embryo arrest


Will the breasts still hurt if there is an embryonic arrest?
After the occurrence of an embryonic arrest, women may also experience breast pain and tenderness. This is due to hormones in the body not being able to immediately return to normal levels, so these hormones still stimulate the breasts, causing pain and tenderness. As the level of hormones in the body decreases, this breast pain, as well as some early pregnancy symptoms, will gradually alleviate. About a week after embryonic arrest, these reactions will gradually ease until they completely disappear. However, timely treatment is necessary after embryonic arrest.


The best time for uterine cleaning after embryonic arrest
When it is confirmed that there is a phenomenon of embryonic arrest, it should be dealt with as soon as possible, and the earlier the better. If the duration of stay is long, it may cause a missed miscarriage, which can easily lead to exacerbated embryo conditions and increase the difficulty of miscarriage. Moreover, there is a risk of infection in the uterine cavity and abnormalities in blood coagulation function. Therefore, once confirmed, immediate treatment should be carried out. There are also many reasons for embryonic arrest, and it is recommended that after the occurrence of embryonic arrest, timely visits to the hospital for related checks should be made to identify the reasons and prepare for the next pregnancy planning.


Why are there still pregnancy reactions when the embryo has ceased to develop?
Women experience various pregnancy reactions to different degrees after conceiving, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue. These are primarily caused by hormonal changes in the body following pregnancy. When there is a case of embryonic arrest, the hormones in the body will gradually decrease, and the pregnancy reactions will also gradually weaken. Some may also experience abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Therefore, after embryonic arrest occurs, some pregnant women may exhibit early signs, such as the disappearance of breast tenderness and vaginal bleeding, along with a reduction in pregnancy reactions. These signs indicate that timely treatment is necessary.


Why is there still morning sickness when the embryo has stopped developing?
After a missed miscarriage occurs, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the body does not immediately drop to normal levels, so symptoms of morning sickness may still occur. As the hormone levels decrease gradually following the embryonic demise, these symptoms of morning sickness will also gradually ease and even disappear. Therefore, it is important to address a missed miscarriage promptly. This can be managed through surgical abortion or medication-induced abortion to avoid prolonged untreated cases, which could lead to gynecological inflammation or abnormalities in blood coagulation functions.


What should I do if the embryo stops developing?
After the diagnosis of embryonic arrest, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy promptly. One can choose to undergo a uterine curettage or opt for medical abortion. Depending on the gestational age and the size of the fetus, an appropriate method of pregnancy termination should be selected. If the embryonic arrest is not expelled promptly, it could lead to a myomatous miscarriage, which easily causes gynecological infections and severe bleeding, and may even lead to hemorrhagic shock. This poses a significant risk to life safety. After embryonic arrest, it is advisable to promptly visit a hospital for consultation and examination. After undergoing an abortion surgery, it is important to rest, enhance nutrition, and avoid overexertion.


What is the progesterone level for embryonic arrest?
When an embryo stops developing, the progesterone level will gradually decrease, but how much it can decrease is uncertain; it depends on the gestational age and individual differences. However, if an embryo stops developing, the progesterone level usually does not exceed 20. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is essential for pregnant women to maintain good living habits, avoid harmful factors, rest well, strengthen nutrition, abstain from sexual intercourse in early pregnancy, avoid misuse of medication, and be vigilant about symptoms like vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain.


Will the pregnancy test strip become lighter if the embryo stops developing?
After embryonic arrest, early pregnancy tests will show a fading phenomenon. This is because the embryo has stopped developing, and the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the body no longer rises but instead significantly declines. Early pregnancy tests work by detecting the amount of HCG in the urine. When embryonic arrest causes HCG levels to decrease, the result on pregnancy tests will gradually become fainter, even turning negative. It is advised that in cases of embryonic arrest, prompt miscarriage management or uterine evacuation should be conducted to prevent potential inflammatory gynecological conditions and impacts on the woman's clotting function.


Does an embryonic arrest require a dilation and curettage?
According to the different intervention methods, surgical abortion is needed during an abortion procedure, while medical abortion might not be necessary. Embryonic arrest, also known as missed abortion, occurs during pregnancy due to various factors which result in the absence of a fetal heartbeat in the gestational sac or fetus. Most cases of embryonic arrest occur during early pregnancy. If no fetal heartbeat is observed by the 9th week of pregnancy, it is diagnosed as embryonic arrest. Once embryonic growth ceases, it is crucial to intervene artificially as soon as possible to expel the gestational sac from the uterus. Common methods of artificial intervention include medical abortion and surgical abortion. If surgical abortion is chosen for an embryonic arrest, it involves direct curettage or evacuation of the uterus. Embryonic arrest can also be treated with medical abortion, which involves taking oral medication to stimulate uterine contractions, soften the cervix, and expel the gestational sac from the uterus. A follow-up is required about two weeks after the abortion. If there is no residual material in the uterine cavity, then curettage is not necessary; however, if substantive residuals or blood signals are present inside the uterine cavity, then curettage is needed.


Is it necessary to send an embryo for examination if embryonic arrest occurs?
After fetal growth restriction occurs, it is still necessary to send the fetus for examination after dealing with any abnormalities that arise. There are many factors that can cause embryonic arrest, such as maternal factors, abnormal immune function, and the environment of the pregnant woman. More importantly, factors related to the embryo, such as chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, are the main cause of embryonic arrest. Therefore, after embryonic arrest occurs, it is recommended to go to the hospital for a fetal chromosomal examination to lay a good foundation for the next conception.


Does an embryonic arrest require a uterine curettage?
After discovering that the embryo has ceased developing, it is necessary to undergo a uterine cleaning treatment. If an embryo arrest is not dealt with promptly, it can cause an infection in the uterine cavity and even lead to abnormalities in the woman's coagulation function, which is very detrimental to health. However, a uterine cleaning is not always necessary. If the gestational sac is relatively small, medications can be used to induce contractions of the uterus, facilitating the expulsion of the gestational sac from the body. It is advisable to handle the situation promptly after discovering an arrested embryo and to perform thorough prenatal screenings before attempting to conceive again, to prevent the recurrence of such adverse pregnancy conditions.