Actually, in medical science there is no term fetus does not develop. There is an empty pregnancy (blighted ovum). Recognize the difference between an empty pregnancy, which is often mistaken for an undeveloped fetus, with IUGR or a slow growing fetus.
In the general public's understanding, the term undeveloped fetus refers to an empty pregnancy, not a condition of a slow growing fetus. In the medical world, the condition referred to as an undeveloped fetus is calledblighted ovum.
Empty pregnancy is defined as the formation of a gestational sac, but there is no embryo in it. This condition occurs when the egg in the uterus has been fertilized, but does not develop into the next stage into an embryo (future fetus). While the delay in physical growth of the fetus is known as IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction), the physical growth of the fetus is not in accordance with its developmental age. IUGR is also known as small gestational age.
Causes of the Fetus Not Developing
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg will divide and form an embryo on day 10. The placenta begins to develop and there is an increase in pregnancy hormones. In the case of an undeveloped fetus, the fertilized egg (zygote) fails to divide into an embryo. An empty pregnancy can also occur when the cell division of the zygote stops after attaching to the uterine wall.
The cause of the fetus not developing is a chromosomal abnormality in the zygote. This could be due to the poor quality of the egg or sperm. In some cases, the fetus does not develop can also be due to infection, side effects of drugs, alcohol consumption, or uterine deformity.
Symptoms of the fetus not developing
The fetus does not develop usually only realized at week 8 or week 13. Although there is no fetus, the results test pack may show positive, stop menstruation, nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness occur, as in pregnancy in general. However, when the zygote stops growing and the pregnancy hormones drop, the pregnancy symptoms disappear.
Symptoms then point to a miscarriage, such as vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. However, there are also women who do not experience miscarriage symptoms.
Handling of the Undeveloped Fetus
An undeveloped fetus can be detected through a pregnancy ultrasound. After knowing there is an empty pregnancy, the doctor will generally recommend:
- Wait until a natural miscarriage occurs.
- Take drugs to stimulate the sloughing of the embryo.
- Dilation and curettage which is a medical procedure to remove placental tissue from the uterus.
Although it can be an option, waiting for a natural miscarriage has risks. Natural miscarriage can last long enough that it should continue under the supervision of a doctor. If there is still tissue left in the uterus after a natural miscarriage, dilation and curettage is still needed to avoid infection.
If test pack shows a positive result, immediately consult a gynecologist. Generally, the doctor will use an abdominal ultrasound or a transvaginal ultrasound to check the gestational sac. At six weeks of gestation, the embryo in the gestational sac can be seen. However, in the case of an undeveloped fetus, the gestational sac looks empty.