What is Blighted Ovum?
Dec 13, 2023
A blighted ovum, also known as an anembryonic pregnancy, occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but fails to develop into an embryo. This condition is a major contributor to early pregnancy failure or miscarriage. In many cases, it happens so early on that the woman is unaware of her pregnancy.
During pregnancy, when a woman conceives, the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine wall. By around five to six weeks into the pregnancy, an embryo should be visible. At this stage, the gestational sac, which serves as the site for fetal development, typically measures about 18 millimeters in width. However, in the case of a blighted ovum, although the pregnancy sac forms and expands, no embryo develops within it.
