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Book NowWhat is a Chemical Pregnancy?
Losing a pregnancy can be quite difficult, no matter when or how it happens. It can have emotional, physical, and psychological effects on an individual. For some, the miscarriage can happen even before you know you conceived. This can add a layer of confusion to many, feeling a loss of something they never had in the first place.
In many cases, this miscarriage is due to a chemical pregnancy. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at what a chemical pregnancy means.
Key Takeaways
- Chemical pregnancies are pregnancies where a miscarriage occurs before the pregnancy appears on an ultrasound, typically at or before five weeks of gestation.
- The causes of a chemical pregnancy can be hard to pinpoint, and the exact cause of any specific case is rarely ever discovered.
- While there are typically few physical side effects of a chemical pregnancy, the psychological effects can be severe and may require counseling to navigate their feelings about the miscarriage.
What Is a Chemical Pregnancy?
A chemical pregnancy, also known as a biochemical pregnancy, is a miscarriage that occurs when the fetus stops developing very early on in the pregnancy. This usually happens when the pregnancy is only 5 weeks. A chemical pregnancy accounts for most miscarriages.
A chemical pregnancy is so-called because of the different chemicals or hormones that develop in the body around the 5th week of pregnancy. They start to work even before the pregnancy can be seen on an ultrasound. For this reason, many women can’t tell if they are having or have had a chemical pregnancy. However, one of the ways to recognize a chemical pregnancy is through declining hCG levels.
Implantation bleeding vs. chemical pregnancy
Just because you’re having some light spotting or bleeding doesn’t always mean you’re having a chemical pregnancy. It could just be implantation. Nevertheless, any heavy bleeding accompanied by cramps may indicate a miscarriage. Therefore, any form of bleeding when you're aware that you are pregnant should be reported to your doctor.
Chemical pregnancy vs early miscarriage
Early miscarriages that happen in the first trimester can be a chemical pregnancy. However, not all miscarriages are. It could be a missed miscarriage or an incomplete miscarriage.
Why does a chemical pregnancy happen?
It’s hard to pinpoint why a chemical miscarriage may happen. Sometimes, the fails to implant properly on the uterine wall and in some cases, the sperm or egg has too many chromosomes or not enough. The egg and sperm both have 23 chromosomes each and, when combined, contain 46 chromosomes. However, if there are some abnormalities with these chromosomes, it can lead to pregnancy loss. A chemical pregnancy can also occur if a woman suffers from untreated thyroid conditions, uterine abnormalities, or cervical issues.
Other factors that can cause a chemical pregnancy include:
- Being advanced in age
- Being underweight or overweight
- Having a uterus that is an atypical shape
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Untreated diabetes
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- A sexually transmitted infection
No matter the cause, there may not be anything wrong with you, and it doesn’t mean you can’t go on to have a healthy baby later down the line.
Symptoms of a Chemical Pregnancy
Chemical pregnancies can be difficult to diagnose because they occur quite early. Some women may not even be aware they had conceived in the first place. Many chemical pregnancies typically resolve without physical complications. Common chemical pregnancy signs include:
- Heavy bleeding
- Intense cramps
- A positive pregnancy test accompanied by a heavy period later
- A positive pregnancy test that tests negative a week later
- A positive pregnancy test without any pregnancy symptoms
- Declining hCG levels
Chemical pregnancies and IVF
Research has shown that the chances of a chemical pregnancy can be higher with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Experiencing a chemical pregnancy after undergoing infertility treatments is certainly disheartening, and you may want to completely quit future IVF cycles. This is why it is crucial to talk with your doctor concerning your chances of successful conception and whether another round of IVF is advised. Statistics indicate that chemical pregnancy rates tend to be higher during IVF treatment. For this reason, Ivy Fertility closely monitors its IVF patients, and the chance of diagnosing chemical pregnancies will be higher.
Can I Prevent a Chemical Pregnancy?
There’s nothing you can do to prevent a chemical pregnancy, as this can happen without any cause. Nevertheless, there are some steps you can take to decrease your risks by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. You can also manage any chronic conditions you have, like diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or high blood pressure.
Many people who experience a chemical pregnancy still manage to carry healthy babies to term, and having one also doesn’t mean that you have infertility issues. As already mentioned, chemical pregnancies are quite common and are not a sign of fertility concerns.
Chemical pregnancy treatment
Because a chemical pregnancy happens very early it tends to resolve on its own and unless you have other complications you will physically recover quickly. Many women who face a chemical pregnancy mostly struggle with the sense of grief and loss, which can be overwhelming for some. Therefore, it is the psychological and emotional healing that may take some time, especially if you are aware of the pregnancy.
Don’t underplay what you’re feeling. These feelings are normal, and everyone deals with loss in their own way, whether you know it or not. Conversely, it’s also okay to not feel upset, and whatever your feelings, you might find it helpful to talk to a professional to help you walk you through the process.
Final Thoughts
Chemical pregnancies happen at 5 weeks or less, making it hard to diagnose or test, especially when the woman didn't even know she was pregnant. To make it more confusing, a chemical pregnancy can feel a little bit like a very heavy period. Still, losing a pregnancy so early might leave you with lots of questions, so it’s important to lean on your support system at this time.