If the fetus is dead, the test will show pregnancy. What does the test show during a frozen pregnancy?

Frozen pregnancy is a pathology, the causes of which have not yet been fully studied. In medicine, a frozen pregnancy is called a failed abortion. The likelihood of developing the problem does not depend on the woman’s age, her social status or the number of previous pregnancies. The causes of the pathology are still not fully understood. According to statistics, frozen pregnancy occurs in every 176th woman planning to become a mother.

What is pathology?

Non-developing pregnancy is intrauterine death of the fetus associated with irreversible processes occurring in its tissues. The pathology does not have pronounced signs, such as, for example, a miscarriage. For this reason, it is important to know about the first signs of pathology in order to promptly seek help from a doctor.

Important! In gynecology, the concept of an empty fertilized egg is often encountered. The condition occurs when the egg is fertilized and attaches to the endometrium. However, the cell itself does not contain an embryo.

Causes of non-developing pregnancy

The most common cause of miscarriage is gene mutations. They are the cause of embryo death in 70% of cases up to 8 weeks. Numerous factors can lead to genetic malfunctions in the body: chronic or hereditary diseases, drug use, alcohol consumption by future parents.

Important! During pregnancy, you should definitely undergo screenings prescribed by a gynecologist and geneticist. This study will detect gene abnormalities in a child in the early stages.

The likelihood of a failed abortion increases if the expectant mother cannot give up bad habits: smoking, poor nutrition, drinking alcohol. Medications that a pregnant woman takes without the consent of a doctor can provoke various abnormalities in the fetus.

Therefore, in the first trimester, potent drugs are prescribed only in extreme cases, for example, in severe infectious diseases. After 10 weeks of pregnancy, a strong placenta is formed, which protects the fetus from external negative influences. In this case, taking medications will not be so dangerous for him.

Other causes of missed abortion include:

1. Rhesus conflict between mother and fetus. The problem is especially acute for women who have had multiple abortions. Gradually, antibodies to the embryo accumulate in the woman’s body, which reduce the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
2. Severe infectious and viral diseases. Expectant mothers are vulnerable to pathogenic flora, so they quickly become infected during epidemics. Some diseases (rubella, chickenpox, measles) can not only provoke the death of the embryo, but also cause physical and mental disabilities in the child in the future. In such cases, the mother may agree to an abortion or decide to give birth and raise a special baby.
3. Hormonal imbalances. The cause of miscarriage can be a lack of prolactin or excess testosterone. If a woman experienced irregular menstruation before conception, her gynecologist must be informed about this.

Risk factors for the development of frozen pregnancy:

• old-time women over 35 years of age;
• numerous abortions in the past;
• the presence of defects in the structure of the uterus;
• previously diagnosed ectopic pregnancies.

If there is at least one risk factor, the woman is put under special control by a gynecologist. The risk group for abnormal pregnancy also includes women who refuse to be observed by specialists.

Important! Every pregnant woman should register with a gynecologist at 7-8 weeks of pregnancy.

Timing of frozen pregnancy

The problem occurs at any stage of pregnancy (even a few days before delivery). Examining statistical data, doctors noted several periods that are the most dangerous for the formation of the fetus:

• 3rd and 4th weeks from the moment of conception;
• 7-11th week;
• 16-18th week.

After the 20th week, cases of child development arrest are few. In the vast majority of cases, the problem occurs before 14 gestational weeks. The cause of the anomaly in the first trimester is genetic abnormalities and hormonal imbalances, in the second and third trimesters - infectious diseases.

Symptoms of pathology in the early stages

A woman may not immediately notice a frozen pregnancy, especially if it does not manifest clinical signs. However, the condition poses a threat to a woman’s life, since the decaying fetus poisons the body and harms the reproductive system. However, upon careful examination of her condition, a woman may note the following signs characteristic of a non-developing pregnancy:

1. Abnormal discharge. The woman’s body tries to independently get rid of the fetus after its death. Within 48 hours she may have a whitish discharge of normal consistency. After this, bloody streaks appear in the mucus. Gradually the bleeding becomes more and more profuse.
2. Change in the intensity of toxicosis. After implantation of the fertilized egg, many women feel the urge to vomit. They are associated with increased production of hCG. If the fetus dies, the production of the hormone stops. After a day, the woman may feel relief. 4-6 days after the death of the fetus, signs of toxicosis disappear completely. This symptom does not always indicate pathological processes in the body. The intensity of toxicosis may decrease as a result of the woman’s physiological adaptation to the fetus.
3. Deterioration in general health. An embryo that decomposes for a long time in a woman’s body provokes intoxication of the body. At first, the condition resembles a cold and is accompanied by fatigue and loss of strength. After two weeks, more pronounced signs of pathology appear: dizziness, anxiety, abdominal cramps, temperature.
4. Sudden changes in basal temperature. In pregnant women, the indicator is at a level exceeding 37 degrees. After the fetus dies, the mark on the thermometer drops to 36.7 degrees, and at the time of decomposition of the embryo it rises to 37.5 degrees.

Symptoms of pathology in late pregnancy

From the second trimester, other manifestations join the listed symptoms of frozen pregnancy. The clear clinical picture of the problem is due to the fact that the fetus is large.

The main manifestations of a non-developing pregnancy in the second and third trimesters include:

• absence of fetal movements for more than 24 hours;
• nagging pain in the abdomen;
• leakage of water with an unpleasant putrid odor.

The absence of movements in the fetus may also indicate an insufficient supply of oxygen to it. The situation occurs when the umbilical cord is entwined around the baby’s neck or torso. If a woman consults a doctor in a timely manner, the baby can be saved from suffocation.

One of the characteristic signs of fading pregnancy in later stages is a change in breast size. If breastfeeding occurs before the 25th week, the breasts return to their previous size within a few days. At later stages after the death of the fetus, colostrum may be released from the glands.

After the death of the fetus, not only the breasts, but also the abdomen decreases in size. This is due to the fact that after the tragedy the amount of amniotic fluid decreases. The listed signs will be observed in a woman one to two days after the death of the fetus. In the later stages of pregnancy, the body tries to get rid of the dead child already on the 4-5th day.

Diagnosis of frozen pregnancy

Examination for a frozen pregnancy includes the following types of procedures:

• visual examination by a gynecologist;
• blood sampling for hCG;
• basal temperature measurement

The first two methods are considered the main ones in identifying signs of a frozen pregnancy, the rest are auxiliary.

Important! If there is a suspicion of a frozen pregnancy before the 7th week, then the abortion is postponed until a repeat ultrasound examination. It may happen that the device did not detect the vital functions of the embryo or the doctor made a mistake when calculating the timing of conception.

• early term - incorrect location of the fertilized egg or its damage;
• late term - the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus and the discrepancy between its size and the term.

Ultrasound data are not enough to make a final diagnosis of BD. Due to hormonal imbalances and psychological stress in women, fetal development can be delayed for up to four weeks. In this case, a repeat ultrasound is performed after two weeks. If the fetus has not increased in size, this means that it is dead.

Treatment of pathology

A popular way to free the uterine cavity from a dead fetus is medical abortion. In Russia, it is performed up to 9 weeks of pregnancy, in European countries - up to 12. The drugs used for therapy are mifepristone and misoprostol. This method gives an effective result, but has a list of contraindications:

• blood clotting disorder;
• severe anemia;
• renal and liver failure;
• ectopic pregnancy.

If a frozen pregnancy is diagnosed at 13-22 weeks, then artificial induction of labor is resorted to using one of the methods:

1. Intramial. A 20% sodium chloride solution is injected into the amniotic sac using a thin needle.
2. Isolated. Insertion of mifepristone or misoprostol into the vagina followed by oral administration of one of the drugs.

If the above methods for removing the fetus do not bring results or have contraindications for implementation, then doctors resort to placing a load on the presenting section of the amniotic sac.

In the third trimester, the dead fetus is disposed of through artificial birth. It is prohibited to perform a caesarean section in this case, as blood infection may occur. The woman will have to give birth to the deceased child without anesthesia in an emergency.

After treatment, the woman will need to adhere to the following rules:

1. Take hormonal medications to speed up the restoration of the endometrium.
2. Take antibiotics to prevent endometrial infection. Drugs from the macrolide or cephalosporin group are prescribed.
3. Undergo physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at regenerating damaged uterine tissue.
4. Take medications to strengthen your immune system.

Another way to remove the fertilized egg is curettage. For periods up to 12 weeks, vacuum aspiration of the uterus is acceptable. The standard curettage procedure is performed only in extreme cases, as it can lead to irreversible damage to the epithelium.

Indications for traditional curettage:

• ineffectiveness of drug therapy;
• cleansing the uterus from fetal remains after an incomplete miscarriage.

Curettage is prescribed to women after an ultrasound, blood test and electrocardiogram. A preliminary consultation with the doctor who will perform the anesthesia is required.

Progress of the curettage procedure:

1. The woman is given intravenous anesthesia, which begins to take effect within a few seconds.
2. The genitals are treated with antiseptic agents.
3. Using a mirror, the doctor fixes the cervix with forceps and expands the cervical canal.
4. The cleansing procedure is performed with a curette equipped with a loop at the end. With its help, all the mucous membranes of the cervical canal and uterus are scraped out.
5. After curettage, drugs are introduced into the uterine cavity to stimulate contractions. The treated area is disinfected with iodine solution.

After the operation is completed, all fixing gynecological instruments are removed. Cold is placed on the woman’s stomach, which helps to constrict small blood vessels and tone the uterus. A woman's menstrual cycle should resume 6-7 weeks after curettage. The operation is allowed to be performed until the second trimester (less often in later stages).

Consequences of a frozen pregnancy

Termination of pregnancy is stressful for the female body, regardless of the chosen method of treatment subsequently. It will be possible to fully recover after the operation only after 6 months. During this time, the woman will need to take hormonal medications.

Complications after a frozen pregnancy:

1. Psychological trauma associated with the fear of unsuccessful subsequent pregnancies or the inability to conceive a child.
2. Infertility. To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to follow the doctor’s recommendations and be regularly examined by a gynecologist. Symptoms for an urgent visit to a gynecologist are fever, severe vaginal bleeding.
3. Inflammatory diseases of the uterine cavity. The complication often develops after traditional curettage. During the operation, the mucous membranes of the reproductive organ are removed, which makes it more vulnerable to pathogenic flora.
4. Adhesive processes. Inflammation of the uterus leads to the fact that its individual parts stick together. Deformation of the organ cavity subsequently becomes a cause of infertility.

Prevention of undeveloped pregnancy

Each couple planning a child must first undergo a set of studies, which includes a blood test for infections, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, and genetic tests. It is recommended to refrain from conceiving if less than 6 months ago one of the partners had rubella, chickenpox or a severe form of influenza.

Other measures aimed at preventing frozen pregnancy include:

• performing preventive vaccinations;
• visit to a geneticist;
• normalization of hormonal levels;
• maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• refraining from flying in the first months from the moment of conception.

With proper planning, the probability of a successful pregnancy is about 90%. This also applies to cases where a woman has had unsuccessful attempts to bear a child in the past. It is important not to ignore visits to multidisciplinary specialists who will draw up a competent treatment plan after a frozen pregnancy.

Frozen pregnancy is one of the manifestations of abortion. This situation can arise at any stage of gestation. Delayed detection of this pathology can lead to serious complications. Can a pregnancy test clarify the situation?

What can lead to fetal development failure?

Fertilization occurs physiologically and without complications, but at some point the fertilized egg or embryo, and in later stages the fetus, lose their viability. A lot of different reasons can lead to this situation. Sometimes it is impossible to accurately identify the factor that led to the death of the fetus.

Gynecologists call a frozen pregnancy in the early stages up to 20 weeks, intermediate from 20 to 28 weeks, and after 28 weeks a failed miscarriage; after 28 weeks it is interpreted as antenatal fetal death.

The most common reasons that can cause pregnancy to fail:

• Early infections (influenza, ARVI, rubella, chickenpox).
• Use of medications.
• Chromosomal abnormalities.
• Bad habits of the expectant mother (alcohol, smoking).
• Venereal diseases.
• Diseases of the endocrine glands.
• Imbalance of sex hormones.
• Inflammatory processes of the gynecological profile.
• Uterine abnormalities.
• Age-related risks.
• Rhesus conflict.
• Stress, physical activity, working with toxic substances.

In gynecology, there are critical periods when one most often has to deal with pregnancy fading. These are 3 and 4 weeks, at this period it can end in miscarriage, 8–11 weeks and 16–18 weeks are also quite dangerous in this regard.

If such a disappointing diagnosis is confirmed, the woman undergoes curettage or artificial birth. If this is not done, intoxication will inevitably develop.

Another dangerous complication is inflammatory processes. If you do not remove the dead fetus, they will progress. As a result, emergency assistance from a surgeon will be required and the risk that in the future it will be possible to become pregnant and give birth again increases several times.

If appropriate measures are taken, the prognosis for the next pregnancy and childbirth is favorable.

The role of the pregnancy test

A pregnancy test determines its presence or absence by the level of hCG. In this case, the test strip reacts with urine. HCG is also present in the blood and this is confirmed by a blood test.

If the fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus dies in the early stages, hormones are not immediately removed from the body. In the first days after a frozen pregnancy, the test shows two lines, which means it will be positive. After some time, the test will show a negative result when the concentration of hCG decreases and completely disappears.

The longer the period, the longer the concentration of hormones in the blood and urine remains. Sometimes positive test results last so long that they give the woman hope and the right to doubt the diagnosis-sentence. The doctor must conduct the necessary examinations and explain to the woman why the test shows such a result. Reassure her for the future and help her survive this situation.

In the early stages

It is more difficult to diagnose a frozen pregnancy in the early stages, but the drop in hCG levels occurs quite quickly. If the test was positive, but after some time shows a negative result, a consultation with a gynecologist and an ultrasound scan is necessary. Additional signs of frozen pregnancy in the early period:

1. Disappearance of early toxicosis.
2. Decrease in basal temperature.
3. Bloody vaginal discharge.
4. The size of the uterus does not correspond to the term.
5. The test shows a negative result, but before that it was positive (important - with an ectopic pregnancy, this is also possible).

If a pregnant woman is worried about all these signs, she should visit a doctor. Based on an examination, a blood test for hCG and an ultrasound of the abdominal organs, a diagnosis will be made.

Sometimes a woman intuitively senses that something is wrong, and this prompts her to retest. She may feel changes associated with a missed abortion. If there was toxicosis - nausea, reaction to smells - it may stop. Swelling and soreness of the mammary glands disappears.

You may experience nagging pain in the back and abdomen, and bleeding. If the test shows a negative result, but was previously positive, you should urgently seek medical help.

Basal temperature drops (measured in the rectum in the morning, without getting out of bed). Those women who control their basal temperature will notice a decrease in it.

It is very important to differentiate between frozen and ectopic (ectopic) pregnancy, which can also show a negative test due to low hCG levels.

A woman's general condition may change if the fetus is frozen. Intoxication, fever, and general malaise begin.

In the later stages

A frozen pregnancy in the late stages is a huge psychological trauma for a woman expecting a child. The fetus is already quite large, the fact of pregnancy is beyond doubt and there is no point in conducting a test. Other factors should alert a woman:

1. Lack of fetal movement.
2. Cramping pain.
3. The appearance of bloody discharge.
4. Deterioration of the condition, in severe cases – intoxication.
5. The fetal heartbeat cannot be heard.

Diagnosing the presence of a frozen pregnancy in later stages is somewhat easier than in very early stages. It is enough to conduct an examination, ultrasound and blood tests. But the psychological state of a woman suffers much more: when the expectant mother felt the movements of the child and went through all the dangerous periods of miscarriage, the loss can become very difficult.

A woman may doubt the correctness of the diagnosis, not because she does not trust doctors, but because she does not want to believe it. She can take a test at home and a positive result will give her hope. It is necessary to explain to her why the test result may still show two stripes for some time.

In late pregnancy, a woman should control the movement of the fetus. If she stops hearing them or they become much less frequent, there is a reason to consult a doctor for advice.

If your general condition worsens, fever, chills, headaches and other symptoms of intoxication, you should urgently seek the help of a doctor.

A woman needs support and hope for the future. Fetal death is a major psychological trauma that can lead to prolonged depression and fears that she cannot bear a healthy child. It is imperative to reassure her and explain that she will definitely become a mother and give birth to a long-awaited baby.

Fetal freezing is a rare occurrence if the expectant mother is concerned about bearing a healthy baby. The small heart of the embryo stops beating for unknown reasons; a genetic or hereditary factor or physiological pathologies during pregnancy are possible. But in the early stages, will the test show a frozen pregnancy? Some women claim that these pathologies are diagnosed at home - different levels of the “pregnancy hormone” are noticeable. How to identify one of the manifestations of spontaneous abortion at home?

What is important to know about frozen pregnancy

Terminating a pregnancy by any means is a tragedy. It takes a long time for a woman to recover from shock and self-flagellation - what’s wrong?! Abortion doesn't improve your mood either. Fetal fading can occur at any stage, in this case doctors summarize:

• spontaneous miscarriage;
• spontaneous abortion;
• frozen pregnancy.

It is difficult to suspect something is wrong until bloody discharge from the vagina begins. But this is the main factor showing that it’s time to sound the alarm and rush to the antenatal clinic. Do not flatter yourself if the pregnancy is frozen - the test shows “two lines”; most likely, there was the same result before.

A fetus frozen in the uterus poses a danger to your life. A dead body begins a necrotic process; in other words, it is already beginning to decompose in the uterus. A miscarriage is a natural opportunity to “shed ballast,” which is life-threatening. You cannot lead to serious complications by postponing a visit to the gynecologist.

It is difficult to name good reasons, but most of our women are not “friends” with a women’s doctor. Many people prefer diagnosis and treatment with pharmaceuticals, and if the fetus is frozen, the test will show pregnancy. The hCG level (or human chorionic gonadotropin secretion) remains high for some time, so the tests are still “streaky”.

Why does this happen if fertilization occurred without problems? The process of embryo development is influenced by several factors:

1. Physiological or natural causes;
2. Genetic (hereditary predisposition to miscarriages);
3. Mechanical (blow to the stomach, heavy lifting or other impact);
4. Toxic (bad habits, the presence of toxic substances and drugs in the blood that are harmful to the fetus);
5. Occult (negative impact on the intrauterine process through the power of thought or magical rituals).

As a result, in case of a frozen pregnancy, the test shows the norm, but there is a problem. It is impossible to independently identify the cause of fetal freezing, only hypothetically. One can have a different attitude towards science’s denial of generational curses and negative wishes that are not confirmed by medical practice. Women's forums are replete with evidence of influence from people who do not want to have a child. These could be envious people, mothers-in-law or relatives with inheritance claims.

Attention: The only way for tests to indicate a frozen fetus is to check hCG dynamics. Tests will have to be purchased daily and the indicators noted. They will decline if the embryo has lost its viability! To do this, use only those indicators that show the level of “pregnancy hormone”.

Risk groups for frozen pregnancy

Alas, sad women's statistics show that up to 10% of desired pregnancies will not end in the successful birth of a baby; in mature women, up to half of the cases. Not to mention abortion activities and careless attitude towards one’s health. The risk of developing pathologies increases with age, but it is already clear whether the test will show a frozen pregnancy, and what will happen if you do not rush to remove the consequences.

Risk statistics often include women who have had a series of abortions during their first pregnancy and subsequent conceptions. Girls who have been taking oral contraceptives for a long time may have problems. The body “out of habit” can reject the fertilized egg. If the fetus is frozen, a weak test will not show early pregnancy.

Rejection often occurs due to a conflict of Rh factors. For example, if the mother is Rh positive and the father is Rh negative or vice versa. In reality, young people are in no hurry to learn such “little things” and do not know about important things.

It happens when the expectant mother cannot say for sure who the father of the unborn baby is, for example, if she is promiscuous or dates several men at the same time, having sexual intercourse. Such frivolous ladies put themselves at risk, not thinking about what the test shows during a frozen pregnancy - they do not use them.

Important to know: The 8th week of pregnancy is considered the key moment; this is the most dangerous period in the development of the fetus - the most important organs begin to form.

The risk does not depend on how many pregnancies there were before, the first or the fifth; sometimes women themselves do not know for sure if there were spontaneous failures in the early stages. The “8 weeks” stage is too susceptible to teratogenic influences, the likelihood of pathologies and fading increases.

In the early stages, the risk is greatest, at this time frozen pregnancies occur more often, what does a pregnancy test show? Doesn't say anything or signals a weakly positive "striped" result. But it needs to be compared with previous testing.

The main risk groups for frozen pregnancy are:

• Women who have had multiple consecutive abortions;
• “old-born” (after 30 years), young mothers and “first-born”;
• survivors of ectopic pregnancy and other pathologies;
• ladies with hormonal imbalances, as well as severe obesity, diabetes and other severe forms of metabolic disorders in the body;
• girls of the “youthful type”, with abnormalities of the reproductive organs and with an undeveloped “childish” uterus.

Doctors call this sad fact differently:

1. Up to 28 obstetric weeks - called a missed or failed pregnancy, as well as a spontaneous (involuntary) miscarriage.
2. More than 28 weeks after conception – antenatal fetal death.

Fetal freezing in the early stages is difficult to determine, so it is recommended to carefully monitor changes in the new “position”. For every woman at risk during a frozen pregnancy and at home, it is important to monitor what the test shows in the early stages. In each case, it is important to follow all medical recommendations and see your doctor.

Important: If you are offered to go to a gynecologist for preservation, do not refuse!

What are the signs of a frozen pregnancy?

You can’t look inside yourself - the independent possibility of determining the fading of the fertilized egg is minimal. You can’t do without a medical examination, and a lot depends on the timing. It happens that when everything seems to be fine, suddenly an ultrasound records the immobility of the embryo. A laboratory blood test shows a low hCG level, although it was high before and is normal.

It is difficult to understand in the early stages what is wrong with pregnancy, especially if it is the first. Let's figure it out if the pregnancy is frozen - what will the ultra-sensitive test show? For example, the hCG was 1650 units, after a few days the regular detector “does not streak”, but the electronic one displays a figure almost half as much.

The fertilized egg travels through the reproductive organs, but it is so small that the expectant mother is not able to feel it. The end of the journey of the fertilized egg is the lining of the uterus, the embryo is implanted for further development. But could he fail to gain a foothold? In all likelihood, yes. Where does the egg go then? Most likely, it dies, then it should erupt from the uterus with a little bleeding. This is possible after stress.

If you listen to the changes in your body, you cannot help but notice deviations. When few days have passed, the test does not always show a frozen pregnancy. For example, when a spontaneous miscarriage occurred, and the uterus cleared itself. The woman perceives this as a delay, “and now, finally, menstruation!” But it was a pathological pregnancy that did not reach its logical conclusion.

And it is necessary to check your hormonal levels, plus measurements of basal temperature to identify deviations after the days of ovulation. In the doctor’s office, you should discuss all your doubts, take all the necessary tests and show your temperature marks. In the 1st trimester, it normally remains at a level of 37.1-37.3°C. If your test shows a decrease in hCG, it means that the pregnancy has stopped.

Also, if in the 1st trimester a decrease in basal temperature is recorded, progesterone (the hormone responsible for pregnancy) drops, the doctor will draw the appropriate conclusions and decide what to do next. After a series of “delays”, which can be perceived as irregular periods, it is difficult to wait for a full pregnancy. At home, if the pregnancy is frozen, we know what the test will show - the hCG level will fall.

There are other reasons for serious concern:

1. There are no sensations accompanying pregnancy, plus sanguineous discharge or bleeding, toxicosis suddenly stops (early term).
2. Cramping spasms and pain in the lower abdomen, if a frozen pregnancy constrains the lower back, a temperature jump, the test will show changes in hormonal levels.
3. During a hardware examination at the time of delivery, it is impossible to make a fetal cardiogram - the small heart has stopped beating.
4. Colostrum and milk are released from the breast, which should appear when the uterus is “empty” (after the fetus is removed).
5. The fetus stopped moving at a late stage.

There is no need to sound the alarm ahead of time, if there is one symptom, tests and ultrasound will show what is wrong with the embryo. Often, expectant mothers resort to antenatal clinics if an active baby “does not beat” in the stomach. There is a “Method of 10 movements”, the expectant mother can feel them from morning to 21:00. But it is quite possible that before this he was cramped, and now he lies down in a comfortable prenatal position - head down and just sleeping. Everything is fine!

If the pregnancy is frozen, what does the test show?

It is useful to monitor your condition with tests at home. This is not to confirm fertilization, but to see how the level of hCG in the urine increases or decreases. Will the test show a frozen pregnancy? We will already find out that yes. But the cheapest “striped girls’ friends” will not be suitable for this, only highly sensitive ones.

If the first electronic test gives an affirmative “pregnon” (pregnancy), and after a while, after the sudden cessation of toxicosis, it is already “non pregnon” (no pregnancy), consult a doctor immediately!

Advice: If there are prerequisites for pregnancy failure, ask the pharmacy for those sensitive test systems that show the level of hCG or its concentration in the urine. During fading, the level will drop daily, approaching zero.

Removing a frozen fetus is an unpleasant ending, but it is necessary to save the woman’s life (the decaying embryo is poisoned with cadaveric poison). At the initial stage, abortion with medications is indicated, at the late stage - induction of labor. If the frozen fetus is small, labor should be stimulated early; curettage (under anesthesia) is applicable.

Do not be afraid of these procedures; if you have a frozen pregnancy, you need to cleanse the body of the dead body. And the sooner the better. No matter how many women ask on forums “whether the test will show if there is a frozen pregnancy”, with an unpleasant answer from the indicator, medical intervention cannot be avoided. Next, treatment is recommended in order to stop inflammation after curettage and bring hormonal levels back to normal.

It is advisable to know the reason for the failed attempt at motherhood in order to draw the right conclusions - get treatment and treat the next fertilization more carefully. If this happens, do not despair and stop trying; modern medicine helps even in the most hopeless cases, including surrogacy. A serious approach to childbirth guarantees the full bearing of a healthy baby. Take a break from your worries and try again!

Diagnosis of a frozen pregnancy is possible only with the help of special examination methods, such as a blood test for hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, and ultrasound of the fetus.

Suspicion of a frozen pregnancy may arise based on the woman’s complaints and obstetric examination data; the uterus turns out to be smaller in size than it should be for the duration of pregnancy. A woman may notice an improvement in her condition with early toxicosis, unusual discharge and abdominal pain; at a later stage, women cease to feel fetal movements, and the doctor does not hear the baby’s heartbeat during an obstetric examination.

Conventional pregnancy tests measure hCG, which is released in the urine during pregnancy. HCG is produced by the chorion, the future placenta of the fetus; when it dies, production stops, which is why the level of hCG during a frozen pregnancy drops. However, the hormone is not immediately eliminated from the body, and for this reason the test is positive for a frozen pregnancy for several more days. For about 5-7 days, the test shows two stripes in case of a frozen pregnancy, but every day the second strip turns pale.

Will the test show a frozen pregnancy? Yes, but not right away. You can't rely on him. If a regressing pregnancy is suspected, the blood is tested for hCG levels. Tests during a frozen pregnancy are characterized by the fact that the growth of hCG stops and its level begins to fall; the test is taken multiple times.

Determination of a frozen pregnancy using a blood test for hormones is carried out in the early stages, later an ultrasound becomes more informative. Normally, the fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound from the 5th week, the baby’s movements are visible from the 7th week, a frozen pregnancy on an ultrasound is characterized by the absence of a heartbeat, fetal movements and a discrepancy between the size of the fetal egg and the gestational age. Sometimes the fetus is not visible at all in the fertilized egg (anembryony).

Is it possible to misdiagnose “frozen pregnancy”?

It occasionally happens that during examination in the early stages a frozen pregnancy is diagnosed, usually up to 5-6 weeks of pregnancy. As a rule, at this stage, gynecologists are in no hurry to make a final conclusion and prescribe a repeat ultrasound in a week, because there are often cases when a frozen pregnancy is not confirmed by a repeat ultrasound.

How does this ultrasound error occur?

A frozen pregnancy in the early stages is characterized by the absence of a heartbeat in the embryo, but it is normally detected only from the 5th week. Since no one can know exactly the day of conception, when performing an ultrasound, the actual gestational age may not correspond to the calculated one. Carrying out a repeat ultrasound makes it possible to exclude a frozen pregnancy if within a week the fertilized egg has grown and a heartbeat has begun to be detected. If the pregnancy does not progress, the diagnosis of a frozen pregnancy becomes undoubted.

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Most often, it is difficult to establish the exact cause that led to the development of this disease (each case is studied and considered individually), although doctors name several of the most common points. Among them:

• uncontrolled use of various medications, which include dietary supplements and vitamins, consumed by expectant mothers without consulting a specialist;
• viral diseases (flu, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, etc.);
• smoking;
• drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy;
• taking illegal drugs, etc.

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If intrauterine infection does not lead to termination of pregnancy and the baby is born safely, the following symptoms should make parents worry:

• early jaundice;
• rash of various types;
• respiratory function disorders;
• cardiovascular failure;
• neurological disorders;
• high body temperature in the first day of life;
• inflammatory (eg, conjunctivitis) and degenerative (eg, optic atrophy) eye diseases.