QuestionAt 5.5 weeks, If you have a sac, with an intact yolk sac, can it still be a blighted ovum, some information I have been reading suggests that no yolk sac is present with a blighted ovum?
AnswerDear Simone,
*First*
Please accept my apologies for the delay in answering. Our cable (TV and internet) went out early Saturday and after several BOGUS stories, the tech came today and regretfully informed us we were mistakenly shut off for our NEIGHBOR's non-payment. So... as frustrated as all of you may be at having to wait longer for an answer, try being me with a husband without football all weekend for apparently no valid reason!!!
Now to your question...
On the whole, blighted ova pregnancies are considered those in which the placenta (or placental parts) develop but the fetus does not. Often when small, the gestational sac cannot be distinguished from any early normal pregnancy, as there may be a yolk sac, though a fetal pole is not seen. It is not until after we would expect to see the fetal pole (the embryo can be observed and measured by about 5.5 weeks) that we can really differentiate between this problem and a normally developing pregnancy.
For diagnosis, the sac must be of sufficient size that the absence of normal embryonic elements is established. A pregnancy is anembryonic (a blighted ovum) if a trans-vaginal ultrasound reveals a sac with a mean gestational sac diameter (MGD) greater than 13 mm and no yolk sac, or a MGD >18 mm with no embryo. Many doctors offer women a follow-up ultrasound 7-10 days later to verify this diagnosis.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and again, thank you for your patience.
Brenda
