Can a pregnancy test still detect pregnancy if the embryo has stopped developing?

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

Updated on March 16, 2025

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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 Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

1min 6sec

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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

1min

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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 Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

58sec

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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

1min 2sec

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Embryonic arrest means

Embryonic arrest, as the name implies, refers to the cessation of embryo development. In clinical practice, it is also called fibroid miscarriage. Embryonic arrest is a pathological condition. Normally, in the early stages of pregnancy, as activity increases, the gestational sac gradually begins to show a yolk sac, embryo bud, and fetal heartbeat. If the fetal heartbeat is still not visible after a certain period, it indicates that the gestational sac is in a state of decay and that the embryo has stopped developing. Generally, 9 weeks of pregnancy is considered the final deadline for diagnosis. If no fetal heartbeat is detected during an ultrasound at 9 weeks of pregnancy, it can be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. Once diagnosed, it is advisable to proceed with an abortion as soon as possible to minimize harm to the woman’s body. If embryonic arrest occurs consecutively more than twice, a thorough examination of both partners should be conducted to determine the cause, to guide the next pregnancy.

home-news-image

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

45sec

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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.