avoid life-threatening complications. Each embryo was frozen separately, with the goal of transferring only one high-quality embryo.

After Doctor Thuy prepared Hoai's uterine lining with a personalized protocol, a single embryo was transferred, resulting in a successful pregnancy. At 11 weeks, the pregnancy is progressing well. The remaining embryos offer the couple the possibility of having more children in the future.

An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube. This is often caused by bacterial damage to the fallopian tube lining, hindering the egg's journey to the uterus. Conditions like endometriosis can also increase the risk. Even with IVF, where the embryo is placed directly into the uterus, ectopic pregnancies can still occur because the embryo can migrate.

Doctor Thuy advises women to have regular prenatal checkups to detect ectopic pregnancies early. Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent serious, life-threatening complications. Women with a history of ectopic pregnancies undergoing IVF should closely follow their doctor's instructions to maximize effectiveness and minimize time and expense.

Hoai Thuong

*The patient's name has been changed.