Can an arrested embryo be expelled naturally?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Embryonic arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the restriction of growth and development of the gestational sac in early pregnancy due to various factors, with no fetal heartbeat detected on an ultrasound at 9 weeks of pregnancy. When embryonic arrest occurs, a natural miscarriage may happen, but it's also possible that a natural miscarriage won't occur. Once embryonic arrest is confirmed, waiting for a natural miscarriage isn't advisable, as it is unpredictable and sometimes there might be no signs of miscarriage for a long time. Unrestricted waiting in such cases can harm a woman's body. Therefore, once embryonic arrest is diagnosed, hospitalization should be promptly sought, and artificial intervention methods such as surgical or medical abortion should be considered. While there is a possibility that the embryo could be expelled naturally, the likelihood is relatively low.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can a miscarried embryo be expelled naturally?

Embryonic arrest refers to the lack of natural development of the gestational sac in early pregnancy, characterized by the absence of a fetal heartbeat. If there is still no fetal heartbeat or embryo detected during an ultrasound at 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, it should be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. After embryonic arrest occurs, the vast majority require medical intervention. Of course, some cases of embryonic arrest can resolve naturally, leading to a miscarriage. However, this is not a reliable occurrence and is relatively rare in clinical practice. Moreover, the longer the wait, the greater the potential harm to the woman's health. For embryonic arrest, once diagnosed, it is urgent to intervene medically to remove the gestational sac from the uterus, minimizing harm to the woman. Common methods include medical abortion or a dilation and curettage surgery, either of which can be chosen.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Does a missed miscarriage have any symptoms?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed abortion, refers to the influence of various factors on the growth and development of the gestational sac in early pregnancy, resulting in the absence of a fetal heartbeat. In the early stages, embryo arrest is imperceptible, as it often shows no signs. It is incorrect for some women to judge embryo arrest based on the presence of abdominal pain or changes in pregnancy reactions. Reactions to embryo arrest only appear after a certain period. When the embryo has been arrested for a longer period, the body may treat the gestational sac as a foreign object and attempt to expel it. This situation may present symptoms of threatened miscarriage, such as abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Under these circumstances, one can visit the hospital for an ultrasound to assess the condition of the fetal heartbeat. The absence of a fetal heartbeat confirms the presence of embryo arrest.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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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 Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Is embryonic arrest related to diet?

Embryo arrest, also known as missed miscarriage, refers to the absence of a fetal heartbeat in the early stages of pregnancy due to various factors affecting the gestational sac. Typically, if no fetal heartbeat and embryo are detected during an ultrasound at about 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy, it can be diagnosed as embryo arrest. Currently, there are many reasons for embryo arrest in clinical practice, but many pregnant women look for causes in their daily life, such as diet and exercise. However, these factors are largely unrelated to embryo arrest. While diet plays a very important role in human health, the growth and development of an embryo are mainly influenced by its own genetic material, endocrine, and coagulation factors, which are generally unrelated to diet. Therefore, when embryo arrest occurs, one should not look for reasons in diet or other daily life factors; instead, it is advisable to undergo targeted medical examinations to determine the specific cause.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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What are the reasons for two instances of embryonic arrest?

According to current medical viewpoints, there are various reasons for embryonic arrest, but in 50% of cases, the cause is unknown. Identified causes can generally be divided into several categories such as chromosomal issues, maternal metabolic issues including thyroid disorders, diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Additionally, immune factors such as lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome, along with abnormal antibodies, are also reasons. Furthermore, abnormal maternal anatomical structures, like abnormal uterine development, can lead to embryonic arrest. Paternal factors, such as abnormal sperm, can also result in embryonic arrest. Upon encountering embryonic arrest, if it occurs once, it can be observed initially. However, if there are two or more instances, comprehensive examinations for both partners are necessary, including chromosomal tests.