In one study, 200 women who received a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy by serial hCG were evaluated. Of no surprise, the rise in hCG values in women with ectopic pregnancies was slower than those with viable pregnancies and the decline of hCG values in women with ectopic pregnancies was slower than for those with completed spontaneous abortion. However, 20.8% of women with ectopic pregnancies presented with a rise in hCG values similar to the minimal rise for women with a viable gestation, and 8% of women presented with a fall in hCG values similar to women with a completed spontaneous abortion. Several over studies such as this one demonstrate that a single pattern of hCG does not exist for abnormal early pregnancy, so caution must be taken in interpreting serial hCG values in the evaluation of early pregnancy.