How long does it take for a miscarried embryo to be expelled from the body?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on February 07, 2025
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After the embryo ceases to develop, some may naturally miscarry. Others may not be expelled naturally and require medical intervention for removal. After the embryo has stopped developing, the timing of expulsion varies from person to person due to different physical constitutions. Most women can naturally miscarry after the embryo stops developing, typically within about ten days when expulsion occurs. However, some embryonic tissue may be larger and adhere to the uterine cavity, preventing expulsion and causing continuous vaginal bleeding. In such cases, a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound is necessary, followed by medical abortion or a dilation and curettage procedure.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Is embryonic arrest related to diet?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the absence of a fetal heartbeat in the early stages of pregnancy due to various factors affecting the gestational sac. Typically, if no fetal heartbeat and embryo are detected during an ultrasound at about 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy, it can be diagnosed as embryo arrest. Currently, there are many reasons for embryo arrest in clinical practice, but many pregnant women look for causes in their daily life, such as diet and exercise. However, these factors are largely unrelated to embryo arrest. While diet plays a very important role in human health, the growth and development of an embryo are mainly influenced by its own genetic material, endocrine, and coagulation factors, which are generally unrelated to diet. Therefore, when embryo arrest occurs, one should not look for reasons in diet or other daily life factors; instead, it is advisable to undergo targeted medical examinations to determine the specific cause.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Why are there still reactions when the embryo is arrested?

After an occurrence of embryonic arrest, some early pregnancy reactions in pregnant women will gradually ease but not disappear immediately. This is mainly related to elevated hormone levels in the body. Even after the embryonic arrest, the hormone levels in the body remain relatively high. As the arrested embryo is expelled from the body, the hormone levels will gradually decrease, and some early pregnancy reactions will also gradually ease. Generally, these adverse reactions will gradually ease and eventually disappear about a week after the embryo is expelled from the body.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Why are there still pregnancy reactions when the embryo has ceased to develop?

Women experience various pregnancy reactions to different degrees after conceiving, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue. These are primarily caused by hormonal changes in the body following pregnancy. When there is a case of embryonic arrest, the hormones in the body will gradually decrease, and the pregnancy reactions will also gradually weaken. Some may also experience abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Therefore, after embryonic arrest occurs, some pregnant women may exhibit early signs, such as the disappearance of breast tenderness and vaginal bleeding, along with a reduction in pregnancy reactions. These signs indicate that timely treatment is necessary.

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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 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.