Blighted Ovum

Are you experiencing a missed pregnancy? It might be a blighted ovum.

You are ready to take on the most important challenge of womanhood: pregnancy. Pregnancy should fulfill your role as a woman. However, several women out there are experiencing what you might be experiencing. After checking with your gynecologist, you found out that you’re not carrying a baby due to a blighted ovum. How did this come about?

What is a blighted ovum? 

A blighted ovum is an abnormal condition happens when a fertilized egg affixes itself to the uterine wall, but it doesn’t evolve into an embryo. This usually happens in the first trimester, a state where a woman might not know that she’s pregnant. A multitude of chromosomal defects happen during the course of pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage.

Around 50% of miscarriages during the first 3 months of pregnancy are usually due to chromosomal abnormalities. Causes for abnormal chromosomes come from irregular cell division, poor quality of sperm or ovum (egg).

What are the signs and symptoms of this condition?

Since these appear early during pregnancy, there’s a great possibility that you won’t notice this occurring at all. First, you might experience signs of pregnancy such as late menstruations or positive results on pregnancy tests. Abdominal cramping and minimal vaginal bleeding might also be noted. If you’re experiencing normal periods, your body might shed off the uterine lining with heavier blood flow than what you would normally experience.

One indication of pregnancy is a high hCG level. During this time, a placenta develops and assumes a pregnancy environment suited for a baby’s growth. However, your placenta absorbs nutrients from your body to a ‘parasitic’ ovum.

One way to determine blighted ovum is through an ultrasound. Doctors would highly recommend that you undergo this procedure for evaluation. Under this circumstance, your ultrasound should show a large empty sac with no signs of a developing baby.

Is there a possibility of getting pregnant again?

Yes, there is. However, it’s better to let the pregnancy hormones settle first before giving it another shot. Most doctors would recommend clearing out this ovum through a medical procedure called Dilatation and Curettage (D&C), a medical induction of miscarriage.

After this, let a few months pass by before you should start again. Your OB might suggest that you wait for a year before you could conceive to decrease the risk of this happening again.

This experience might leave you frustrated and puzzled. You might even feel incompetent as a mother if you can’t conceive a baby. But, don’t worry. You are not alone in this battle. Education is a great way to avoid having to go through this experience again. Understanding how blighted ovum works might help you understand why you experienced it in the first place. Talk to your OB doctor about blighted ovum and ask what measures should be taken.