How long can you carry a blighted ovum
Blighted ovum | Pregnancy Birth and Baby
Blighted ovum | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content4-minute read
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Key facts
- A blighted ovum is a type of miscarriage that can happen early in a pregnancy.
- A blighted ovum is when a sac and placenta grow, but a baby does not.
- A miscarriage can be extremely upsetting, and you may need support and time to grieve.
- Having a blighted ovum in one pregnancy does not change your chance of having a successful pregnancy in the future.
What is a blighted ovum?
A blighted ovum is a type of miscarriage that can happen early in a pregnancy. It is also called an 'anembryonic pregnancy' as there is no embryo (developing baby). In this type of miscarriage, a sac and placenta grow, but there is no baby. Because a blighted ovum still makes pregnancy hormones, it may still show up as a positive pregnancy test.
A blighted ovum will eventually cause a miscarriage, usually at 7 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Your body realises that the pregnancy is not developing properly and starts to shed blood and tissue from the uterus. You may notice pain in your lower abdomen, or bleeding from your vagina.
How common is miscarriage?
Miscarriage is very common, and up to 1 in 5 people who know that they are pregnant will miscarry before 20 weeks of gestation. The actual rate of miscarriage is even higher, as a very early miscarriage may happen before you even realise that you’re pregnant.
What causes a blighted ovum?
When the egg is fertilised, cells that make the pregnancy sac and placenta start multiplying. But occasionally, the cells that are supposed to develop into a baby don’t multiply.
The cause isn’t known.
It isn’t caused by anything you have done.
How and when is blighted ovum diagnosed?
Sometimes, it is picked up during a routine ultrasound. This can be particularly difficult if you’ve gone for an ultrasound expecting good news.
At other times, there may have been bleeding at the start of the pregnancy and an ultrasound is used to investigate the cause.
How is blighted ovum treated?
Your doctor will discuss the options with you. You might choose to allow a natural miscarriage to happen. Once this starts, it can take days or weeks for the bleeding to finish. If the bleeding is getting heavier, if you are in pain or you feel unwell, see your doctor.
You could also have a termination by taking medicines or by having a type of surgery known as D & C.
Does it affect my chances of having a baby?
No. Having a blighted ovum in one pregnancy does not alter your chance of having a successful pregnancy in the future.
If you have had one miscarriage, your next pregnancy is likely to be normal.
If you have had 3 miscarriages in a row, you should see your doctor to rule out any problems.
Where can I go for support and information?
Speak with your doctor if you are concerned that you may have a blighted ovum.
A miscarriage can be extremely upsetting. If you’ve experienced a miscarriage you may need support and time to grieve. There is no right way to feel after a miscarriage. Different people react to a miscarriage with different emotions, including anger, guilt or relief.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby helpline can offer emotional support and trusted advice to anyone who is dealing with pregnancy loss. Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 anytime of the day or night.
Sources:
Raising Children (Miscarriage : what it is and how to cope), Pink Elephants Network (What is miscarriage?), Red Nose (Reasons for miscarriage)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: June 2022
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Blighted Ovum (Anembryonic Pregnancy): Causes & Symptoms
Overview
A blighted ovum is when the gestational sac containing the embryo is empty.What is a blighted ovum?
A blighted ovum (also called an anembryonic pregnancy) is a type of early miscarriage that occurs when a fertilized egg implants into the uterus but does not develop into an embryo. The embryo will stop growing, but the gestational sac (where the embryo would develop) continues to grow. The placenta and empty gestational sac will release pregnancy hormones — even without an embryo present. This causes you to have early symptoms of pregnancy or even have a positive pregnancy test.
Sometimes it occurs so early in pregnancy that you don't know you're pregnant.
When does a blighted ovum happen?
A blighted ovum causes an early miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy. During fetal development, a fertilized egg turns into a blastocyte. At around four weeks of pregnancy, this blastocyte implants in the wall of the uterus and develops into an embryo. When you have a blighted ovum, the gestational sac that would hold the embryo continues to grow, even without an embryo present. The following can occur:
- A blighted ovum happens so early in pregnancy, that you never realize you are pregnant.
- You have a positive pregnancy test and signs of pregnancy only to discover a blighted ovum at your first ultrasound.
- You have a positive pregnancy test and signs of pregnancy but then experience a miscarriage.
How common is a blighted ovum pregnancy?
A blighted ovum is the number one cause of first trimester miscarriages.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of a blighted ovum?
A blighted ovum can occur so early in pregnancy that you never knew you were pregnant. In other cases, you may experience signs of pregnancy such as a missed menstrual period or a positive pregnancy test. You can have symptoms of early pregnancy, such as breast tenderness and morning sickness.
Other times your symptoms will resemble those of a miscarriage:
- Vaginal bleeding: Spotting (light bleeding), bleeding or passing light gray tissue or blood clots.
- Cramping: Mild to moderate cramping in your pelvic and abdominal region.
The only way to confirm a blighted ovum is through an ultrasound. It will show a gestational sac that is missing an embryo inside.
What causes a blighted ovum?
A blighted ovum is usually caused by chromosomal or genetic problems during cell division. During conception, the egg will begin to divide shortly after being fertilized by sperm.
Around ten days later, the cells have formed an embryo. With a blighted ovum, the embryo never forms or stops growing after it’s formed.
How does a blighted ovum miscarriage start?
A blighted ovum miscarriage will cause vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. A miscarriage usually feels more intense than your regular menstrual period. You can take an over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen to relieve cramping. Avoid lifting anything heavy or any strenuous exercise as it can increase your bleeding. You may experience spotting for several weeks after a miscarriage.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is a blighted ovum diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will diagnose a blighted ovum using transvaginal ultrasound. This happens in the first trimester, usually between seven and nine weeks of pregnancy. An embryo should be visible at this time in pregnancy. With a blighted ovum, the gestational sac will be empty.
- You will lie back on an exam table and place your feet in stirrups like you do for a pelvic exam.
Your healthcare provider will put an ultrasound wand into your vagina to see the contents of your uterus. - A blighted ovum will appear as an empty sac — almost like a bubble.
A blighted ovum is when the gestational sac containing the embryo is empty.
People are often unaware that they have a blighted ovum. This is because your placenta continues to give off hormones, making your body think you are pregnant. This is also why you can still have symptoms of pregnancy, including a positive pregnancy test.
If you’ve already experienced bleeding or signs of a miscarriage, your healthcare provider will use ultrasound to look at the contents of your uterus to diagnose a blighted ovum.
Some healthcare providers will collect a series of blood samples that check the levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your body. HCG is known as the pregnancy hormone because it's only produced if you are pregnant. The level of hCG in your blood increases rapidly in early pregnancy and reaches its peak around weeks eight to ten.
If it's not rising quickly, it can indicate a miscarriage or other complication. Your provider may decide to test your hCG levels over the course of several days to evaluate how your hCG levels are rising. This can be an effective tool for diagnosing blighted ovum.
Management and Treatment
How is a blighted ovum treated?
For some people, there may be no treatment needed, because your body passes the embryo through your vagina (a miscarriage). If your body does not miscarry the embryo, there are other options to remove the contents of your uterus. Your healthcare provider will talk you through possible treatments:
- Dilation & Curettage (D&C): This is a surgical procedure to remove the contents of your uterus. Your healthcare provider will dilate, or open, the cervix and use medical tools and suction to remove the pregnancy tissues from your uterus. This is done under sedation or general anesthesia.
- Natural miscarriage: If it's safe, you may be able to watch and wait to see if your body eventually releases the pregnancy tissues.
It can sometimes take days or weeks for this to start. Your healthcare provider will let you know if this is an option for you. You will experience cramping, abdominal pain and bleeding once the miscarriage begins. - Medication-induced miscarriage: You may be given a medication called misoprostol to trigger your body to miscarry. This moves the process along and eliminates the time waiting for a miscarriage to start on its own. You will have cramping, abdominal pain and bleeding within 30 minutes to ten hours of taking the medication.
A follow-up appointment is usually scheduled four to six weeks after a miscarriage or D&C. You may be given another ultrasound to confirm the uterus is empty. Your healthcare provider will check for signs of infection and make sure there were no complications.
What are the complications of a blighted ovum?
Complications of a blighted ovum are uncommon, but the possible complications could include:
- Excessive bleeding or hemorrhage.
- Infection.
- Scarring (from the D&C procedure).
- Tears in the uterus (from the D&C procedure).
How long does it take to recover from a blighted ovum?
Recovering from a blighted ovum miscarriage or D&C can last from one or two weeks to a month. Cramping generally lasts up to a week, but bleeding can last several weeks. Your bleeding should get lighter until it stops completely.
You can resume normal activities when you feel comfortable. Bleeding can increase with strenuous activity or exercise. Hormones may remain in your body and delay your menstrual cycle. Most people will get their period within four to six weeks after a blighted ovum.
It may take longer to recover emotionally from a blighted ovum miscarriage. You may have feelings of sadness, anger or confusion. It’s OK to take time to grieve. Ask your friends and family for support.
Prevention
Can a blighted ovum be prevented?
A blighted ovum can’t be prevented.
Some couples may want to do genetic testing on the tissue inside the uterus. This checks for underlying causes of your miscarriage and can be helpful to couples who have experienced multiple pregnancy losses.
Outlook / Prognosis
How soon after a blighted ovum can I get pregnant again?
Most healthcare providers recommend having one or two regular menstrual cycles before trying to conceive again after any type of miscarriage.
What are my chances of having another blighted ovum?
Your chances of having another blighted ovum are low. Most people go on to have healthy, full-term pregnancies. If you experience more than one blighted ovum, your healthcare provider may suggest testing to determine if there is an underlying cause.
Living With
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- Excessive bleeding from your vagina.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Fever that does not go away.
- Symptoms that get worse over time.
- Severe pain that isn’t helped with pain medicine.
When should I go to the ER?
Go to the nearest ER If you experience heavy vaginal bleeding — more than two pads per hour for two consecutive hours — or have symptoms of anemia like dizziness, palpitations or paleness.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Losing a pregnancy is upsetting and confusing. Do not be embarrassed to ask any questions you have. It's completely normal to have questions and feel emotional during this time. Some questions you may ask are:
- Can I let my body miscarry or should I take medication to induce a miscarriage?
- What are the risks of miscarriage?
- Do I have to have a D&C?
- What are the risks of a D&C?
- How long can I expect to bleed or have cramping?
- Is there any indication this will happen again?
- When can I start trying to conceive?
- Do I need to come back for another ultrasound?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a blighted ovum considered a miscarriage?
Yes, a blighted ovum is a miscarriage.
A miscarriage is a loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks. A blighted ovum is considered an early miscarriage because it occurs before 13 weeks of pregnancy.
How long can you carry a blighted ovum?
The amount of time you can carry a blighted ovum varies. Your placenta will continue to grow and release hormones without an embryo. For some people, a miscarriage can occur within a few days or weeks. Others may still believe they are pregnant only to discover a blighted ovum at their first ultrasound.
Can a blighted ovum turn into a baby?
No, an empty gestational sac will not turn into an embryo. The formation of the embryo occurs within two weeks of conception. By the time the gestational sac is formed, the cells should have already formed the embryo. Your healthcare provider will be able to examine your gestational sac to confirm that no embryo has developed.
Do hCG levels rise with blighted ovum?
Yes, most of the time hCG levels will rise, giving you a positive pregnancy test and symptoms of pregnancy.
This is because the placenta continues to give off hCG even if an embryo is not present. The hormone hCG is sometimes called the pregnancy hormone because it is only produced if you are pregnant.
Is a blighted ovum more common with IVF?
A blighted ovum is not more common with IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). Your chances of having a blighted ovum with IVF treatment are about the same as they would be with a natural conception.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Losing a pregnancy is difficult. If you are struggling after a miscarriage, speak with your healthcare provider so they can recommend support groups or counselors. Finding support may help you get through this hard time. Most people who have had a blighted ovum will go on to have a healthy pregnancy.
5 facts about the egg that you did not know
What can we advise you?Did you know that:
- ✅ The egg is the largest cell in the human body.
It is 4 times the size of a skin cell, 26 times the size of an erythrocyte (red blood cell), and 16 times the size of a sperm cell. After all, an egg is the size of a grain of sand and can be seen without a microscope. - ✅ The egg cell lives inside the follicle for a long time. Many follicles containing eggs in a woman of reproductive age are immature. The fate of such follicles is different: some rest for many years before entering the path to ovulation, others die prematurely at different stages of development. Approximately 150 days before the culmination of its life - ovulation (when the egg leaves the follicle into the pelvic cavity for fertilization), the follicle receives a hormonal signal to grow and develop and begins its journey in the company of 10-12 more brothers.
- ✅The life of the egg after ovulation is short. After ovulation, the egg enters the pelvic cavity and is sent to the fallopian tube, where it lives only 12-24 hours. If fertilization does not occur during this time, then programmed cell death will occur.
- ✅ The egg as a passive player in the process of conception: waiting for the sperm running towards it is just a myth. It is from the egg that it depends which sperm enters it to fuse the genetic materials. An important mission of the egg is the selection of sperm with intact DNA.
- ✅Ovulation of more than one follicle is quite common. Superovulation occurs in 10% of a woman's cycles, which means that the chance of fertilizing 2 eggs and conceiving fraternal twins is as much as 2 times a year.
- ❗️ Soon we will tell you even more interesting facts about the female and male body.
Stay tuned!
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Egg donation
Who needs donor eggs?
Today, in vitro fertilization is officially recognized as a high-tech method of infertility treatment.
The implementation of IVF in modern society takes place according to several programs, including with a donor egg. As a method of treatment, egg donation is aimed at women who do not form eggs on their own, or have genetic diseases that inhibit this process. Accordingly, the use of donor eggs is relevant when there is no maturation of own eggs in the ovaries, even while taking medication. In addition, donor eggs are used if a woman is over 45 years old, since at this age the probability of giving birth to her own healthy child is significantly reduced. In the event that several IVF programs failed to obtain embryos promising for pregnancy, couples can also use the egg donation procedure.
Who can be an egg donor?
The Ministry of Health imposes strict requirements on egg donors, starting with age restrictions and ending with a long list of medical parameters. Conventionally, all donors are divided into anonymous ones, provided by the IVF clinic, and non-anonymous ones - relatives or acquaintances of patients.
In both cases, donors are subject to the same requirements. In particular, a woman who has no health problems and has not reached the age of 35 can become an egg donor. A woman applying for the status of an egg donor must undergo an examination in accordance with the regulatory framework and draw up a consent to participate in in vitro fertilization as a donor. There are more stringent requirements for the health of an anonymous donor. Women with bad habits will not be allowed to donate eggs. When working with related donors, doctors demonstrate a softer approach, and the decision itself is made jointly by the donor and the patient.
Options for preparing for the program with donor oocytes
Previously, synchronization of the menstrual cycles of the egg donor and the patient was traditionally performed. After the start of menstruation, the donor was stimulated to stimulate the ovaries, and the patient was stimulated to grow the endometrium. After the eggs were received, they were fertilized with the husband's sperm, and the resulting embryos were transferred to the patient on the 3rd-5th day.
Today, another option is more common. At the moment, the cycles are not synchronized, which helps to start the program faster and better focus on passing each stage. First, the oocyte donor is stimulated, eggs are obtained, fertilized with the husband's sperm, embryos are cultured and cryopreserved. Then it remains to wait for the patient's menstrual cycle, prepare the endometrium and transfer the embryos to the uterine cavity.
The development of egg cryopreservation technology has led to the emergence of donor oocyte banks. In this situation, patients do not need to wait for anyone, since there are already eggs, so they can be selected immediately.
The program with a "fresh" donor costs in fact the same as a regular IVF procedure, however, the price of preparing the recipient for transfer is added here. The price of the program with the use of donor vitrified oocytes depends on the number of oocytes used. As a rule, the number of oocytes, which is a multiple of three, is used.
