Chemical Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Getting your period after a week of testing positive for pregnancy can be frightening and confusing. But it is a common condition many women experience while trying for a baby. This condition is medically termed a chemical pregnancy or a miscarriage.

Having a chemical pregnancy doesn’t indicate that there’s something wrong with your body, or that you will not be able to give birth to a healthy baby in the future. There could be many causes of a chemical pregnancy, and the key is to determine the exact reason and administer timely treatment methods. We give your more details on chemical pregnancy, its symptoms, risk factors, and causes in the next section. 

What Is A Chemical Pregnancy?

A chemical pregnancy also referred to as a biochemical pregnancy is a very early miscarriage, which occurs when an embryo stops developing before the fifth week of gestation, around the same time as an expected menstrual period. This condition is often caused due to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, and although home pregnancy tests confirm conception, an ultrasound does not detect the viability of a fetus in a chemical pregnancy. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Chemical Pregnancy?

The symptoms of chemical pregnancy may differ for each woman. While some women may not experience any kind of symptoms, others may notice the following signs:

• Spotting for a week before your period is due
• A positive pregnancy test that turns negative 
• Slight abdominal cramping
• Low hCG levels in a blood test
• Vaginal bleeding even after a positive pregnancy result

What Are The Causes Of A Chemical Pregnancy?

While the exact cause of a chemical pregnancy is not always identifiable, it may happen due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Inadequate hormonal levels
• Chromosomal abnormalities in your embryo
• Problems in your uterine lining due to immunological or anatomical reasons
• Improper implantation
• Low maternal weight
• An unsuccessful IVF
• A problem in the DNA of the sperm

Difference Between Chemical Pregnancy And Clinical Pregnancy

The main difference between a clinical and chemical pregnancy is that ultrasound can confirm a clinical pregnancy. Additionally, in a clinical pregnancy, a gestational sac is seen and fetal heartbeat is also recorded, but these signs are not detected in a chemical pregnancy.

Risk Factors For Chemical Pregnancy

The following factors may increase your chances of experiencing an early loss of pregnancy:

• Blood clotting disorders
• Advanced maternal age
• Thyroid problems
• Excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption
• Certain maternal illnesses, such as vaginal mycoplasma, syphilis, listeria, chlamydia, and ureaplasma
• Obesity or low maternal weight
• Abnormalities in your reproductive tract, such as a short cervix, uterine anomalies, and uterine adhesions.
• Consumption of certain medications like retinoids
• Previous history of miscarriages
• Exposure to toxins, such as radiation and pesticides

How Is A Chemical Pregnancy Diagnosed?

If you st positive in home pregnancy tests or a clinical blood test, and then test negative in the next few days, you may be asked to go for additional blood tests to determine your pregnancy status. If the additional test results indicate a decline in your hCG levels, then it might indicate a chemical pregnancy. 

Treatment For Chemical Pregnancy

Chemical pregnancies occur very early during the gestational age, and might not have any effect on the woman’s body. This condition usually doesn’t require any medical treatment, but if you have an Rh-negative blood group, then your healthcare provider might administer a shot of Rh immunoglobulin after a pregnancy loss. This is because an Rh-negative mother might experience some complications due to an Rh-negative fetus, which can be further avoided by administering the shot.

If you have had more than one chemical pregnancy, then consider getting a thorough check-up and consulting your doctor to determine any underlying cause and administering appropriate treatment to prevent the risk of another early miscarriage.

How To Prevent Chemical Pregnancy?

While it’s not always possible to prevent a chemical pregnancy, you can try addressing some of the risk factors or intervening in treatable health conditions to avoid pregnancy loss in the future. 

Grief And Coping

A chemical pregnancy can lead to distress and sadness among the parents. Instead of isolating yourself during this time, try and be vocal about your feelings with each other and the rest of the family. If needed, seek help from a therapist, and focus on improving your health and addressing the underlying cause of your pregnancy loss so that a similar situation doesn’t occur in the future. 

Conclusion

Experiencing a chemical pregnancy can be quite devastating and stressful. But it doesn’t mean that you are incapable of giving birth to a healthy baby. You can try to conceive again at a later menstrual cycle, and after your pregnancy is confirmed, make sure to schedule a doctor’s appointment to understand your health and the dos and don’ts to follow. 

FAQs

What are the signs of chemical pregnancy?

Some of the common signs of chemical pregnancy include mild abdominal cramping, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and low hCG levels in a blood test.

When does chemical pregnancy occur?

A chemical pregnancy occurs within the first five weeks of pregnancy.

What is the main cause of chemical pregnancy?

One of the main causes of a chemical pregnancy is chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

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