Fertility preservation in an oncology patient who presented with positive human chorionic gonadotropin.

objectiveTo report the case of a woman who presented for fertility preservation before breast cancer treatment who was found to be pregnant with an undesired pregnancy.

designCase report.

settingSingle infertility practice. PATIENT: A 28-year-old woman with a new diagnosis of grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast was planning to undergo oocyte cryopreservation and was found to be pregnant with an undesired pregnancy. She underwent a medical termination at a gestational age of 5 weeks 4 days. Neither the patient nor her oncology team wished to delay treatment more than was necessary. The physician and patient decided to initiate controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) before her human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) returned to normal.

interventionsCOH in the setting of a positive quantitative hCG.

main outcome measuresNumber of metaphase II (MII) oocytes cryopreserved; doses of Gonal-F and Menopur; serum E

resultsCOH began 7 days after passing the products of conception. Baseline labs demonstrated hCG at 222 mIU/mL, follicle-stimulating hormone at <0.10 mIU/mL, luteinizing hormone at <1.10 mIU/mL, and E

conclusionsCOH can be achieved in the setting of low positive hCG levels with subsequent successful oocyte maturation. The threshold for hCG trigger to be ineffective in the setting of a positive hCG has yet to be determined.