|
Post by Blighted Ovum Board Admin on Sept 29, 2007 21:10:17 GMT -5
A blighted ovum (also called an "anembryonic pregnancy") is a fertilized egg which implants in the uterus, and begins to develop a gestational sac. The fertilized egg, however, fails to form beyond that point and is absorbed back into the body. Often the body is slow to realize the pregnancy has failed, and as a result the gestational sac continues to grow.
This occurs before six-and-a-half weeks, although it may not be discovered until later. About 90 percent of blighted ovums are chromosomal errors. They are usually discovered when a healthcare provider fails to detect a heartbeat or an ultrasound reveals an empty gestational sac.
Sometimes it is difficult to determine if a blighted ovum is present. In the case of a blighted ovum, the fetal pole is missing. The fetus should be seen, if the pregnancy is successful, by the 8th week.
While a blighted ovum is tragic, it is not indicative of future problems. While there are no guarantees odds are it will never happen again.
Some medical websites indicate that a blighted ovum is the cause of about 50% of all miscarriages.
|
|
|
Post by Blighted Ovum Board Admin on Sept 29, 2007 21:12:24 GMT -5
|
|