What are the causes of embryonic arrest?

Written by Zhao Li Li

Obstetrics

Updated on September 25, 2024

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If an embryonic arrest is discovered, there are many specific reasons for the arrest. Firstly, the main reason for embryonic arrest is due to congenital abnormalities in the formation and development of the fertilized egg, which is a relatively common situation. Moreover, embryonic arrest usually occurs early when there are developmental abnormalities. In some cases, it may be caused by maternal factors, such as abnormal diseases in the mother or abnormalities in chromosomes, which can lead to poor embryonic development and subsequently cause embryonic arrest. Occasionally, issues related to the viability of the male sperm, or the presence of abnormal sperm, may also lead to embryonic arrest. Because there are many reasons for embryonic arrest, it is generally not possible to systematically investigate the specific causes.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

56sec

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Will the gestational sac shrink if the embryo stops developing?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed abortion, refers to a condition in the early stages of pregnancy where the gestational sac does not develop normally due to various factors. Generally, the gestational sac will not begin to shrink until the embryo has been arrested for a considerable period. In the initial stages of embryo arrest, since the duration is relatively short, the trophoblastic cells within the gestational sac can still secrete estrogens, progesterone, and chorionic gonadotropin. These hormones stimulate the possible continued growth of the gestational sac in the short term. However, as the duration of the embryo arrest extends, the proliferation of the trophoblastic cells decreases, leading to a decline in hormone levels in the body. This reduces the stimulation to the gestational sac, causing it to gradually shrink, decrease in size, and possibly leading to a natural miscarriage.

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Written by Liu Wen Li

Obstetrics

52sec

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Is hospitalization necessary for embryonic arrest?

This is not necessarily the case; it depends on the specific situation. Firstly, we need to consider the timing of the embryo arrest. If the embryo arrest occurs within 70 days of pregnancy, generally, hospitalization is not needed, and a miscarriage can often be handled on an outpatient basis. However, if the embryo stops developing after 70 days of pregnancy, even reaching three or four months, then hospitalization is required for a induced labor. This is because the fetus is relatively larger, making outpatient treatment problematic and riskier. Additionally, we must also consider if the pregnant woman has any complications. If there are complications alongside the embryo arrest, it is generally safer to be hospitalized.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

59sec

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Is embryonic arrest related to emotions?

Embryonic arrest refers to a condition during early pregnancy, around 9-10 weeks, where no fetal heartbeat is detected. In clinical practice, there are many causes of embryonic arrest, including chromosomal abnormalities, uterine malformations, infections, immune factors, and coagulation factors. However, many women do not investigate these reasons after experiencing embryonic arrest. Instead, they look for causes in their daily lives, such as dietary factors or emotional factors. In reality, embryonic arrest is generally not closely related to everyday life factors. Even if emotions fluctuate, such as becoming irritable or easily provoked, which might affect the gestational sac, such impacts usually manifest as symptoms of threatened miscarriage, but generally do not lead to embryonic arrest. Therefore, there is generally no correlation between embryonic arrest and emotional states.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie

Obstetrics

51sec

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Do you need to be hospitalized for uterine evacuation after a missed miscarriage?

The criteria for diagnosing embryo arrest generally involve the appearance of the embryonic bud and heart tube between six to eight weeks. If these are not visible beyond eight weeks, the situation is referred to as embryonic arrest. Embryonic arrest requires abortion, which for safety reasons typically involves hospitalization and a combination of medication and uterine evacuation. However, if the gestational sac is relatively small, an outpatient abortion procedure might be sufficient. Whether hospitalization is necessary should be assessed by a doctor, who will consider factors such as previous scar pregnancies, the condition of a scarred uterus, and the size of the current gestational sac, to make a comprehensive decision.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

54sec

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How to preserve a pregnancy after embryonic arrest

Embryonic arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to a condition during early pregnancy where if no fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound during weeks 8 to 9 of pregnancy, it should be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. Embryonic arrest indicates that the gestational sac has ceased to live, and in such cases, efforts to preserve the pregnancy are pointless as they are meaningless. However, it is important to analyze the reasons behind embryonic arrest to guide future pregnancies. Common causes of embryonic arrest include abnormalities in chromosomes, infections, immunity, and rheumatological markers. When embryonic arrest occurs, tests should be conducted targeting these indicators to clearly identify the abnormal factors, thereby guiding and potentially increasing the success rate of subsequent pregnancies.