Can you have intercourse with an arrested embryo development?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 22, 2024
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It is not recommended to have sexual intercourse when embryo arrest occurs. Embryo arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the abnormal development of the gestational sac during early pregnancy, and no fetal heartbeat is detected on an ultrasound by the ninth week of pregnancy. Once embryo arrest is diagnosed in clinical practice, a dilation and curettage surgery should be performed as soon as possible to minimize the impact on the fetus. However, during embryo arrest, since the gestational sac itself is not developing normally and is unstable, it is not advisable to have sexual activity. Sexual activity could stimulate the uterus to contract, leading to bleeding, which is not conducive to managing the embryo arrest. Moreover, sexual activity can easily lead to gynecological inflammation. If sexual activity causes gynecological inflammation, it is necessary to treat the inflammation before proceeding with the abortion, which can delay the process. Therefore, it is not recommended to have sexual intercourse during embryo arrest.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Does an embryonic arrest still have pregnancy reactions?

After a normal miscarriage, hormone levels do not suddenly drop to a non-pregnant state, so pregnancy reactions may still occur. Simply based on the current state of pregnancy reactions, it is not possible to accurately judge the developmental condition of the embryo in the uterine cavity. It is still necessary to undergo regular prenatal checks after becoming pregnant and monitor the development of the embryo in the uterine cavity via ultrasound. If the embryo has already stopped developing, it is necessary to seek medical treatment for an abortion in a timely manner to avoid causing disorders in the body's coagulation function.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can a pregnancy test still detect pregnancy if the embryo has stopped developing?

After embryonic arrest, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the body is still relatively high, and it does not immediately drop to normal. Therefore, if a pregnancy test is conducted at this time, it can still test positive. The diagnosis of embryonic arrest needs to be confirmed by an ultrasound examination, which checks the size of the fetus and whether there is a fetal heartbeat and fetal bud, and whether they correspond to the gestational age. If embryonic arrest is confirmed, it is necessary to actively proceed with an abortion, then identify and actively treat the causes of the embryonic arrest, in preparation for the next pregnancy attempt.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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How to preserve a pregnancy after embryonic arrest

Embryonic arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to a condition during early pregnancy where if no fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound during weeks 8 to 9 of pregnancy, it should be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. Embryonic arrest indicates that the gestational sac has ceased to live, and in such cases, efforts to preserve the pregnancy are pointless as they are meaningless. However, it is important to analyze the reasons behind embryonic arrest to guide future pregnancies. Common causes of embryonic arrest include abnormalities in chromosomes, infections, immunity, and rheumatological markers. When embryonic arrest occurs, tests should be conducted targeting these indicators to clearly identify the abnormal factors, thereby guiding and potentially increasing the success rate of subsequent pregnancies.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can an ultrasound detect an embryonic arrest?

Embryonic arrest refers to a condition in early pregnancy where no fetal heartbeat appears in the gestational sac. The diagnostic criteria mainly include the lack of observable primitive heart tube pulsation via ultrasound after two months of pregnancy, at which point embryonic arrest can be confirmed. The definitive diagnosis of embryonic arrest is primarily through ultrasound. The following situations observed during an ultrasound can lead to a diagnosis of embryonic arrest: 1. If the diameter of the gestational sac exceeds three centimeters without a clear fetal heartbeat or embryo visible inside, it can be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. 2. If an embryo is already present and approximately 10 days after the appearance of the embryo, an ultrasound still does not show a fetal heartbeat, this situation can also be determined as embryonic arrest.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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How to handle bleeding due to embryonic arrest?

If it has already been determined that the embryo has ceased to develop and significant vaginal bleeding has occurred, it is likely that the bleeding is caused by uterine contractions stimulated by the halted embryonic development. In this case, it is first necessary to seek medical attention promptly. After confirming the halted development of the embryo, it is important to perform a surgical abortion promptly to completely remove all tissues associated with the ceased embryonic development, reducing the occurrence of post-abortion bleeding. After the surgery, it is also necessary to promptly use antibiotics to prevent infections within the uterine cavity.