Blighted ovum how long can it last

The statistics for how common blighted ovum is can be hard to measure due to difficulties diagnosing the condition. Since it occurs so early, women may not even know they were pregnant and do not notice the miscarriage happening. From what is known, experts believe blighted ovum accounts for a third of miscarriages that occur before 8 weeks gestation [3].

Even though the embryo is not developing properly or has stopped altogether, a woman may experience early pregnancy symptoms since the body has recognized something attached to the uterus. Until the embryo has been expelled from the body, hormones are still being produced and pregnancy tests can have positive results. A woman may have morning sickness, bloating, sore breasts, and other common symptoms that show up during the first weeks of pregnancy.

However, some signs may indicate a woman has a blighted ovum or is experiencing a miscarriage:. After you have been diagnosed with a blighted ovum, there are a few different treatments available depending on how your body reacts to the attached egg or embryo. For some women, there may be no treatment at all, as the body recognizes that there is no development and naturally passes the embryo by expelling the contents of the uterus. In these cases, the miscarriage will be similar to a heavy period, which can feel completely normal for someone unaware they had a blighted ovum.

If the blighted ovum is diagnosed but the body continues to act pregnant and releases hormones, your doctor may wait a few days to see if the body adjusts and eventually passes the embryo. If the body continues to keep the embryo attached despite no development, medication or surgery can be used to clear the contents of the uterus.

Medication like Cytotec can induce a miscarriage which causes temporary heavy bleeding. A brief surgical procedure can be also be given by dilating the cervix and manually emptying the uterus.

Miscarriages can be scary and make you feel like something is wrong with your fertility, but in most cases, this is not reality. Miscarriages are a natural part of pregnancies and often have no bearing on how fertile you are. Having one blighted ovum is usually no cause for concern and statistics show you will likely have a normal and healthy pregnancy in the future, even immediately after a blighted ovum.

The reason for these success stories is that treatments used for blighted ovum also have no negative effects on future pregnancies, even for surgical procedures.

If you have experienced multiple blighted ova or are struggling with miscarriages, there may be a different underlying problem, such as a hormone imbalance or genetic mutation.

Your doctor can run tests to identify possible causes for complications in development. Incidence of pregnancy after expectant, medical, or surgical management of spontaneous first trimester miscarriage: long term follow-up of miscarriage treatment MIST randomized controlled trial.

BMJ, ; b Cytogenetic testing of anembryonic pregnancies compared to embryonic missed abortions. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 24 11 , Epidemiology and the medical causes of miscarriage. Discuss all of your options with your doctor. Also discuss with your doctor about exposure to toxins in the environment. It may be linked to blighted ovum and miscarriage. Just as with any miscarriage, your body and emotional well-being need time to heal.

You and your doctor will discuss how long you should wait before trying to conceive again. During this time, focus on healthy lifestyle habits for your body and mental health, such as:. 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.

Your doctor may recommend testing for these types of conditions. Tests may include:. The specific cause of blighted ovum is unknown, but chromosomal anomalies appear to be a main factor. Most women who experience this go on to have healthy pregnancies. The loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks is considered a miscarriage.

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Show references Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetric ultrasound: Imaging, dating, growth, and anomaly. In: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Aug. DeCherney AH, et al. Early pregnancy risks. New York, N. Tulandi T, et al. Spontaneous abortion: Risk factors, etiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic evaluation.

Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. Treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss. American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ Early pregnancy loss. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.