Blighted ovum (empty pregnancy): definition, symptoms, and causes

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What is blighted ovum?

For this reason, the doctor will need to use an ultrasound test to determine if the pregnancy sac is completely empty.

Blighted ovum often leading to a silent miscarriage.

This type of miscarriage is usually found between the 8th and 13th week of pregnancy, sometimes it is detected during the initial ultrasound test.

With this type of miscarriage, the levels of pregnancy hormones in your body can remain high for some time after your baby has died.

So, the pregnancy test can remain positive and you will also continue to experience pregnancy symptoms, such as firm breasts, nausea, and fatigue.

A person can be misdiagnosed with a blank pregnancy if it is diagnosed at 8 weeks gestation or earlier.

They usually have to wait until at least 9 weeks of gestation (if there are no pregnancy complications).

Heavy vaginal bleeding during a miscarriage can cause anemia during pregnancy.

Are there any additional tests that I need to do?

Experiencing one blank pregnancy does not mean you are destined to have it again at a later date.

However, there are several factors associated with this type of miscarriage that you need to discuss with your doctor.

These factors include genetics, egg quality, and sperm quality.

Your doctor may recommend tests for these types of conditions. This examination may include:

• Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), namely the genetic analysis of embryos that can be done before implantation into the uterus.
• Semen analysis, which is used to determine sperm quality.
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), which can be used to help improve egg quality.

If you have questions, consult your doctor to better understand the best solution for you.

Treatment to treat blighted ovum

The information described is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

Once diagnosed with an empty pregnancy, you need to discuss the next step with your doctor which is treatment.

Medicine and care blighted ovum is:

Waiting for the miscarriage to appear naturally

Wait for the tissue to die itself, which is marked with blood spots.

You can also wait another week to see if there are any signs of the fetus in the uterine sac.

Take drugs

Medicines that need to be taken, such as misoprostol (Cytotec), to help trigger a miscarriage.

These drugs are another option, but there is a possibility of bleeding and side effects.

If you choose this method, you may experience pain or cramps but it is still treatable.

Perform curette procedures

The curettage procedure is a way to dilate the cervix and remove the contents of the uterus due to it blighted ovum.

The pathologist can examine the tissue to confirm the reason for the miscarriage.

If diagnosed blighted ovum, doctors recommend that you wait until you have a natural miscarriage.

This route is better than undergoing a curettage procedure to remove the placental tissue.

A woman's body can remove the tissue on its own and does not require any invasive surgical procedures with the risk of complications.

However, you may still choose the curettage procedure if you plan to have a tissue examined by a pathologist to determine the reason for the miscarriage.

Make a judgment before deciding

Your gestational age, medical history, and emotional state are taken into consideration before you decide on a treatment step for an empty pregnancy.

You will need to discuss the side effects and risks of each option.

Even though the fetus is not formed in the condition blighted ovum, still there has been fertilization in pregnancy.

Miscarriage can be very difficult emotionally, and waiting until the end of pregnancy can take longer than expected.

For this reason, some women choose to have surgery or medication.

Meanwhile, some other women feel uncomfortable with these choices and prefer to let the miscarriage happen naturally.

Can empty pregnancy be prevented?

Unfortunately, in most cases, empty pregnancy cannot be prevented.

Some couples will do genetic testing if they have frequent miscarriages in early pregnancy.

An empty pregnancy usually occurs only once in a woman and is extremely rare if a woman has it more than once.

Most doctors will recommend couples wait 1 to 3 menstrual cycles before planning a pregnancy again.

What are the possible risks in future pregnancies?

As with other types of miscarriage, your body and emotions need time to heal.

It is important to remember that most women who have had an empty pregnancy can still get pregnant normally later in life.

Usually, your doctor will recommend three more menstrual cycles, so that your body has enough time to recover and be ready for pregnancy again.

Within that time frame, focus on a healthy lifestyle for the health of your body and soul, such as:

• Eat regularly
• Stay away from stress
• Sports
• Take a daily prenatal supplement containing folic acid

You can discuss with your doctor how long you need to wait before deciding to get pregnant again after a miscarriage.