A chemical pregnancy occurs at around week 4 to 5 of your menstrual cycle, when an egg is fertilized but never fully implants in the uterus. Though you will test positive when taking an at-home pregnancy test, chemical pregnancies can be confirmed through either blood tests where pregnancy hormones won’t be present, or through an ultrasound where the gestational sac will not be large enough to be visible. Since it happens at such an early stage, some women may not even realize they have experienced a chemical pregnancy as they might not have taken a test or have missed their period. We understand that pregnancy loss at any stage is hard to accept and cope with, but NCCRM fertility center wants to help you better understand the common symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with chemical pregnancies.
Signs of a Chemical Pregnancy
The only real symptom of chemical pregnancies is a late period. A chemical pregnancy is sometimes revealed when an early pregnancy test shows a faint positive result but later returns a negative result in a week or two. The cells of the fertilized egg produce enough of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to elicit a positive pregnancy test result, but then the embryo stops developing.
Symptoms
While some might expect that the menstrual bleeding would be heavier than usual with a chemical pregnancy, it is often the same as a normal period. According to NCCRM fertility center, other signs of a chemical pregnancy may include:
- Low hCG levels on a blood test.
- Mild abdominal cramping or more cramping than usual during a period.
- Mild spotting about a week before a normal period is due. This is different from implantation bleeding, or spotting that occurs in early pregnancy.
Physically, chemical pregnancies do not harm a woman’s body, but they do cause emotional distress. Even the earliest pregnancy loss can lead to feelings of deep sadness and grief.
Causes
It is thought that chemical pregnancies occur for similar reasons to many other miscarriages. The most common cause is likely to be chromosomal problems with the developing baby. When the body recognizes this, it will naturally terminate the pregnancy soon after the egg implants, or the egg may never implant at all. Other causes may include abnormal hormone levels, implantation outside the uterus, infections like chlamydia or syphilis, or uterine abnormalities.
Risk Factors
While you can’t prevent a chemical pregnancy, there are some known risk factors and untreated conditions that may increase your chances of experiencing one:
- Undergoing IVF – The heightened anticipation of a pregnancy during IVF may lead some couples to test more frequently and earlier than those conceiving naturally.
- A blood clotting disorder
- Diabetes
- Maternal age over 35
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Thyroid disorder
NCCRM Fertility Center
If you have had a chemical pregnancy miscarriage, the chances are high that your next pregnancy will be normal. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one’s ability to conceive, contact the specialists at NCCRM
