What Is a Blighted Ovum?

3.5 min read | Published On: 11-10-2025

A blighted ovum, or anembryonic pregnancy, is an early type of miscarriage. It occurs when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus but doesn’t grow into an embryo. The sac continues to form, but the baby does not develop.

In simple words, a blighted ovum means the pregnancy starts but stops early because the embryo never forms or stops growing shortly after conception.

This condition usually happens during the first 8 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. The body may still act pregnant for a while you might notice hormonal changes or early symptoms because the placenta continues to release pregnancy hormones.

What Causes a Blighted Ovum?

The main cause is usually a chromosomal problem in the fertilized egg. This issue prevents the embryo from developing normally, even though the egg successfully implants.

When cell division goes wrong early on, the embryo stops forming. However, your body still thinks you’re pregnant and keeps making hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) the hormone that pregnancy tests detect.

Common Causes Include:

• Chromosomal errors: Random genetic mistakes during cell division.
• Poor egg or sperm quality: Age or health factors may affect reproduction.
• Abnormal cell growth: Stops the embryo from developing properly.
• Hormonal or infection issues: Rarely, thyroid problems or infections may interfere.
• Maternal age: Women over 35 have a slightly higher risk.

In most cases, this happens randomly and cannot be prevented or predicted.

Signs and Symptoms

At first, a blighted ovum feels like a normal pregnancy. You may miss your period, have a positive test, and experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or breast tenderness. Later, these symptoms may reduce or stop.

Common Symptoms:

• Positive pregnancy test followed by fading symptoms
• Light to heavy vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Mild abdominal pain or cramping
• Loss of pregnancy symptoms (nausea or breast tenderness)
• No baby seen on ultrasound, only an empty sac
• Pregnancy hormone levels (hCG) stop rising or begin to drop

Most women find out during an early ultrasound, which shows an empty gestational sac.

Diagnosis

A blighted ovum is confirmed through ultrasound and blood tests. The doctor checks for a growing embryo and a heartbeat. If the sac is empty and the hCG levels stop increasing, it confirms that the pregnancy isn’t developing normally.

During Your Evaluation, The Doctor May:

• Perform a transvaginal ultrasound to check the sac size.
• Track hCG levels over a few days to see if they rise as expected.
• Discuss your medical and pregnancy history.

Usually, no extra tests are required unless you’ve had repeated miscarriages. In that case, genetic or hormonal testing may be advised.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on how your body responds. The aim is to remove pregnancy tissue while caring for your emotional well-being safely.

Treatment Methods:

• Natural recovery: Wait for the body to expel tissue on its own (within weeks).
• Medication: Medicine such as misoprostol may be prescribed to speed up the process.
• Surgical procedure (D&C): A short operation called dilation and curettage removes remaining tissue safely.

Your doctor will help you decide which method is right for your situation.

Home Care and Recovery

Physical recovery is usually quick, but emotional healing takes time. You may have mild bleeding or cramps for several days, especially after natural passing or a D&C.

Recovery Tips:

• Get adequate rest and avoid stress.
• Use sanitary pads, not tampons, until bleeding stops.
• Avoid sexual activity until cleared by your doctor.
• Eat nutritious meals and drink plenty of water.
• Take medications as prescribed.
• Seek emotional support from your partner, counselor, or family.

Your period generally returns within 4–6 weeks, after which you can discuss future pregnancy plans with your doctor.

Prevention and Management

Unfortunately, there’s no guaranteed way to prevent a blighted ovum. Most cases are random and not linked to anything you did. However, good health habits may help reduce risks in future pregnancies.

Tips for Future Pregnancy Health:

• Take folic acid and prenatal vitamins before starting a pregnancy.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle eat well, sleep well, and stay active.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and stress.
• Manage any existing conditions like thyroid or hormonal disorders.
• Get an early ultrasound during your next pregnancy.
• If you’ve had more than one early loss, ask about genetic counseling.

Possible Complications

Most women recover without problems, but sometimes issues can occur if some tissue remains in the uterus.

Potential Complications:

• Heavy bleeding or infection
• Severe pain or fever
• Emotional strain, sadness, or anxiety
• Worry about future pregnancies

Always follow your doctor’s advice and attend follow-up visits to ensure complete recovery.

When to Call Your Doctor

Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual or worrying symptoms. Early care helps prevent complications and supports faster healing.

Seek Urgent Medical Help If You:

• Have heavy bleeding (soaking a pad every hour)
• Feel severe abdominal pain or cramps
• Develop fever or foul-smelling discharge
• Feel dizzy or faint
• Have emotional distress or depressive symptoms

Your doctor can offer treatment, emotional support, and guidance to help you recover safely.

Blighted Ovum Care at Medicover Hospitals

At Medicover Hospitals, we understand the emotional and physical impact of early pregnancy loss. Our team of gynecologists, obstetricians, and counselors provides personalized care, emotional support, and safe treatment options.

We offer:

• Accurate ultrasound and diagnosis
• Safe medical or surgical treatment based on your needs
• Gentle post-surgery care and guidance
• Counseling for emotional support and future fertility planning

At Medicover, our focus is on helping women heal fully both physically and emotionally and guiding them toward healthy future pregnancies.