Can an arrested embryo be expelled naturally?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Embryonic arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the restriction of growth and development of the gestational sac in early pregnancy due to various factors, with no fetal heartbeat detected on an ultrasound at 9 weeks of pregnancy. When embryonic arrest occurs, a natural miscarriage may happen, but it's also possible that a natural miscarriage won't occur. Once embryonic arrest is confirmed, waiting for a natural miscarriage isn't advisable, as it is unpredictable and sometimes there might be no signs of miscarriage for a long time. Unrestricted waiting in such cases can harm a woman's body. Therefore, once embryonic arrest is diagnosed, hospitalization should be promptly sought, and artificial intervention methods such as surgical or medical abortion should be considered. While there is a possibility that the embryo could be expelled naturally, the likelihood is relatively low.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can medication completely clear an arrested embryo?

After confirming that there is an embryonic arrest, timely treatment should be carried out, which can be either medical abortion or curettage. If the pregnancy is less than 50 days, medical abortion can be an option. Afterwards, an ultrasound should be conducted to check if everything has been completely expelled. If no residues are found, no further treatment is required. However, if any residues are discovered, another curettage must be performed. Therefore, whether a medical abortion can be completely effective in cases of embryonic arrest depends on the gestational age at the time of the occurrence.

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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 Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does embryonic arrest definitely require a uterine curettage?

After embryo arrest, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy in a timely manner, but it is not always necessary to undergo a uterine curettage; medication can also be taken orally to help expel the pregnancy sac. Oral medication can stimulate the uterus and soften the cervix to cause uterine contractions and expel the pregnancy sac outside the uterus. However, if the embryo arrest occurs later in the pregnancy, then an artificial abortion is required, which can be done by direct curettage or uterine clearing to help expel the pregnancy tissue. Therefore, it is recommended to go to the hospital for an ultrasound examination after embryo arrest, and then decide whether to choose medical abortion or uterine clearing based on the timing of the examination. (The specific medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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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 Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Is embryonic arrest related to emotions?

Embryonic arrest refers to a condition during early pregnancy, around 9-10 weeks, where no fetal heartbeat is detected. In clinical practice, there are many causes of embryonic arrest, including chromosomal abnormalities, uterine malformations, infections, immune factors, and coagulation factors. However, many women do not investigate these reasons after experiencing embryonic arrest. Instead, they look for causes in their daily lives, such as dietary factors or emotional factors. In reality, embryonic arrest is generally not closely related to everyday life factors. Even if emotions fluctuate, such as becoming irritable or easily provoked, which might affect the gestational sac, such impacts usually manifest as symptoms of threatened miscarriage, but generally do not lead to embryonic arrest. Therefore, there is generally no correlation between embryonic arrest and emotional states.