Is a threatened miscarriage the same as a biochemical pregnancy?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Threatened miscarriage and biochemical pregnancy are two important terms used to describe the state of pregnancy in early stages, but they are two completely different physiological states.

First, threatened miscarriage refers to a situation where an intrauterine pregnancy has been confirmed and the gestational sac is unstable or affected by external stimuli, showing symptoms such as lower abdominal pain and spotting. These symptoms merely indicate signs of a possible miscarriage, and with timely treatment, it is possible to revert to a normal pregnancy.

Second, a biochemical pregnancy is a type of natural miscarriage. It refers to early pregnancy where the HCG levels are relatively low, no clear gestational sac has formed, and upon re-examination, the HCG levels are found to decrease quickly, accompanied only by minimal vaginal bleeding.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What are the symptoms of a threatened miscarriage?

When threatened miscarriage occurs, pregnant women often experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. However, at this time, the fetal heartbeat and embryo are generally still in good condition, and timely treatment to preserve the pregnancy can be effective. But if the patient experiences a significant amount of bleeding and severe pain, accompanied by backache and a sense of heaviness, it may indicate a threatened miscarriage. It is advised to go to a hospital for an ultrasound examination and to have blood tests to check progesterone levels to determine if treatment to preserve the pregnancy is needed. If, after such treatment, vaginal bleeding stops and abdominal pain disappears, then the pregnancy can typically continue.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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What to do about a threatened miscarriage?

Threatened miscarriage refers to the occurrence of a small amount of vaginal bleeding before 28 weeks of pregnancy, often dark red, with no pregnancy tissue expelled, and may include pain in the lower abdomen and back. During a gynecological examination, the cervix is closed and the membrane is unruptured, and the pregnancy can continue if the symptoms disappear after rest and treatment. In handling a threatened miscarriage, it is first necessary to analyze the causes of the miscarriage. Common causes include embryonic factors, mainly chromosomal abnormalities. If the miscarriage is caused by chromosomal abnormalities, it is mostly unavoidable. Maternal factors, such as systemic diseases in pregnant women, include increased blood pressure, severe anemia, high fever, etc. Pregnancy can mostly continue with treatment of the cause. Abnormalities in the reproductive organs, such as uterine malformations, submucous and intramural fibroids, adenomyosis, etc., can lead to miscarriage. With appropriate treatment to preserve the pregnancy, there is hope to continue the pregnancy. If due to endocrine abnormalities, such as luteal phase deficiency or hypothyroidism, supplementing with progesterone and thyroid hormones can mostly allow the pregnancy to continue. Identifying the cause of a miscarriage is extremely important, as different causes can lead to different pregnancy outcomes.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Is threatened miscarriage dangerous?

There are various causes of threatened miscarriage, so the danger of a threatened miscarriage depends on the cause. If the reason for the threatened miscarriage is due to abnormal fetal chromosome development, gynecological inflammation, or endocrine dysfunction, then it is necessary to receive timely treatment. If fetal development abnormalities are detected, the pregnancy must be terminated promptly and cannot continue. However, if the threatened miscarriage is simply due to low progesterone levels, then generally, the pregnancy can be successfully maintained by timely supplementation of progesterone, and this situation is not severe.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can a threatened miscarriage be treated to preserve the pregnancy?

In cases of threatened miscarriage, whether to continue the pregnancy depends on the specific situation of the pregnant woman and the embryo inside the womb. If the vaginal bleeding is relatively minor, there is no severe abdominal pain, and an ultrasound shows that the embryo is still alive, then it is possible to continue with medication to maintain the pregnancy. However, if the symptoms of threatened miscarriage are severe after it occurs, and ultrasounds show abnormal embryo development, along with a continuous decline in human chorionic gonadotropin levels, these conditions indicate that miscarriage is inevitable, and it is generally not recommended to continue trying to maintain the pregnancy.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can you eat chili peppers with a threatened miscarriage?

When a threatened miscarriage occurs, pregnant women should not eat chili peppers. This is because chili peppers are spicy and stimulating foods, and consuming them can easily lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and reflexively cause uterine contractions, which may result in miscarriage. After a threatened miscarriage occurs, it is essential to pay attention to diet. It is recommended to eat light, easy-to-digest foods, such as thin porridge, soft noodles, or soft bread. Additionally, it is important to increase the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. These supplements of vitamins and proteins can enhance the immune capacity of pregnant women and strengthen their resistance, which is also helpful for successful pregnancy maintenance.