What is a Chemical Pregnancy
A chemical pregnancy (or biochemical pregnancy) is a very early miscarriage that occurs within the first 5 weeks of pregnancy, before the pregnancy can even be seen on an ultrasound.
What Happens in Biochemical Pregnancy
An embryo forms and implants in the uterine lining; however, it then stops developing. This leads to very early miscarriage. Sometimes, many women don’t realize they’ve miscarried.
How Common is a Chemical Pregnancy
Biochemical pregnancies make up anywhere from 50 to 75% of all miscarriages; however, it is not an indication that you can’t get pregnant.
Should I Be Worried if I Had a Chemical Pregnancy?
There is nothing to worry about, because it is a very common type of pregnancy and does not require any treatment. Most women achieve healthy pregnancies after a chemical pregnancy.
How Do I Know It’s a Chemical Pregnancy? The Signs & Symptoms
The biochemical pregnancy will only be confirmed by your healthcare professional in Singapore. Here are some possible signs and symptoms that can indicate its possibility.
- Positive Pregnancy Test Followed by a Negative Result a Few Weeks Later
Home pregnancy test kits detect low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from early implantation; however, levels drop quickly when the embryo stops developing. That’s why the test may show positive in the beginning but negative as HCG levels fall. You might not notice the usual signs of early pregnancy.
- Bleeding Begins as Spotting and Then Gets Really Heavy, With Blood Clots
Light bleeding happens as the uterine lining sheds after the embryo fails to grow, similar to implantation bleeding. Then the bleeding can get heavier, similar to dark red and jelly-like.
Extra tissue from a biochemical pregnancy or brief implantation causes more flow or delays the cycle by a week because of disrupted hormone signals.
- Mild to Severe Menstrual Cramps
The uterus contracts to remove the remnants, triggered by hormonal shifts like dropping progesterone. This can feel like intensified menstrual pain.
- Fading Early Pregnancy Symptoms
The early pregnancy signs, such as sore breasts or tiredness, come and go fast as the hCG drops when the embryo stops growing.
What are the Causes of Chemical Pregnancy?
It is unclear exactly why an embryo stops developing during a chemical pregnancy. Some of the possible explanations can be:
- An incorrect number of chromosomes in the embryo
- Poor quality of the embryo
- Insufficient levels of hormones
- Presence of uterine fibroids
- Other ongoing health conditions like thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases
- Lifestyle factors
How to Confirm a Chemical Pregnancy
Your doctor may confirm it through:
- Follow-up blood tests to measure HCG
- Subsequent negative pregnancy test
- Ultrasound
- Asking you about the symptoms
How to Prevent a Biochemical Pregnancy?
While it cannot be fully prevented, you can take the following measures:
- Take prescribed prenatal vitamins
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Consume a balanced diet
- Limit caffeine intake
- Manage chronic conditions
