What is a Blighted Pregnancy?

It is commonly known as a water pregnancy. Medically, it is called anembryonic pregnancy.

In a blighted ovum, as in a normal pregnancy, the egg is fertilized by sperm, and the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall and implants. Once implanted, the cells develop, forming a gestational sac. The same process occurs in all pregnancies.

In a blighted pregnancy, although the sac development is normal, the embryo (i.e. baby) does not develop.

As the pregnancy grows week by week, B-HCG (pregnancy hormone) increases and the sac grows.

In a blighted ovum, all the symptoms of a normal pregnancy are present.

Weakness
Breast tenderness
Nausea and vomiting
Bloating and weight gain

All of these things can happen. Therefore, a blighted ovum can only be diagnosed with an ultrasound.

Rarely, in a blighted pregnancy, the pregnant woman may experience vaginal bleeding and groin pain.

In a normal pregnancy, the gestational sac can be seen by vaginal ultrasound at 4-4.5 weeks.

The embryo and heartbeat can be seen through a vaginal ultrasound when the gestational sac reaches 15-20 mm in size. This is approximately 5.5-6 weeks.

Additionally, the presence of a yolk sac within the gestational sac indicates a normal pregnancy. In a blighted pregnancy, there is no yolk sac.

Why does a blighted ovum occur?

It's usually caused by chromosomal abnormalities. A chromosomal condition doesn't necessarily mean there's a disorder in either parent. It simply results from a structural defect in the egg and sperm during pregnancy.

Does Bleeding Occur Again?

Recurrence is generally not a problem. A blighted pregnancy is treated like a normal miscarriage. A woman who has experienced a blighted pregnancy or miscarriage once fears experiencing it again. However, if she has had two or three blighted pregnancies or miscarriages, this should be investigated.

Treatment for Bleeding Pregnancy:

Treatment consists of terminating the pregnancy with a vacuum curettage. There are no other treatment options. However, if a miscarriage occurs due to heavy bleeding, the uterus is examined with an ultrasound. If the uterus is clear, no further intervention is necessary. If a fragment remains in the uterus, a vacuum curettage is performed to prevent future intrauterine adhesions and infection.

If a woman wishes, she can become pregnant after 2 months.