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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Is a painless abortion painful for a missed miscarriage?

After an embryonic arrest occurs, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy promptly, and a painless abortion surgery can be chosen. During the abortion surgery, anesthetic drugs are administered, usually intravenous anesthesia. During the procedure, the patient is in a sleeping state, completely unconscious, and therefore does not feel any pain. Generally, a few minutes after the surgery, the effect of the anesthetic wears off quickly and the patient will wake up. Therefore, patients can rest assured, especially for women who are particularly sensitive to pain, using painless abortion can reduce their fear and alleviate some of the pain during the procedure.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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What are the reasons for two instances of embryonic arrest?

According to current medical viewpoints, there are various reasons for embryonic arrest, but in 50% of cases, the cause is unknown. Identified causes can generally be divided into several categories such as chromosomal issues, maternal metabolic issues including thyroid disorders, diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Additionally, immune factors such as lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome, along with abnormal antibodies, are also reasons. Furthermore, abnormal maternal anatomical structures, like abnormal uterine development, can lead to embryonic arrest. Paternal factors, such as abnormal sperm, can also result in embryonic arrest. Upon encountering embryonic arrest, if it occurs once, it can be observed initially. However, if there are two or more instances, comprehensive examinations for both partners are necessary, including chromosomal tests.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Does a missed miscarriage have any symptoms?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed abortion, refers to the influence of various factors on the growth and development of the gestational sac in early pregnancy, resulting in the absence of a fetal heartbeat. In the early stages, embryo arrest is imperceptible, as it often shows no signs. It is incorrect for some women to judge embryo arrest based on the presence of abdominal pain or changes in pregnancy reactions. Reactions to embryo arrest only appear after a certain period. When the embryo has been arrested for a longer period, the body may treat the gestational sac as a foreign object and attempt to expel it. This situation may present symptoms of threatened miscarriage, such as abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Under these circumstances, one can visit the hospital for an ultrasound to assess the condition of the fetal heartbeat. The absence of a fetal heartbeat confirms the presence of embryo arrest.

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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 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.