Blighted Ovum: What Causes It?

Blighted ovum and anembryonic pregnancy describe a particular type of premature abortion. You might also hear it as an early embryonic loss or demise. In this type of pregnancy, miscarriage occurs early, when the fertilized egg never turns into an embryo or the embryo stops growing shortly after implantation. Because pregnancy loss occurs within a few weeks of ovulation and fertilization, many women are unaware of their pregnancy.

What is a blighted ovum?

A blighted ovum is a pregnancy in which the sac and placenta grow, but the embryo sac is empty. But without an embryo, the placenta still produces human placental gonadotropin (hCG). As a result, pregnancy blood and urine tests following an increase in hCG show a positive pregnancy result. Pregnancy-related symptoms, such as chest pain and nausea, may also be present. A blighted ovum causes a miscarriage, usually at 7 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Your body realizes pregnancy is abnormal and starts shedding blood and tissue from the uterus.

How common is a blighted ovum?

Blighted Ovum is the most common cause of miscarriage. It is the cause of about 50% of all miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy. About 15% of all pregnancies before 13 weeks lead to miscarriage. In general, because all types of miscarriage occur in the first trimester of pregnancy, it is difficult to count the exact number of anembryonic pregnancies.

Symptoms

A blighted ovum is initially similar to a normal pregnancy because the body feels like it is having a normal pregnancy and begins to secrete hormones, so the pregnancy results are initially positive. When the body realizes that the fertilized egg has not turned into an embryo, hormone levels fall, pregnancy symptoms disappear, and bleeding begins. Symptoms of blighted ovum may include:

Heavy bleeding: Spotting and light bleeding are normal in early pregnancy, but if you have heavy bleeding similar to menstrual bleeding, be sure to see an obstetrician.
Severe cramping: Some cramps are normal during pregnancy, but it is best to check for any cramps during pregnancy, especially if they are accompanied by symptoms such as fever or bleeding. Cramps can also be a complication of an ectopic pregnancy that requires medical attention.
An abnormal ultrasound: In this case, the obstetrician sees a small pregnancy sac with no fetus. A blighted ovum can only be detected by ultrasound, showing that the fertilized egg has not become an embryo. Ultrasound lets your doctor confirm that the symptoms are not due to an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies cause symptoms similar to an anembryonic pregnancy but require prompt medical treatment because they can lead to internal bleeding that threatens the mother’s life.
Lower hCG levels: In an anembryonic pregnancy, the pregnancy hormone level is lower than normal.

Causes

The reason for this type of pregnancy is not related to what you should or should not have done before or during pregnancy. The exact cause is not clear. This may be due to chromosomal abnormalities in the fertilized egg or poor-quality eggs or sperm. Other causes include:

An infection
Tissue that divides the inside of the uterus into sections (septum)
An autoimmune disease in the mother
An endocrine disease in the mother

It is unknown if someone with a blighted ovum will have this problem in later pregnancies. Many people who have experienced anembryonic pregnancy have had successful pregnancies in later stages and given birth to a healthy babies. If you experience frequent anembryonic pregnancy, you should see an ob-gyn.

Diagnose

A blighted ovum is usually detected on the first ultrasound performed in the early stages of pregnancy. On ultrasound, the doctor sees the placenta and the empty sac of the fetus. This type of abortion usually occurs at 8 to 13 weeks of pregnancy.

When to see a doctor

Be sure to see your doctor if you are pregnant and have any of these symptoms. These symptoms include:

Dizziness or fainting
A lot of bleeding from your vagina
Fever of 100.4°F or higher
Other symptoms that don’t get better or get worse
Severe pain that isn’t helped with pain medicine

Treatment

After losing a pregnancy, the placenta and sac must leave the body. This process may be accompanied by pain and bleeding. This process may occur spontaneously or require the help of a doctor.

Expectant management

If your body detects that the fetus is not developing, it will expel your uterus’ contents with bleeding similar to your period. Doctors usually recommend waiting a few days to a week to see if the body has an abortion automatically.

Medication

The hormones that the fetus initially secreted may prevent a miscarriage, so your doctor may prescribe medication to stimulate the uterus to have a miscarriage.

Surgery

Your doctor may recommend a brief surgical procedure known as dilation and curettage to empty the uterus.

Healing from a Blighted Ovum Miscarriage

It is best for women recovering from a miscarriage to continue taking their prenatal vitamins and abstain from sex for at least one month after a complete miscarriage. It does not matter if the abortion happened spontaneously, with medication or surgery. . Women may expect their menstrual cycle to return within a month, and the initial cycle may be heavier than usual. Many doctors recommend waiting two to three months to get pregnant again, but there is no credible evidence to get pregnant again as soon as she feels comfortable.

How can you care for yourself at home?

After a miscarriage, home care can help improve your symptoms. These include:

For muscle cramps, you can use painkillers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. But do not take several painkillers together and consult your doctor before use.
If you feel well, return to your normal activities. But avoid strenuous exercise until the bleeding stops.
Your blood iron may be low due to blood loss, so eat a balanced diet of iron, and vitamin C. Iron-rich foods include oysters, red meat, eggs, beans, and leafy green vegetables. Talk to your doctor about taking iron supplements.
Losing a pregnancy can be difficult, so be sure to contact your counselor if you notice symptoms of depression

After an abortion, the mother’s body and emotional health need to heal. It is important to remember that most women who have a miscarriage will have a successful pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about how long you should wait to get pregnant again.

It is usually recommended that you wait for three full menstrual cycles. Now, focus on healthy living habits for your body and mental health. Eat well, stay away from stress, and exercise. Having an anembryonic pregnancy does not mean you will have another. However, there are factors associated with this type of miscarriage that you should discuss with your doctor. These factors include genetics, egg quality, and sperm quality. So your doctor may test you and your partner for possible problems.

Additional questions

Do hCG levels rise with blighted ovum?

With a blighted ovum, HCG continues to rise because the placenta may grow quickly, even if no embryo is present. For this reason, an ultrasound test is usually needed to confirm that the pregnancy sac is empty to detect blighted ovum.

2. What is the treatment for blighted ovum?