Chemical Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
A chemical pregnancy is the clinical term used for a very early miscarriage. In many cases, the positive pregnancy test was achieved before the woman’s period was due but a miscarrige occured before a heartbeat was able to be seen on an ultrasound.
Signs and Symptoms of a Chemical Pregnancy
uterus most women do not experience signs and symptoms of pregnancy (ie. tender breast, nausea, and / or fatigue). There are a few reports of women who have been pregnant in the past who state that they felt pregnant with their chemical pregnancy.
Chemical Pregnancy Causes:
Doctors believe that chemical pregnancies happen for the same reasons as most other miscarriages –- probably because of chromosomal abnormalities in the developing baby. It is hard to know for sure what causes these early miscarriages, however, because it is nearly impossible to retrieve any samples for chromosomal testing.
None of the women really know how common chemical pregnancy is, but some researchers have theorized that as many as 70 per cent of conceptions turn in miscarriage and the true cause of a chemical pregnancy is not known, though, most believe it is because of the abnormal chromosomes within the fetus. These chromosomal irregularities could be due to several factors that includes poor quality sperm or ovum, abnormal cell division of the fetus, and/or genetic abnormality of either mother or father. It is considered that approximately 50 – 60 per cent of first trimester miscarriages are because of some type of chromosomal abnormalities
Chemical pregnancy is primarily diagnosed when it is confirmed that there is presence of pregnancy through a pregnancy blood test and once a pregnancy has been confirmed, the health care provider will supervise the hCG levels for ensuring that the pregnancy moves along smoothly. If there is a instant decrease in the hCG levels, this might signal a miscarriage and if those levels drop, an ultrasound is likely be performed detecting any signs of life in the uterus. If a chemical pregnancy has happened, no embryo is visible and no heartbeats are be heard.
All in all, the woman with chemical pregnancy will begin having vaginal bleeding shortly after having a positive pregnancy test and the blood tests reveal low hCG levels those are decreasing rather than to increase. There is no specific treatment which is required for a chemical pregnancy and the most important follow-up test ensuring that the women’s hCG level has came back to non-detectable levels after a chemical pregnancy treatment.
There might be no impact on future pregnancies and the most of the women become pregnant and deliver without difficulties. The most difficult aspect of a chemical pregnancy is to cope with the excitement of being pregnant and then the recognition that she is now coping with a miscarriage. If a couple has had several early miscarriages (2 to 3) there must be a genetic counseling by their health care provider.
