What happens if there is embryonic arrest without miscarriage?

Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
Updated on September 04, 2024
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If an embryo stops developing but is not miscarried, the retained embryonic tissue can disrupt the clotting function in the pregnant woman’s body over time, leading to a condition called a missed miscarriage. Therefore, after a missed miscarriage occurs, it is important to check the duration it has been retained. If it has been a considerable amount of time, clotting function should be examined. If clotting is still within normal ranges, it is crucial to expedite the process allowing the woman to expel the non-viable embryonic tissue as soon as possible, which is beneficial for her health.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can embryonic arrest be prevented in advance?

There are no absolute methods in medicine to prevent embryonic arrest in advance, but we can intervene to some extent, such as by conducting pre-pregnancy check-ups. Both spouses should undergo comprehensive examinations at a hospital to see if there are any physical abnormalities that could affect pregnancy. It is also important to avoid exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy, such as working with hazardous materials, exposure to radiation, and consuming contaminated food. Additionally, pregnant individuals should quit smoking, abstain from alcohol, relax, maintain an optimistic attitude, and actively exercise to enhance their immune system.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Will the embryo still grow if the embryo has ceased development?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed abortion, refers to the condition in early pregnancy where, due to congenital developmental defects in the gestational sac or other influencing factors, natural development does not occur, resulting in the absence of a fetal heartbeat. Once embryo arrest has been diagnosed, the embryo generally does not continue to grow, because embryo arrest means that the gestational sac has died and is gradually decaying. If a subsequent ultrasound check reveals that the embryo may have grown slightly since the previous examination, this should not be considered as growth continuation of the embryo, but rather attributed to measurement error. Therefore, once embryo arrest is detected and meets diagnostic criteria, timely re-examination may show some lengthening of the embryo. However, in the absence of a fetal heartbeat, it still needs to be treated as embryo arrest, and an abortion procedure should be promptly performed.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Will the embryo still grow if the embryo has stopped developing?

When embryonic arrest occurs, the embryo will no longer grow. There are many causes for embryonic arrest, such as congenital developmental defects of the gestational sac, abnormalities in the fertilized egg, congenital genetic diseases, and chromosomal abnormalities, all of which can easily lead to the cessation of embryonic development. At this time, regular observation of the embryonic tissue, which will no longer continue to grow and no fetal heartbeat is present, can confirm the condition of embryonic arrest. It is recommended to proceed with further treatment, such as medical abortion or surgical abortion. After the abortion, it is important to rest and enhance nutrition. It is also advised to have a thorough pregnancy check-up before the next pregnancy attempt to prevent recurrence of embryonic arrest.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Do you need to be hospitalized for uterine evacuation after a missed miscarriage?

The criteria for diagnosing embryo arrest generally involve the appearance of the embryonic bud and heart tube between six to eight weeks. If these are not visible beyond eight weeks, the situation is referred to as embryonic arrest. Embryonic arrest requires abortion, which for safety reasons typically involves hospitalization and a combination of medication and uterine evacuation. However, if the gestational sac is relatively small, an outpatient abortion procedure might be sufficient. Whether hospitalization is necessary should be assessed by a doctor, who will consider factors such as previous scar pregnancies, the condition of a scarred uterus, and the size of the current gestational sac, to make a comprehensive decision.