Society of Family Planning Clinical Recommendation: Management of undesired pregnancy of unknown location and abortion at less than 42 days of gestation.

Abstract

Pregnancy of unknown location is a condition in which a pregnancy test is positive, but no intrauterine or extrauterine pregnancy is visualized using transvaginal ultrasonography. We recommend using standardized nomenclature and definitions to describe intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), probable IUP, pregnancy of unknown location (PUL), probable ectopic pregnancy (probable EP), and ectopic pregnancy (EP) (Best Practice). Among abortion-seeking patients found to have a PUL, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) is 4-8%. We recommend clinical judgment in assessing the risk for EP in the setting of PUL; the absence of an intrauterine gestational sac (GS) or yolk sac should not delay care (GRADE 1B). In asymptomatic individuals with an undesired PUL who prefer to proceed with immediate treatment (medication or procedural management without delay) and have a low risk of EP, as determined by the clinician based on history, symptoms, and all other available data, we recommend medication management with mifepristone and misoprostol or procedural management via uterine aspiration and clear plans for ensuring pregnancy resolution in a timely fashion (GRADE 1B). While both medication and procedural management of undesired PUL are associated with earlier pregnancy resolution and identification of EP, the two main risks of inadequate follow-up include ongoing pregnancy and missing or delaying a subsequent diagnosis of EP. For individuals with PUL choosing immediate treatment with medication management, we recommend clinicians obtain a baseline serum quantitative hCG at the time of medication provision to aid in diagnosis and follow-up (GRADE 1A). Following medication management of PUL with mifepristone and misoprostol, we suggest a repeat serum quantitative hCG level, with pregnancy resolution defined as either a 50% decline or greater at 48-72 hours after misoprostol or an 80% decline or greater at seven days after mifepristone or 5-10 days after misoprostol (GRADE 2B). We recommend against direct extrapolation of follow-up recommendations from no-test abortion clinical protocols to individuals with a documented PUL treated with mifepristone and misoprostol, given the higher risk of EP among individuals with a known PUL (GRADE 1C). When uterine aspiration is performed at less than 42 days of gestation, including for individuals with PUL or probable IUP, and both chorionic villi and GS are not visualized, we recommend repeat ultrasonography (if an IUP or probable IUP was seen initially), serum quantitative hCG follow-up, or both (GRADE 1B). When both chorionic villi and GS are not visualized after uterine aspiration and serial serum hCG follow-up is warranted, we recommend testing on the day of the procedure and 24-72 hours later, with pregnancy resolution defined as greater than 50% decline 24 hours after aspiration, greater than 70% by 48 hours, or greater than 80% by approximately 72 hours (GRADE 1B).