Blighted ovum or Anembryonic gestation is a type of pregnancy in which the egg gets fertilized and attaches to the uterine wall normally, but the embryo does not develop. Here, the pregnancy sac develops but the development of the embryo is not there. This type of pregnancy takes place in the first trimester itself long before the women gets aware of her pregnancy.

Blighted ovum is result of profound levels of chromosomes abnormalities found in the women’s body which resulted in natural miscarriage. This condition is also termed as ‘Early Pregnancy Failure’.When this condition generates the women gets a positive result in the pregnancy test, The generation of the placenta starts taking place and it secrets HCG which is human chorionic gonadtrophin.

Causes Of Blighted Ovum:

There are no proper reasons given for blighted ovum to occur. But there is a common understanding that it occurs due the abnormalities in the chromosomes. Especially, the chromosomal abnormality can be related to trisomes 16-22 chromosomes.

Some researches suggest that the blighted ovum occurs in some older women and the problem is basically with the egg and not with the sperm. Blighted ovum occurs occasionally and it not so that once the women had a blighted she will have it in each of her pregnancy too.

Signs Of Blighted Pregnancy:
The signs which are noted in case of blighted pregnancy are:

• Miss or late menstrual period and a positive pregnancy test.
• Minor cramps in the abdomen.
• Minor vaginal spotting or bleeding.
• Women has a illusion that her pregnancy is normal as the HCG hormone is secreted and its levels keep on increasing
• Placenta will there for a span of time and with a normal period the uterine lining is flushed away.

Misdiagnosed Blighted Ovum:

Blighted ovum can only be diagnosed only through ultrasound. If the ultra sound is not done the fact of the empty sac will not reveal. So, it is important to have an ultrasound within 4 weeks of pregnancy itself.

Otherwise, as this condition has all the conditions similar to pregnancy, the woman and her family will be excited for the baby who is about to come. The later the fact will reveal the more will be the trauma for the loss.