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May 26, 2026Cureus0 citationsOpen Access

Unruptured Ectopic Pregnancy at Eight Weeks in a Woman With an Intrauterine Device

LSLuísa Cunha SilvaMTMaria Rui TorresJPJoana Araújo Pereira

Key Points

  • To highlight the occurrence of unruptured ectopic pregnancy in a woman using an intrauterine device.
  • Patient presented with breast tenderness and a positive pregnancy test, without pelvic pain or bleeding.
  • Underwent successful laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy.
  • Monitored and discharged within 24 hours post-surgery.
  • The 38-year-old multiparous woman had an 8-week unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy.
  • IUD placement was confirmed, with no complications observed post-surgery.
  • The case emphasizes clinician vigilance for ectopic pregnancies in asymptomatic women with IUDs.

Abstract

Ectopic pregnancy, a rare entity, represents a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the first trimester, with the fallopian tube being the most common implantation site. While intrauterine devices (IUDs) are highly effective contraceptives that reduce overall pregnancy risk, contraceptive failure with an IUD in situ is associated with a slightly higher rate of ectopic pregnancy compared to women not using contraception. This case report describes an 8-week and 4-day unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy in a 38-year-old multiparous woman with a well-positioned 52-mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (L-IUD) that had been in place for one year. The patient presented with breast tenderness and a positive pregnancy test but was otherwise asymptomatic, with no pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding. She underwent successful laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy and was discharged within 24 hours without complications. This case highlights the importance of maintaining clinical vigilance for ectopic pregnancy in women with IUDs, even in the absence of typical symptoms, and demonstrates that advanced gestational age tubal pregnancies can remain unruptured. Clinicians should consider ectopic pregnancy from the differential diagnosis in asymptomatic women with IUDs who present with a positive pregnancy test.

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Cite This Study

Silva et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a153b00b5d9c58d83e8d314https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.109535
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