When you are experiencing a miscarriage you often look for answers about why this has happened and if there is anything that you could have done to prevent it but often there are no answers.
A blighted ovum is something that occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy and that will inevitably lead to a miscarriage.
The reasons for a blighted ovum are generally thought to be because of chromosome abnormalities in the fertilised egg - the problems can stem from either the egg or the sperm although it is thought more common for the egg to have chromosomal issues.
This means that there is essentially nothing that you could have done that would have caused a blighted ovum.
The result of a blighted ovum is that you will only see a gestational sac on the ultrasound scan.
No embryo will develop from the fertilised egg which is one reason why this is also called an anembryonic pregnancy.
It is quite possible that you will develop normal pregnancy symptoms as your body is producing the right hormones as in any other pregnancy, and also you may not have any symptoms of the blighted ovum.
However, often the tell tale signs that something is not right are that you may experience some light spotting which is usually brown or red-brown in colour.
You may also experience cramping which may also be minor.
The problem with these symptoms is that they can also occur in a normal, viable pregnancy.
But if you do experience spotting and/or cramping then it is always worth getting checked out just in case and to set your mind at rest.
Because of the fact that there may be no outward signs, a blighted ovum can only be diagnosed by an ultrasound scan.
When you have the scan all you will be able to see is the gestational sac.
This will essentially look like a black hole in the uterus as there will be nothing inside it.
Depending on when you have the scan (how early etc) the sac may also measure smaller than it should for the number of weeks that you are pregnant and this will be a giveaway sign.
It is likely a second scan will be done a week or so later to confirm the diagnosis.
Eventually you will miscarry but this can be at any time in the next few weeks after the blighted ovum is diagnosed.
Each miscarriage varies between women and it may be slight or it may be more traumatic.
In any case your doctor will check that all the foetal matter has been passed so that you don't need a D&C afterwards.
Going through any type of miscarriage is tough but it is unlikely that a blighted ovum will occur again and there is no reason why you cannot have a healthy pregnancy the next time.
A blighted ovum is something that occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy and that will inevitably lead to a miscarriage.
The reasons for a blighted ovum are generally thought to be because of chromosome abnormalities in the fertilised egg - the problems can stem from either the egg or the sperm although it is thought more common for the egg to have chromosomal issues.
This means that there is essentially nothing that you could have done that would have caused a blighted ovum.
The result of a blighted ovum is that you will only see a gestational sac on the ultrasound scan.
No embryo will develop from the fertilised egg which is one reason why this is also called an anembryonic pregnancy.
It is quite possible that you will develop normal pregnancy symptoms as your body is producing the right hormones as in any other pregnancy, and also you may not have any symptoms of the blighted ovum.
However, often the tell tale signs that something is not right are that you may experience some light spotting which is usually brown or red-brown in colour.
You may also experience cramping which may also be minor.
The problem with these symptoms is that they can also occur in a normal, viable pregnancy.
But if you do experience spotting and/or cramping then it is always worth getting checked out just in case and to set your mind at rest.
Because of the fact that there may be no outward signs, a blighted ovum can only be diagnosed by an ultrasound scan.
When you have the scan all you will be able to see is the gestational sac.
This will essentially look like a black hole in the uterus as there will be nothing inside it.
Depending on when you have the scan (how early etc) the sac may also measure smaller than it should for the number of weeks that you are pregnant and this will be a giveaway sign.
It is likely a second scan will be done a week or so later to confirm the diagnosis.
Eventually you will miscarry but this can be at any time in the next few weeks after the blighted ovum is diagnosed.
Each miscarriage varies between women and it may be slight or it may be more traumatic.
In any case your doctor will check that all the foetal matter has been passed so that you don't need a D&C afterwards.
Going through any type of miscarriage is tough but it is unlikely that a blighted ovum will occur again and there is no reason why you cannot have a healthy pregnancy the next time.