Abortion of an early ectopic pregnancy is a rarely diagnosed event. Coincidental serial hormonal studies performed on a patient suffering from idiopathic secondary infertility enabled the authors to record plasma estradiol, progesterone and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations, which, combined with the physical findings, ultrasonography and laparoscopy, led to the diagnosis of a complete abortion of an early ectopic pregnancy. Apart from slight vaginal bleeding on day 44 of a prolonged cycle, the patient was asymptomatic throughout and the importance of plasma beta-human chorionic gonadotropin determination in such a situation is discussed.