What to do about abdominal pain caused by embryonic arrest?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on February 11, 2025
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After discovering an embryonic arrest accompanied by abdominal pain, it is important to observe whether there is vaginal bleeding or expulsion of embryonic tissue. If the embryo is not expelled in time, an immediate uterine evacuation surgery is necessary to avoid the risk of intrauterine infection and impact on health. After the surgery, it is important to rest, enhance nutrition, and eat foods rich in vitamins and proteins. Moreover, a week later, a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound should be conducted to check if the expulsion was complete and to understand the recovery status of the uterus.

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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.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Does an embryonic arrest require a dilation and curettage?

According to the different intervention methods, surgical abortion is needed during an abortion procedure, while medical abortion might not be necessary. Embryonic arrest, also known as missed abortion, occurs during pregnancy due to various factors which result in the absence of a fetal heartbeat in the gestational sac or fetus. Most cases of embryonic arrest occur during early pregnancy. If no fetal heartbeat is observed by the 9th week of pregnancy, it is diagnosed as embryonic arrest. Once embryonic growth ceases, it is crucial to intervene artificially as soon as possible to expel the gestational sac from the uterus. Common methods of artificial intervention include medical abortion and surgical abortion. If surgical abortion is chosen for an embryonic arrest, it involves direct curettage or evacuation of the uterus. Embryonic arrest can also be treated with medical abortion, which involves taking oral medication to stimulate uterine contractions, soften the cervix, and expel the gestational sac from the uterus. A follow-up is required about two weeks after the abortion. If there is no residual material in the uterine cavity, then curettage is not necessary; however, if substantive residuals or blood signals are present inside the uterine cavity, then curettage is needed.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What is the progesterone level for embryonic arrest?

When an embryo stops developing, the progesterone level will gradually decrease, but how much it can decrease is uncertain; it depends on the gestational age and individual differences. However, if an embryo stops developing, the progesterone level usually does not exceed 20. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is essential for pregnant women to maintain good living habits, avoid harmful factors, rest well, strengthen nutrition, abstain from sexual intercourse in early pregnancy, avoid misuse of medication, and be vigilant about symptoms like vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain.

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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 Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Does an embryonic arrest still have pregnancy reactions?

After a normal miscarriage, hormone levels do not suddenly drop to a non-pregnant state, so pregnancy reactions may still occur. Simply based on the current state of pregnancy reactions, it is not possible to accurately judge the developmental condition of the embryo in the uterine cavity. It is still necessary to undergo regular prenatal checks after becoming pregnant and monitor the development of the embryo in the uterine cavity via ultrasound. If the embryo has already stopped developing, it is necessary to seek medical treatment for an abortion in a timely manner to avoid causing disorders in the body's coagulation function.