A chemical pregnancy is the term used for miscarriages before the pregnancy can be confirmed (e.g. before week 4 of pregnancy). A chemical pregnancy will cause the occurrence of a period which will be on time or just a few days late. There are a few reasons that can cause chemical pregnancy.
Causes of a Chemical Pregnancy
A chemical pregnancy may occur even in healthy women, but there are also a few causes that are suspected to lead to such a miscarriage:
- Luteal phase defect, which means that the time between the ovulation and the following period is shorter than 10 days
- An abnormality of chromosomes or cells that divide abnormally
- Poor quality of the sperm or egg involved
- Fibroids in the uterus, which can interfere with the implantation of the fetus
- Low levels of progesterone
- Various reproductive system infections such as herpes or Chlamydia
- Thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism
The exact causes of a chemical pregnancy cannot be determined, since many women don’t even know that they have experienced a miscarriage. A chemical pregnancy can be confirmed by at home pregnancy tests and will not occur on ultrasounds. Many women who experience a chemical pregnancy may get pregnant in the future, as this type of miscarriage will not affect fertility. However, if there are any health conditions leading to a chemical pregnancy, these require treatment.
