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How do you identify a terminated pregnancy?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Do you know how to determine a frozen pregnancy on your own? In fact, there is nothing complicated about it, you just need to be observant. So, first of all, you should be alerted by bloody discharge from the vagina. Moreover, as a rule, they are accompanied by sharp pains in the lower abdomen and lower back.

If a woman had early toxicosis, and it suddenly stopped, then this may indicate a frozen pregnancy. In addition, it is necessary to control the basal temperature. It should not exceed 37.3-37.1 degrees. Otherwise, there is cause for concern. This is all about the early stages of pregnancy.

At a later stage, there may be no fetal movements, which means that the fetus has most likely frozen. You should not ignore the method, which shows that from 9 am to 9 pm the baby should make at least 10 movements. You can also determine a frozen pregnancy by sharp contractions in the lumbar region. The general condition may deteriorate sharply. Nausea, weakness and fever appear. All this indicates that changes are occurring in the body. You should not ignore them, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. A frozen pregnancy is no joke!

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Diagnosis of frozen pregnancy

How is a frozen pregnancy diagnosed? Mostly, an ultrasound scan is performed. It makes it much easier to diagnose, even before any clinical signs appear.

At the earliest stages, an ultrasound is performed, the results of which reveal anembryony. It can be of two types. So, in the first variant, the embryo is completely absent. As for the fertilized egg, it does not exceed 3 cm. Over time, it does not increase. Moreover, the size of the uterus does not change at all. The second type of anembryony indicates the absence of an embryo, but the fertilized egg continues to grow.

Recently, ultrasound placentography has also been widely used. Thanks to it, it is possible to give an accurate diagnosis of the placenta, identify detachment, as well as the presence of pathology. IVF and ICSI are most often used. These technologies allow several fertilized eggs to be implanted into the uterus. However, today it has been established that this can lead to miscarriages and frozen pregnancies.

In general, ultrasound is widely used. It allows you to quickly and clearly determine whether there is a pathology or not. A frozen pregnancy requires rapid diagnosis.

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Histology in frozen pregnancy

What is histology in case of a frozen pregnancy? It should be noted that histology is done after the interruption of this process. What is its essence, and how can it help?

The fact is that it is simply impossible to determine the exact cause of the pathology based on the results of histology. This procedure simply excludes or, on the contrary, confirms the presence of a hydatidiform mole. This expression refers to the malignant degeneration of the fertilized egg.

Histology is done only after curettage. That is, a small amount of "material" is taken and submitted for examination. Histology itself simply excludes the above-described variant of development of a frozen pregnancy and nothing more.

During this process, such examinations are not performed. Simply put, if artificial labor has not yet been induced and the fetus is inside the mother, then histology is not performed. It is simply an impossible process. And in fact, this examination is not something important. A frozen pregnancy is diagnosed in other ways.

Test for frozen pregnancy

Can a test show anything in case of a frozen pregnancy? In fact, this process is no different from normal gestation. Therefore, if the expectant mother takes a test, it will undoubtedly show her exactly two stripes.

It is difficult to determine anything from the test at all, it is necessary to look at other indicators. So, if the breast was previously very sensitive, then during the development of pathology it loses this quality and becomes rough. In addition, colostrum is secreted, and in larger quantities than usual.

It is necessary to pay attention to the general condition. If reddish discharge suddenly appeared, the lower abdomen began to hurt and all this began to give to the lower back, then there is nothing good in this. It is necessary to immediately seek help from a doctor.

In general, simply put, it is simply impossible to determine anything from the test. It will show the same two stripes as during normal pregnancy. So you need to pay attention to secondary signs and only then go to the hospital. A frozen pregnancy is a pathology, it requires immediate intervention from specialists.

HCG in case of frozen pregnancy

What is the hCG level in a frozen pregnancy? It should be noted that this indicator is one of the most important. Thus, its growth in a healthy organism can only be ensured by pregnancy.

In all other cases, its amount should not exceed 10-15 mIU/ml. From the moment of fertilization, the hCG level gradually increases until the end of the first trimester. Subsequently, its level stabilizes and no longer moves.

Is it possible to determine a frozen pregnancy by the hCG level? The fact is that in the early stages it is almost impossible. Because this "hormone" increases exactly as during a normal pregnancy. We can only talk about pathology in the later stages. Thus, at the end of the first trimester, the hCG level stabilizes. If we are talking about pathology, then it most likely decreases sharply.

It is difficult to determine anything solely by this analysis. A comprehensive examination is necessary, together with consideration of the existing symptoms. Thus, a frozen pregnancy is determined.

Progesterone in frozen pregnancy

What is the level of progesterone in a frozen pregnancy? It should be noted that it is precisely because of the lack of this hormone that all sorts of problems arise in a woman's body.

So, it can cause both a frozen pregnancy and provoke a miscarriage. Therefore, its level must be monitored. Naturally, it is impossible to do this at home. Only doctors deal with this issue.

It is thanks to progesterone that you can see the cherished two stripes on the test. There are certain norms by which it is easy to understand how the pregnancy is proceeding. Thus, the hormone level increases weekly. In the early stages, it should not exceed 20.57 nmol/l, in the later stages 301 nmol/l. Any deviations indicate that some changes are occurring in the body.

What to do in this case? It is necessary to determine the cause of this phenomenon. Because it may indicate a frozen pregnancy, a pathology that causes serious harm to the woman's body. A frozen pregnancy requires immediate diagnosis.

Ultrasound in case of frozen pregnancy

What does ultrasound show in case of a frozen pregnancy? Thanks to this procedure, it is easy to determine whether a woman has any problems. Thus, ultrasound is aimed at identifying anembryony.

What is it? It should be noted that there are two types of anembryony. In the first case, the embryo is completely absent, but the fertilized egg does not develop either. Its maximum size is 3 cm. This indicates that the pregnancy has frozen. After a while, the fetus does not grow, which only confirms the presence of pathology. In this case, you must immediately begin to induce artificial labor. Because a dead fetus can harm the health of the mother.

At the second stage, the embryo is also absent, but the fertilized egg continues to grow. This is also not normal, and even more so, it requires immediate intervention from doctors.

Thanks to ultrasound, it is easy to determine whether the fetus has a pathology or not. This procedure is the main one if there is a suspicion that a woman has a frozen pregnancy.

Genetic analysis in case of missed abortion

Genetic analysis in case of a frozen pregnancy can only show the presence of any deviations. What is meant by this "research"? Thus, it is possible to determine whether the child has any deviations at the genetic level. In this case, Down syndrome is meant.

It is not so easy to determine the presence of a frozen pregnancy in this way. Because the first thing that is done is an ultrasound. Only it can show whether the fetus is developing or not. Thus, the presence or absence of pathologies is easily determined. In addition, a number of other manipulations are carried out, thanks to which the number of heartbeats of the baby is calculated. Its height is measured and a full examination is carried out.

At the genetic level, it is possible to determine only possible pathologies, but not a frozen pregnancy. More precisely, it is practically impossible to do this based on just one analysis. A frozen pregnancy can cause serious harm to the mother's body, both on the physical and emotional levels.

Urine analysis for frozen pregnancy

Urine analysis in case of a frozen pregnancy can show deviations from the norm. Thus, in the normal course of this process, there should be no more than 2000 leukocytes in urine per milliliter. As for protein, its amount does not exceed 0.14 g/l.

As for ketone bodies, they can appear if there are any deviations. So, if during pregnancy a urine test showed their presence, then you need to undergo an examination. If the mother has diabetes, then this phenomenon indicates its exacerbation.

If we talk about blood sugar levels, it is difficult to talk about any norms. Each laboratory has its own. Also, bacteria can be found in urine, which most likely indicate kidney problems. And finally, flora culture shows sensitivity to antibiotics. There is definitely nothing wrong with that.

If some deviations were found after the urine analysis, then most likely we are talking about serious problems. A frozen pregnancy can also cause some failures in the indicators.

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