The fertilized egg in the uterus is the first and most main sign normal, intrauterine pregnancy. You can see it with an ultrasound as early as the second week of delayed menstruation. In the first weeks of development, doctors pay attention to Special attention on its size, shape, location, as well as whether there are detachments. What does it look like ovum in the first weeks of pregnancy, and what problems may arise in the earliest stages?
It is known that in the first trimester of pregnancy there is the greatest threat of spontaneous abortion. Most often, the reasons for this are disturbances in the genetics of the unborn child, progesterone deficiency and pathologies of the uterus and endometrium. And if in the first case the doctors are unable to help save the child, other situations can be completely resolved in favor of the mother and child.
If the shape of the fertilized egg is not oval or round, but has uneven corners, doctors may suspect uterine tone. In most cases, the condition is harmless, but only if it is not combined with pain, dilatation of the cervix, brown or bloody vaginal discharge. You can relieve the tone of the uterus, thereby returning the “correct” shape to the fertilized egg, if you relax the muscles of the reproductive organ. This happens spontaneously, usually the tone does not last longer than a couple of minutes. As a last resort, you can take an antispasmodic if the tension of the uterus becomes painful. But a single “deformation” is not a sign of a threat to pregnancy.
The diameter must be measured during an ultrasound examination. fertilized eggs and by week - its size in millimeters. On the one hand, this makes it possible to determine the gestational age with an accuracy of one day, while obstetric term(which is calculated using the Naegele formula, depending on the first day of the last menstruation) is not always accurate. Exact date can only be calculated using a “classic” 28-30 day cycle. On the other hand, it allows us to judge the development of the child at the earliest stages. This is important, for example, in IVF, when there is a high increase in spontaneous abortion. With artificial insemination, the doctor knows exactly the gestational age. And knowing that, for example, the diameter of the fertilized egg at 5 weeks is approximately 6 mm, will allow you to understand whether future baby, whereas the ultrasound does not yet show a heartbeat. If nothing changes for several days, you can suspect a frozen pregnancy. The size of the fetal egg of 50 mm approximately corresponds to a period of 10 weeks; after this period, the size of the head and limbs of the fetus itself are taken into account, for which there are also their own standards.
It is a very unpleasant situation if an ultrasound reveals a fetal egg without an embryo, that is, anembryony. With a short pregnancy (1-2 weeks late) this is the norm. But if the embryo is not visible even later, such a pregnancy cannot be maintained, doctors recommend medical interruption. Anembryonia is often caused by accidental genetic “breakdowns” (more common in women over 35 years old), taking various medications prohibited for pregnant women, and other teratogenic effects.
Detachment of the ovum is not as hopeless as anembryonia, although it often has clear signs of miscarriage - uterine bleeding. This pathology is very common. With this complication of pregnancy, the woman is recommended to have bed rest and take progesterone medications. And if the detachment is small in area, usually everything works out without consequences for the child. Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital.
If the doctor suspects you have one of the above pathologies, try not to worry and pull yourself together. Do you have doubts about the diagnosis? Get examined by another doctor. Just do not ignore medical recommendations and treatment.
Irregularly shaped ovum is a phrase often found in the conclusion of ultrasound examinations of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. It sounds scary... For many, this is synonymous with pathologies and fetal inferiority. But doctors claim that there is nothing strange or scary in this “diagnosis”, in most cases... Let's figure it out.
In books on obstetrics and gynecology you can read that the shape of the fertilized egg is oval or round. But appearance it may change. And this happens not because of the inferiority of the unborn child, but because of the local tone of the uterus, which occurs, most often, as a result of the effect on skin the same ultrasound sensor. The deformed fertilized egg becomes normal literally a few minutes after the examination.
Could it be dangerous? Not always. Modern doctors believe that tone can only cause harm if it leads to dilatation of the cervix or brings pain, interferes with Everyday life. In such cases, doctors prescribe progesterone drugs - most often Utrozhestan, Duphaston. It is also recommended to reduce physical activity and refusal of sexual activity for as long as the threat of miscarriage remains. More indicative in this regard is bleeding from the genital tract, which occurs when chorionic detachment occurs.
But even if the fertilized egg is oval-shaped, the woman feels well, there is no tone, this does not mean that everything is fine and the pregnancy is developing. The main evidence of this is the presence of a heartbeat in the embryo. It can be seen at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy on an ultrasound. But first, you need to see the embryo itself, since in some cases it turns out to be empty - that is, the embryo in it stops developing at the earliest stages. In this case, no medications will help - the pregnancy must be terminated. But if anembryonia is suspected, which is the name given to the absence of an embryo in the fertilized egg, there is no rush to make a diagnosis, since the embryo may not be visible due to a short gestational age or a weak ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. The woman is recommended to undergo an ultrasound scan in a few more days.
If we talk about the size of the fertilized egg, then having received information about this in the first weeks of pregnancy, the doctor can accurately determine its due date down to the day and accurately say whether the fertilized egg is developing. The calculation is carried out in millimeters.
From all of the above, we can conclude that a deformed ovum alone cannot be the reason for the diagnosis of “threatened miscarriage” or “ non-developing pregnancy" There are much more indicative symptoms for this.
Obstetric pathology is important aspect modern medicine. And among all diseases, miscarriage holds a special place. For women who hoped for a successful conception and further development of the child, this becomes a heavy blow. A similar situation can happen on early, when there is a non-developing pregnancy of the anembryonic type, which indicates the absence of an embryo in the fertilized egg. Why this happens and what actions should be taken are questions that the doctor will answer. And a woman should follow his recommendations.
Causes and mechanisms
The causes of undeveloped pregnancy are diverse and complex. It is difficult to single out one factor that has the greatest impact on a woman’s body before and after conception. Most often we are talking about an association of several reasons. Of them important have the following:
- Infections (viral-bacterial, chlamydial, fungal).
- Chromosomal abnormalities (trisomy, monosomy, tri- and tetraploidy).
- Endocrine diseases ( diabetes, hypothyroidism, adrenogenital syndrome).
- Autoimmune disorders (antiphospholipid syndrome).
- Intoxication with chemicals.
- Heavy physical activity.
- Radioactive exposure.
- Taking certain medications.
The sensitivity of the embryo to external unfavorable factors is greatest in the early stages. There are critical periods during pregnancy when the risk of pathology is significantly higher. This is mainly observed 7–12 days after conception, during implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine mucosa, and from 3 to 8 weeks of gestation, which is associated with active processes of embryogenesis.
Among the mechanisms of development of anembryonia, the main role belongs to disruption of the life support processes of the embryo, which leads to its death. This occurs against the background of cessation of chorionic blood flow, involution of the villous membrane and exudative-fibrous reaction of the endometrium. The latter, instead of decidual transformation, acquires signs of glandular-cystic hyperplasia. If the pregnancy is not rejected, then the fertilized egg without an embryo may still long time persist in the uterus, increasing the risk of complications.
Anembryonia is a type of non-developing pregnancy. And its causes include external and internal factors that have an adverse effect on the fetus in the early stages of gestation.
Symptoms
A fertilized egg without an embryo does not have clear symptoms. But despite this, certain features can be identified in the clinical picture that make it possible to suspect obstetric pathology. As a rule, we are talking about the following manifestations:
- The size of the uterus does not correspond to the gestational age.
- Signs of pregnancy gradually disappear.
- Uterine tone is reduced.
- Scanty bleeding from the vagina appears.
With dynamic gynecological examination The size of the uterus does not grow, as it should normally, but, on the contrary, decreases. Cyanosis of the mucous membrane of the cervix and vagina disappears. Rectal temperature also decreases.
If a non-developing embryo lingers in the uterine cavity for a long time, then complications arise. First of all, we are talking about a blood clotting disorder (coagulopathy or DIC syndrome). In this case, increased bleeding occurs from various parts of the body and internal organs, which is difficult to stop. The second danger is infection of the mummified ovum and the development of endometritis.
Additional diagnostics
Additional methods are of decisive importance in the diagnosis of anembryonia. And the main role in this is played by ultrasound examination of the uterus. Based on its results, the following signs of pathology are determined:
- The absence of an embryo is an “empty” fertilized egg.
- Areas of chorionic detachment.
- Discontinuity of the decidua.
- Enlarged amniotic sac.
- Fuzzy visualization of the embryo.
- Deformation of the fertilized egg, uneven structure.
- No heartbeat.
If the doctor said that the woman does not have an embryo according to ultrasound, but clinically the pregnancy is progressing normally, then the study must be repeated after 7 days. With absence pathological changes the fetus will grow, and it will become not only visible, but also audible (at 8 weeks there should already be a heartbeat). Therefore, you should not rush to conclusions and focus only on the results of a one-time procedure.
According to ultrasound data, there are two types of anembryonia. The first is characterized by the fact that the diameter of the ovum does not exceed 25 mm, the size of the uterus corresponds to 5–7 weeks of pregnancy, but lags behind real time. In the second type, the egg grows at a normal speed and reaches 50 mm by 2.5 months, but the villous chorion is not visualized.
In addition to instrumental research, diagnosis includes determination of the hormonal spectrum and biochemical blood parameters. The following indicators may indicate anembryony:
- Low levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), absence of its peak concentration at 10–11 weeks.
- Decrease in prolactin, progesterone, estradiol, cortisol.
- A drop in the level of trophoblastic β1-globulin.
- Decrease in the concentration of placenta-specific α1-microglobulin.
It must be said that increased hCG, as well as other biochemical markers, indicate a normal course of pregnancy. And if even on an ultrasound the embryo is not yet visible - this happens up to 6-7 weeks - then the woman should not worry. Perhaps this is due to her individual characteristics or the imperfection of the apparatus.
To find out why the fertilized egg may be absent, a study of the immune status (immunoglobulins, lupus anticoagulant, cardilipin and antiphospholipid antibodies) is prescribed, and a genetic analysis (karyotyping) is performed. For early detection of complications, analysis of the coagulogram (clotting time, prothrombin index, fibrinogen) is necessary.
Anembryony can be confirmed only by instrumental and laboratory methods. But even their results should be considered in the context of the clinical picture and individual characteristics body.
Treatment
If a fertilized egg without an embryo lingers in the uterine cavity, then there is a real threat to the woman’s health and her life. Therefore, the pathology requires active treatment tactics. After a diagnosis of a non-developing pregnancy is made, it is terminated in one of the following ways:
- Vacuum aspiration.
- Scraping (curettage).
- Medical abortion.
After the fertilized egg has been eliminated, the woman is prescribed anti-inflammatory therapy, immunostimulating and restorative drugs. If a complication in the form of bleeding develops, then hemostatic agents and plasma substitutes are used. Endocrine disorders require appropriate hormone therapy, and autoimmune disorders require the use of glucocorticoids. To normalize the psychophysiological state, sedatives are indicated.
Subsequent pregnancy is recommended only after eliminating all factors involved in the development of pathology. The woman is advised to undergo medical genetic counseling and a careful approach to conception planning. It wouldn't hurt to lead healthy image life and emotionally tune in to a favorable bearing of a child.
Anembryonia is a fairly common obstetric pathology, which becomes known from ultrasound results. Also important in diagnosis are laboratory methods, allowing us to identify systemic disorders and suggest whether a subsequent pregnancy can end successfully. And to implement a positive scenario, it is necessary to adhere to medical recommendations in everything.
One of the first signs of pregnancy is the presence of a fertilized egg in the uterus. It consists of the embryo and its membranes (membrane). The first trimester of pregnancy is the most important stage in the development of the unborn child; it is during this period that diagnosis is based on studies of the ovum.
The size and growth of the fetal egg are analyzed during an ultrasound examination. Main indicator– SVD (average internal diameter of the ovum), in accordance with the size of which the gestational age is determined.
The fertilized egg should normally have a spherical or oval shape, its size corresponds to the established period of pregnancy and the age of the embryo.
However, in some cases, at the beginning of pregnancy, diagnoses established during an ultrasound examination may become a cause for concern for women: an irregularly shaped gestational sac, a large gestational sac, an elongated gestational sac, etc. How dangerous is this or that pathology of the ovum and whether it poses a threat to the health and life of the mother and the unborn child, we will try to figure it out in this article.
Irregularly shaped ovum (deformed ovum)
The diagnosis of “irregularly shaped fertilized egg” should not be perceived by the expectant mother as a death sentence. Despite its frightening name, this condition is not a pathology that inevitably leads to termination of pregnancy or to any disturbances in fetal development. In images obtained during an ultrasound examination, this condition looks like an elongated fertilized egg. Serious concern can only be caused by a combination of certain factors against the background of the abnormal structure of the fetal egg.
The main reason for the appearance of such a pathology as an irregularly shaped fertilized egg is an increase in the tone of the uterus due to a number of factors that provoke increased peristalsis of the uterine walls, as a result of which the fertilized egg is compressed:
- severe stress;
- infectious diseases of the reproductive system;
- viral and bacterial infections in a woman’s body;
- hormonal imbalance, etc.
The main methods of treatment for this pathology are taking medications with antispasmodic and sedative effects, etc. During this period, it is recommended to abstain from sexual relations, heavy physical activity and try to create maximum psychological comfort. If the fetal heartbeat can be heard, these measures will increase the chances of maintaining the pregnancy.
Other abnormalities of the ovum
In addition to such pathology as “irregularly shaped fertilized egg,” there are a number of pathological processes that can provoke fading of pregnancy or miscarriage.
Small fertilized egg. When establishing this diagnosis, specialists correlate the size of the fertilized egg with the gestational age, as a result of which the development of the fetus in the womb is determined and how correct it is. The time of gestation is determined based on the same size of the egg, so this developmental anomaly often has no basis, but is only a consequence of an inaccurate determination of the gestational age. However, there are cases when the fertilized egg slows down the rate of growth and development due to a frozen pregnancy. In this situation, it is necessary to conduct a number of additional studies aimed at determining the level of hormones in a woman’s blood.
Large fertilized egg. This anomaly of the ovum is a type of frozen pregnancy and is called anebryonal pregnancy. With a pathology such as a large ovum, an ultrasound image can show all the signs of fertilization, the formed membranes of the ovum, the normal growth of the ovum, but in the absence of an embryo. Ultrasound examination, during which this condition can be established, should be done no later than 6-7 weeks of pregnancy. But even in this case, you should not rush to disappointing conclusions and set yourself up for induced abortion, since this diagnosis is sometimes made erroneously, due to an incorrectly determined gestational age or the small size of the embryo, which the device simply cannot “see”.
Elongated fertilized egg. The normal shape of the fertilized egg is considered round or oval. An elongated ovum may signal a possible risk of losing the baby. The reason for this phenomenon is, as a rule, increased muscle tone in the walls of the uterus. Timely diagnosis This type of deformation of the ovum, provided that the woman strictly follows the doctor’s recommendations, will prevent termination of pregnancy, saving the life of the child. Women with this pathology are recommended to be prescribed medications that reduce the tone of the uterus, as well as bed rest and a stress-free, calm environment until the fertilized egg takes its original form. correct form. The dynamics of the development of the ovum, positive or negative changes, must be monitored using ultrasound.
Bubble drift. With this disease of the fetal egg, the chorionic villi are transformed into vesicles that are filled with fluid light shade. The bubbles are located on cord-like stalks, and particles of the decidua are found between them. Their size can vary from the size of a millet grain to a cherry, conglomerates of bubbles are cluster-shaped. Three forms of hydatidiform mole are known, depending on the degree of proliferation and anaplasia:
- benign: characterized by the absence of proliferation and anaplasia;
- malignant (potentially): characterized by the presence of hyperplasia and persistent anaplasia of the chorionic epithelium;
- malignant: with the presence of pronounced proliferation and anaplasia of the chorionic epithelium.
One of the main symptoms of a hydatidiform mole is uterine bleeding, which begins during the first weeks of pregnancy. Periodically weakening and intensifying, it ends at the moment of the birth of a mole. Blood is different dark color, in rare cases there are drift bubbles in it. The nature of the bleeding is light, increasing during the birth of a hydatidiform mole. Diagnosis of the disease is carried out on the basis of the above-mentioned manifestations of hydatidiform mole. An additional remedy that can be prescribed to confirm the diagnosis is biological reactions to determine pregnancy, due to the fact that with a pathology such as hydatidiform mole, a large amount of gonadotropic hormones are formed in the woman’s body.
Due to the fact that these diagnoses are established in the first trimester of pregnancy, i.e. in the very early stages of gestation, thanks to careful research and observations of the development of the embryo, women have a considerable chance to correct the situation and allow the child to be born.
Every fifth pregnant woman is faced with the diagnosis of an empty fertilized sac, the causes of which are almost impossible to find out. You can only minimize the risks if you lead a healthy lifestyle before planning a pregnancy and consume folic acid a couple of months before conception.
Causes
What does an empty fertilized egg mean? This means that the pregnancy does not develop, it stops at the stage when the cells begin to form an embryo. Such an anomaly may be triggered by certain changes in a woman’s body. If a woman has been diagnosed with anembryonia, she should immediately take all necessary measures, because the death of the fetus is inevitable.
Why the fertilized egg may be empty:
- genetic abnormalities;
- infectious diseases;
- environmental ecology;
- avitaminosis;
- unhealthy diet, etc.
It becomes clear that it is impossible to identify the causes of an empty sac in a certain situation. The most important reason that an empty egg is formed during pregnancy is the incorrect division of the first cells, which entails genetic errors in all subsequent ones.
This provokes the formation of creation extra chromosomes(trisomy), sometimes the set of chromosomes is not complete. In such situations, the fertilized egg does not develop into an embryo. After the body realizes that this is a frozen pregnancy, it begins to reject the amniotic egg.
Manifestations
An empty pregnancy is a state of the female body that does not show itself at first. Even with an internal gynecological examination, it is impossible to identify signs of an empty ovum. They can become visible when the extreme stage has already begun - spontaneous abortion begins: brown discharge and a pungent odor from the vagina appear.
Does hCG rise when the ovum is empty? The hCG level increases, but significantly less than during normal pregnancy. Seeing the growth of hCG over time is perhaps the only way to recognize an empty fertilized egg during pregnancy. If there are problems with the development of pregnancy, the indicators grow slowly or stand still.
The symptoms of an empty fertilized egg are identical to those that appear with successful fertilization: nausea, dizziness, constant fatigue, delayed menstrual cycle.
An empty fertilized egg can be very difficult to determine in the early stages, because the embryo is very small size and it can easily be overlooked. But at week 5 it becomes possible to detect the absence of a fetus.
With an embryo - the norm
Empty fertilized egg photo
An empty ovum at 6 weeks can be diagnosed during an ultrasound examination. At this stage of gestation, an ultrasound examination is performed to determine the location of the fetus: in the uterus or outside it. The expectant mother should be attentive to her health in the early stages of pregnancy, because the first trimester is considered the most dangerous due to frequent miscarriages.
Preventive actions
As you know, it is better to prevent a problem from occurring than to deal with the consequences. If, during pregnancy, an empty egg is discovered, nothing can be done to help.
But it is quite possible to help reduce the likelihood of such an anomaly occurring. To do this, you will need to follow some recommendations when planning a pregnancy.
You can minimize the risk of an empty ovum if:
- undergo a full examination for both partners (take tests, do an ultrasound, consult with a gynecologist, therapist to exclude the presence of chronic diseases);
- start taking folic acid two to three months before expected conception;
- Lead a healthy lifestyle: give up bad habits and alcohol consumption. You will need to reconsider your diet and replenish it with vitamins and macroelements and nutrients.
It is important to promptly choose an obstetrician-gynecologist who will guide the pregnancy from A to Z, and the sooner this happens, the better. The most important thing is that if the pregnancy is miscarried once, this does not mean that any of the partners has problems with reproductive health. You shouldn’t be upset and, after half a year, start procreation again. And the long-awaited two stripes are sure to appear on the test.
Such a disaster, although rare, does happen. According to statistics, this happens to every fifteenth woman. Seeing the long-awaited two lines on the test, the woman feels joy, but is soon severely disappointed, because on an ultrasound the doctor discovers a fertilized sac without an embryo. The diagnosis in this case sounds like anembryonic pregnancy.
A non-developing pregnancy of the anembryonic type is a type of frozen pregnancy. This syndrome is also called empty sac syndrome. That is, pregnancy has occurred, the membranes have formed, but the embryo is missing. At the same time, all external signs pregnancy - lack of menstruation, enlarged breasts, fatigue, hCG levels with anembryonia continue to rise.
The diagnosis is made based on ultrasound of the embryo. The study should be carried out no earlier than 6-7 weeks, since at earlier stages this study is not indicative, the embryo is not visualized, and the doctor simply may not see its presence or absence. An erroneous diagnosis in the early stages may be due to the fact that the fetus is located near the wall and is not visible, or the fetus has a short amniotic leg.
Sometimes diagnostic errors occur if the gestational age is inaccurately determined. That is, at the time of examination, the embryo may be so small that the sensors of the ultrasound machine will not be able to detect its presence. Be that as it may, when you hear such a diagnosis, do not panic - insist on conducting additional checks at some intervals.
If you have been diagnosed with anembryonic pregnancy, you need to undergo additional examination by another specialist at intervals of 5-7 days. And only after confirmation of the sad phenomenon, go for termination of pregnancy (in common parlance - cleansing).
Anembryonic pregnancy is eliminated by curettage of the uterine cavity (curettage) under general anesthesia. After the operation, a repeat examination of the uterine cavity is performed. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe special hormonal medications to improve a woman's health.
Causes of pregnancy without an embryo
To the question - why is there no embryo implantation? – Doctors cannot give an exact answer. Most probable reasons The development of an egg without an embryo is considered to be genetic disorders, infectious diseases, and hormonal characteristics.
The cause of anembryonia can be:
- acute viral or bacterial infection at an early stage of pregnancy, which either affects the embryo or leads to a significant increase in the woman’s temperature, due to which the development process of the embryo is subject to destructive effects;
- the influence of toxic substances or radiation at the stage of fetal formation;
- hormonal imbalance in the female body;
- bad habits: smoking, alcoholism, drug use.
You can learn more about the factors that influenced pregnancy by conducting histological studies during surgery 
materials. To avoid a recurrence of an anembryonic pregnancy, both partners need to be tested for infections, undergo karyotype studies (genetic studies), and submit material for a spermogram.
Sometimes such a pregnancy develops in completely healthy parents. In this case, the prognosis for future pregnancies is very positive, that is, with a high degree of probability, you will not face a second pregnancy without an embryo. You just need to give your body a little rest from the resulting stress (about six months), gain strength and try to get pregnant again.
Approximately 15% of expectant mothers at their next appointment with a gynecologist hear a terrible diagnosis - anembryonia. Many women experience this hard, because it is very painful when you just get used to the idea that there is a baby living inside, but it turns out that he is not there at all. The problem is especially troubling for women who had difficulty getting pregnant. According to statistics, anembryonia threatens every fifth representative of the fair sex.
Recurrent pregnancy syndrome Examination
doctor studying corpuscles
difficulties during pregnancy
If you have been diagnosed with anembryonia, you should not ask your doctor how long you can walk with it. You need to take immediate action, because inside you there is a fertilized egg without an embryo. Typically, the examination is carried out either at 5 or 7 weeks after conception using an ultrasound machine. By this time the fetus is already dying.
Sometimes at 7 weeks of pregnancy a doctor may make an erroneous diagnosis, and in fact there is no anembryonia. This happens because the fetus is still so small that the ultrasound machine cannot see it. Don't be upset right away, just come back in a couple of weeks for a re-examination. If your diagnosis is confirmed, you will need to perform gynecological curettage and begin treatment.
The second name for this pathology is “empty ovum syndrome”
Anembryonic pregnancy is not dangerous for physical condition women. Rather, it causes her psychological trauma. However, pregnancy some time after anembryony is quite possible.
Main causes of the disease
Doctors explain the fact of anembryonia by genetic pathology. When the embryo is very weak, it has the wrong chromosomal combination or set of genes, the female body itself gets rid of it. In this case, anembryonia develops. Other factors may also be the cause:
- sudden change in hormonal levels;
- stressful situations that can easily provoke a non-developing pregnancy; various tragic events, constant conflicts at home, and problems at work can affect the health of the expectant mother and the development of her child;
- bad habits of a woman: narcotic drugs, regular alcohol abuse and smoking tobacco have a very detrimental effect on the development of the fetus; mothers need to carefully monitor their behavior and lead the most correct lifestyle;
- viral pathologies: elevated temperature has an extremely negative effect on the embryo;
- There are cases when, during pregnancy, a woman is under the influence of radioactive and toxic substances, in this case there is a high risk of destruction of the embryo;
- pathology is often diagnosed in women who regularly play sports; serious physical activity is contraindicated in the early and late stages of pregnancy (you can do special exercises for expectant mothers, this is even encouraged, but intense training is prohibited; it is best to focus your energy on sports after the birth of the baby ).
Sometimes even experienced doctors don't understand real reasons the onset of anembryony. Pregnancy can freeze completely healthy girls. In this case, it is worth getting examined and paying attention to your lifestyle. Also find out.
Symptoms of pathology development
Usually anembryonia does not have any symptoms, so it is very difficult to recognize it. The woman continues to suffer from toxicosis, her breasts begin to increase in size. In a word, pregnancy develops according to its standard scenario.
- With anembryonia, hCG continues to rise as the fertilized egg continues to enlarge.
- The uterus is enlarged.
- The woman is suffering from toxicosis.
- Breasts swell.
The examination must be carried out several times to eliminate the possibility of error.
Signs of the development of anembryonia can only be tracked by the pregnancy hormone. Although it is growing, it is not in sufficient quantity. Usually a competent doctor immediately draws attention to this. The growth of hCG is extremely small in anembryonics, because there is no embryo, but the fetal membrane produces the hormone, since there is a female egg in the body. Sometimes it happens spontaneous miscarriage.
This condition can only be diagnosed through ultrasound examination. However, it should be carried out no earlier than 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, counting from the 1st day of the last menstruation.
When the fetus develops normally, the embryo begins to be visualized, and the ultrasound shows a photo that shows that there is no anembryony.
When the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis at 5-6 weeks, you should not despair. Go through the diagnostics again to be sure of the result. At the same time, the doctor will monitor how the hCG rises for some time in order to accurately determine that you have anembryonia. At the next ultrasound, the specialist will be able to see the empty fertilized egg.
Treatment and prevention of frozen pregnancy
- medical abortion;
- curettage of the uterine cavity;
- drug treatment.
Medical termination of pregnancy with anembryonia is performed if the period is very short. In this case, the doctor prescribes special tablets which cause miscarriage. It is forbidden to take them yourself, because the doctor must keep the process under control.
When the period is already long, curettage is performed. If it is suspected that a woman has an undeveloped pregnancy, and the doctor has determined that it is anembryonic, the patient is prescribed Duphaston. The same medication is prescribed after the elimination of the dead embryo in order to normalize the tone of the uterus.
Anembryonia is treated with antibacterial and immunomodulatory agents. They prevent inflammatory processes from developing and increase the tone of the body. Pregnancy after anembryonia is possible after at least six months. During this time, the hormonal levels and the uterus should be completely restored. Be sure to analyze your lifestyle and undergo a full examination to prevent the recurrence of a frozen pregnancy.
Always consult a doctor, because only he should tell you how long after the discovery of anembryonia you can become pregnant again. You may have to undergo an additional course of treatment or undergo some tests.
The incident often causes severe psychological trauma, and the woman feels very depressed. Yes, for many this is real grief, but there is no need to despair. In most cases, the next pregnancy proceeds quite well. In any case, anembryony is not a death sentence. It’s just that some women will have to go through this difficult test in order to then give birth to a healthy baby.
A frozen pregnancy is not a reason to give up. It is necessary to draw appropriate conclusions and prevent the development of pathology. One of the basic rules is to regularly visit a gynecologist and strictly follow all his recommendations. Avoid serious physical activity, because a healthy child is more important than regular sporting achievements. Lead a healthy lifestyle: take vitamins, completely eliminate alcoholic beverages.
Expecting a baby is one of the most wonderful periods in a woman’s life, but, unfortunately, it does not always proceed without problems. There are cases when doctors’ diagnosis turns out to be disappointing - “fertilized egg without an embryo.” Why does this happen and how can you determine that the pregnancy has stopped?
What does “egg without embryo” mean?
Anembryonic, or frozen, pregnancy is a diagnosis confirming that the fertilized egg is developing without an embryo. As a rule, this fact is discovered during an ultrasound procedure at 5-6 weeks after conception. At this point, it becomes obvious that there was no embryo in the egg at all, or that, having turned out to be non-viable, it had already died.
Important! If the timing of pregnancy was established incorrectly, the diagnosis may be false. To confirm or refute anembryonia, the examination is repeated after 2 weeks, since the ultrasound machine simply does not see the tiny future baby.
A frozen pregnancy is not a threat to a woman’s health and in most cases does not have serious consequences. If the diagnosis is confirmed, pregnancy is interrupted, and young parents are recommended to undergo a course of special treatment. Of course, anembryonia is a lot of stress, but you shouldn’t get depressed. If you follow all the doctor’s instructions, your next pregnancy may well be successful.
Possible reasons
Most often, such a phenomenon as a fertilized egg without an embryo in the early stages is caused by genetic changes in the fetus initial stage its formation. However, there are other reasons:
- frequent stress, conflicts with loved ones or tragic events in the life of a pregnant woman;
- hormonal imbalance;
- smoking, drinking, stimulants or drugs;
- viral diseases accompanied by high fever;
- exposure to poisons or aggressive chemicals on the body expectant mother;
- high loads in early pregnancy.
Quite often, female athletes who regularly train and test the strength of their bodies are diagnosed by ultrasound with a fertilized sac without an embryo. The reasons for this are clear: high physical activity is contraindicated for any woman throughout pregnancy, and neglect of this rule is fraught with pregnancy failure.
Diagnosis of anembryonia
It is very difficult to independently detect the signs of a frozen pregnancy. As a rule, it proceeds exactly the same as normal. A woman does not have menstruation, her mammary glands become enlarged and painful, and symptoms of toxicosis appear.
Important! The only indicator of anembryonic pregnancy that can be noticed in the early stages is a low level of the hCG hormone.
Many women are concerned about whether a fertilized egg can grow without an embryo and why they feel “absolutely pregnant.” This pathology does not exclude the possibility that the empty fertilized egg will increase in size, but such a pregnancy must be terminated in any case.
In some cases, the female body itself understands that the embryo is missing in the egg, and starts the natural process of its rejection. This is usually accompanied by sharp or aching pain in the pelvic area and
If a doctor, during an ultrasound examination, reports that he sees a fertilized egg in the uterine cavity, the woman can be congratulated, because in 9 months she will become a mother. The presence of a fertilized egg can be determined already on the 7-9th day of missed menstruation. If the fertilized egg is in the uterus, then the pregnancy is normal, uterine. The specialist will immediately determine the size of the fertilized egg, its shape and location. In addition, he will pay special attention to whether there are other pathological conditions.
What does a fertilized egg look like?
The fertilized egg is an oval or round body with a diameter of several millimeters. The diameter of the ovum is measured during the first ultrasound. Taking into account its size, a specialist can determine the gestational age. But in some cases the error in determination is 1-1.5 weeks. Therefore, when trying to establish a period, the doctor also takes into account indicators of the coccygeal-parietal size.
At 3-8 weeks of pregnancy
the fertilized egg looks like a formation in the form of a ball or oval. Already at 5-6 weeks, the yolk sac, which provides nutrition to the embryo and performs a hematopoietic function in the early stages of embryonic development, is similar to a bubble inside the cavity of the fertilized egg. The size of the fertilized egg at this stage of pregnancy is from 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters. It is already possible to examine the embryo at this time. It looks like a five-millimeter strip located next to the yolk sac. And although it is not yet possible to determine which structure and part of the embryo, the heartbeat is already being recorded. At this time, the baby’s heart beats at a frequency of 150-230 beats per minute.
In addition, the neural tube is already forming in the fetus, and the cells distribute “responsibilities” among themselves, who will create which organs.
By the end of the 7th week, the embryo has already acquired its characteristic shape in the form of the letter C. At this time, it has already detached from the surface of the fertilized egg. An ultrasound can already distinguish the head, torso and tiny rudiments of arms and legs. The already formed umbilical cord is visible in the fertilized egg.
Irregular shape of the fertilized egg
Normally, the shape of the fertilized egg is oval or round. If it is flattened on the sides and looks like a bean, this may indicate the tone of the uterus. This condition should be monitored by a doctor. If nothing bothers the woman, then the deformation does not pose a threat to the pregnancy. In case of increased uterine tone, doctors prescribe a set of measures (bed rest, medication) to relieve hypertonicity and return the fertilized egg to its correct shape. This can be achieved by relaxing the muscles of the female reproductive organ.
But, if the fertilized egg has irregular shape, and a woman experiences pain, discharge or symptoms of cervical dilatation, it is necessary to take urgent measures. In such cases, the woman is assigned to the inpatient department of the hospital for safekeeping.
Detachment of the ovum
They call it an incipient abortion. In this case, premature rejection of the fertilized egg from the uterine wall is observed. Important note - when a spontaneous abortion begins, timely assistance is very important, because, in most cases, the pregnancy can be saved. The main thing is to do everything quickly and competently. Detachment is accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, pain in the lower back, and dark red and sometimes brown discharge. The reasons that cause detachment of the ovum include ovarian dysfunction, various diseases of the woman (tumors, inflammatory processes, infectious diseases), underdevelopment of the genital organs of the expectant mother, severe toxicosis, excessive physical activity, stress. But the most obvious cause of detachment of the ovum is a lack of progesterone, which is often called the pregnancy hormone.
If a pregnant woman shows signs of abruption of the ovum, she (or relatives) should urgently call an ambulance and call the obstetrician-gynecologist to inform him about what happened. Until the ambulance team arrives, the woman should lie down and raise her legs up. You can rest them against the wall or put them on the back of the sofa.
Detachment of the ovum is dangerous because it can lead to abortion or missed abortion. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of detachment, you need to seek medical help.
Empty fertilized egg
At a very early stage, the embryo in the fertilized egg is not yet visible, and this is the norm. But from five weeks the embryo should already be visualized. If the embryo is not visible, a repeat examination is scheduled after 1-2 weeks. If this time there is neither an embryo nor a heartbeat, they speak of anembryony. In this case, the woman needs to cleanse.
You need to know that even if the ovum is empty, the pregnancy test will still be positive. This is due to the fact that certain mechanisms have been launched in the body, in particular, a special “pregnant hormone” - human chorionic gonadotropin - has begun to be produced.
The reason for the absence of an embryo in the fertilized egg, in most cases, is a failure at the genetic level. Also, anembryonia can be triggered by taking certain medications that are strictly prohibited during pregnancy.
If a woman is diagnosed with an “empty ovum,” which was confirmed by a repeat ultrasound examination, then there is no chance of pregnancy this time. Then the woman is given the necessary manipulations, prescribed treatment and sent for rehabilitation. Many women need not only physical, but also psychological rehabilitation to cope with the feelings and emotions resulting from the loss.
It is recommended to plan your next pregnancy at least six months later.
Especially for Olga Rizak
