What Are 3 Top Symptoms of a Blighted Ovum?

“Excuse me, miss. It appears that you have a blighted ovum.”

Okay, so maybe that isn’t exactly what the doctor said, but either way, a strange and somewhat forlorn sounding word being attached to the word “ovum” and that ovum being attached to “you” makes this two-word phrase…well… unsettling.

But what exactly is it and what are the top symptoms of a blighted ovum?

• Abdominal Cramps
• Vaginal Spotting/Bleeding
• A Heavier Period

A Blighted Ovum: An Unknown (and Disappointing) Experience

In the majority of cases, a blighted ovum is a completely unknown occurrence.

Women are blissfully unaware, their partners are blissfully unaware, and everyone’s lives go on as per schedule.

But there are some situations where a blighted ovum will become apparent.

A blighted ovum is when a fertilized egg implants into the uterus but it doesn’t properly develop into an embryo (also known as an anembryonic pregnancy).

It often occurs so early most women do not know it has happened, though some may only discover the fact after their first ultrasound.

A blighted ovum, while it sounds awful, is not uncommon.

In fact, it is responsible for one out of two miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy.

For those who need to wait 12 weeks for their first ultrasound, a blighted ovum can be absolutely devastating.

 

What it Looks Like

Moms will often experience many of the common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, breast soreness, and fatigue.

But within a week or two, those early symptoms may wane as the hormone levels take a dive.

This will likely result in spotting or bleeding (though spotting and bleeding are completely natural during the first trimester and even during the rest of your pregnancy – so go see your doc for a more personalized diagnosis and slap down a pad or liner).

image source: Pinterest Savy Life

Why Does It Happen?

A blighted ovum is often the result of the chromosomes or the genes not jiving with one another.

It may be because of a poor quality sperm, a poor quality egg, or an abnormal cell division.

At the end of the day, your body has recognized that this pregnancy is not viable and has decided to stop the process.

There is nothing that a couple could have done to prevent this from happening.  

It happens, and it happens a lot.  For the majority of women, this situation only happens once.

I Need To Know The Symptoms – Top 3

Now to get to the nitty-gritty and why you’re here.

There are some signs of a blighted ovum, but keep in mind that they are so general that they should not be taken to heart:

1. Abdominal Cramps:  This symptom is expected to happen throughout all of pregnancy.  Do not let some abdominal cramps should not be a surefire sign that you have a blighted ovum.

2. Vaginal Spotting/Bleeding: Vaginal spotting and bleeding can be normal during pregnancy.  With that said, if you need to slap a pantyliner down to protect your favorite pair of undies, pay a visit to your doctor pronto.

3. A Heavier Period: For those who were not trying for a baby, a heavier period may indicate that you need better protection and you are in the throes of a blighted ovum.

The Ultimate Predictor: The Ultrasound

The symptoms for a blighted ovum are ever so general that the only way to diagnose it properly is to have an ultrasound.

An ultrasound scan will be able to look at your uterus and will then be able to tell you whether or not an embryo sac is present or whether it is just the gestational sac.

What Should I Do if I Have a Blighted Ovum?

The female body is intuitive.

Not only did it know that the cell structure was unviable, but it will then kindly pass remaining tissue on its own.

This is why a blighted ovum rarely needs any invasive surgical proceedings and it will, physically, pass and come to a conclusion.

A D&C may be necessary if the fetus continued to live for longer than usual, or if you wanted a pathologist to examine the tissues and determine the reason behind your miscarriage.

Some women also feel that a D&C brings closure, both physically and mentally.

The most important takeaway from all of this is that if you feel that something is “off” or something is “not right”, seek help.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor or rush into emergency and get the answers you need.

You’re creating a human being and you – and your bubs – deserve answers.

Blighted Ovums: An Un-Fun Situation That is Rare

In the majority of cases, a blighted ovum goes by unnoticed and is regarded as a late and unusually heavy period.

For expectant mothers, however, they can be devastating.

• Blighted ovums are natural
• They are our body’s way of ending a life that was not sustainable on a chromosome level
• It only usually happens once

You may be surprised to find how many women have suffered from a blighted ovum.

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References:

http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/blighted-ovum#1

http://www.blighted-ovum.com/symptoms/

http://www.babycenter.com/0_early-pregnancy-failure-blighted-ovum_1355753.bc

http://www.babycenter.ca/x1014440/what-is-a-blighted-ovum

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Womens-Health-Postpartum/Symptoms-of-Blighted-Ovum/show/154477