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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What are the causes of embryonic arrest?

If an embryonic arrest is discovered, there are many specific reasons for the arrest. Firstly, the main reason for embryonic arrest is due to congenital abnormalities in the formation and development of the fertilized egg, which is a relatively common situation. Moreover, embryonic arrest usually occurs early when there are developmental abnormalities. In some cases, it may be caused by maternal factors, such as abnormal diseases in the mother or abnormalities in chromosomes, which can lead to poor embryonic development and subsequently cause embryonic arrest. Occasionally, issues related to the viability of the male sperm, or the presence of abnormal sperm, may also lead to embryonic arrest. Because there are many reasons for embryonic arrest, it is generally not possible to systematically investigate the specific causes.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Why is there no bleeding or abdominal pain when an embryo stops developing?

After the occurrence of embryonic arrest, some pregnant women may not experience any uncomfortable symptoms, nor do they have vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. Embryonic arrest is detected through ultrasound examination, by observing the shape of the gestational sac and whether there is an embryo and fetal heartbeat present. If there is still no fetal heartbeat after eight weeks of pregnancy, it is determined that fetal development has ceased, or if the size of the embryo does not grow progressively with the gestational weeks, it is also judged as embryonic arrest. At this time, timely treatment should be performed, and one can choose either surgical abortion or medical abortion, rather than waiting and observing.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Will the gestational sac shrink if the embryo stops developing?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed abortion, refers to a condition in the early stages of pregnancy where the gestational sac does not develop normally due to various factors. Generally, the gestational sac will not begin to shrink until the embryo has been arrested for a considerable period. In the initial stages of embryo arrest, since the duration is relatively short, the trophoblastic cells within the gestational sac can still secrete estrogens, progesterone, and chorionic gonadotropin. These hormones stimulate the possible continued growth of the gestational sac in the short term. However, as the duration of the embryo arrest extends, the proliferation of the trophoblastic cells decreases, leading to a decline in hormone levels in the body. This reduces the stimulation to the gestational sac, causing it to gradually shrink, decrease in size, and possibly leading to a natural miscarriage.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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Is hospitalization necessary for embryonic arrest?

This is not necessarily the case; it depends on the specific situation. Firstly, we need to consider the timing of the embryo arrest. If the embryo arrest occurs within 70 days of pregnancy, generally, hospitalization is not needed, and a miscarriage can often be handled on an outpatient basis. However, if the embryo stops developing after 70 days of pregnancy, even reaching three or four months, then hospitalization is required for a induced labor. This is because the fetus is relatively larger, making outpatient treatment problematic and riskier. Additionally, we must also consider if the pregnant woman has any complications. If there are complications alongside the embryo arrest, it is generally safer to be hospitalized.