Is It Normal for a Fetus Not to Have a Heartbeat at 8-9 Weeks?
Is the fetus normal in the early stages of pregnancy? Hello Doctor: I have several questions to ask you! I found out I was pregnant on October 27, which means I should be about 8 to 9 weeks along. However, my obstetrician informed me that the fetus has no heartbeat. Is this norma...
Dr. Li Guanghan Reply:
Hello: For women with a regular menstrual cycle, an ultrasound at seven weeks of pregnancy should be able to detect the fetal heartbeat. If the heartbeat is still not visible at nine weeks, the likelihood of a blighted ovum is high. Hsinchu City Hospital, Department of Obstetrics...[Read More] Is It Normal for a Fetus Not to Have a Heartbeat at 8-9 Weeks?
Understanding Early Pregnancy Bleeding: Causes and Risks Explained
Reduced menstrual flow? Thank you very much for your response. I would like to ask what kind of condition is early pregnancy complicated by bleeding, and is it life-threatening? If she has her period next month, does that mean there are no issues?
Dr. Li Guanghan Reply:
Hello: There are various possibilities for bleeding during pregnancy, such as threatened miscarriage, blighted ovum, and ectopic pregnancy, among others. If it is an ectopic pregnancy, it can be dangerous. Please come in for an examination. Thank you! Hsinchu City Hospital, Depar...[Read More] Understanding Early Pregnancy Bleeding: Causes and Risks Explained
Understanding Early Pregnancy: What Does a Six-Week Ultrasound Mean?
Pregnancy The last menstrual cycle was on March 9, and it has been almost eight weeks since then. Today, I visited the obstetrician, and they said my embryo appears to be six weeks along, and they saw a "yolk sac." Does this mean it is not a "blighted ovum"? W...
Dr. Li Guanghan Reply:
Hello: Today, May 4th, marks 8 weeks of pregnancy. Generally, a heartbeat can be detected around 7 weeks. The presence of a heartbeat can help rule out a blighted ovum. You are welcome to come for a consultation. Hsinchu City Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.[Read More] Understanding Early Pregnancy: What Does a Six-Week Ultrasound Mean?
Why Can't Taiwan Test for Natural Killer Cells in Fertility Cases?
Why is it that NK testing is not available in Taiwan (even for self-payment)? (Forwarded from the Director's mailbox) Why can't we find hospitals in Taiwan that test for NK cells to prevent the following conditions? This has become a common examination in the United Sta...
Dr. Li Guanghan Reply:
Hello: Recurrent miscarriage is defined as having three consecutive miscarriages. It is generally recommended that both partners undergo blood tests for chromosomal analysis. If the results are normal, the female partner should be tested for potential autoimmune diseases. If any ...[Read More] Why Can't Taiwan Test for Natural Killer Cells in Fertility Cases?
Understanding Light Spotting in Early Pregnancy: What to Know
Early pregnancy bleeding Hello Dr. Lu, I am currently 5 weeks pregnant. However, I sometimes notice a small amount of bleeding, but it is not bright red blood. It looks like the light brown color at the end of a menstrual period, just a little bit, and it doesn't last long; ...
Dr. Lü Lizheng Reply:
I am currently 5 weeks pregnant, but I sometimes notice a small amount of bleeding that is not bright red. It resembles the light brown discharge at the end of a menstrual period, and it is only a little bit and not continuous. There could be many possible reasons for this, such ...[Read More] Understanding Light Spotting in Early Pregnancy: What to Know
Could You Be Pregnant? Understanding Unusual Menstrual Changes
Could I be pregnant? I had sexual intercourse with my girlfriend around January 7th. She was supposed to get her period around the 15th, but it didn't arrive until the 26th, and the flow was very light, similar to the end of her usual period. We used a pregnancy test on the ...
Dr. Lü Lizheng Reply:
Typically, pregnancy can be detected about two weeks after conception. Blood tests are more accurate than urine pregnancy tests. If you wait another week, an early pregnancy ultrasound may not show anything, and it is also possible that there is no pregnancy or an abnormal pregna...[Read More] Could You Be Pregnant? Understanding Unusual Menstrual Changes
Understanding Normal Growth Rates for Your Baby During Early Pregnancy
How can we determine if a baby's growth rate is normal? Hello, we have been trying to conceive since August without contraception. My menstrual cycles are longer, with periods on 5/16-19, 7/1-5, and 8/16-21. I was expected to get my period on 10/1, but it did not arrive. On ...
Dr. Li Guanghan Reply:
Hello: On October 19, a pregnancy test confirmed pregnancy and an ultrasound showed a gestational sac measuring approximately 0.4 cm (about 4-5 weeks gestation); on November 3, it measured about 6-7 weeks gestation, while a normal gestational sac is typically over 2 cm. Since it ...[Read More] Understanding Normal Growth Rates for Your Baby During Early Pregnancy
Understanding Early Pregnancy Loss: Causes of Embryo No Heartbeat and Next Steps
The reason for the absence of a heartbeat in the embryo during early pregnancy (6-8 weeks), which the doctor referred to as a "blighted ovum," can be attributed to several factors. A blighted ovum occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but does not develop ...
Dr. Wang Hanzhou Reply:
The absence of fetal heartbeat indicates that the fetus has certain abnormalities and cannot continue to grow. Most "blighted ovum" cases have chromosomal abnormalities, but this does not imply that the parents have chromosomal issues. Among parents with a history of re...[Read More] Understanding Early Pregnancy Loss: Causes of Embryo No Heartbeat and Next Steps
Understanding No Fetal Heartbeat: Causes and Concerns in Early Pregnancy
Why is there "no heartbeat in the embryo"? Hello, doctor. I became pregnant for the first time around mid-October 2000. At approximately 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy, I underwent transvaginal ultrasound examinations, and the doctor informed me that there was no fetal heart...
Dr. Zhan Deqin Reply:
1. It is difficult to see a heartbeat or detect fetal demise before 7 weeks of pregnancy, and of course, there will be no heartbeat in such cases. 2. A blighted ovum occurs when the embryo does not develop, ultimately leading to bleeding and miscarriage. 3. Not necessarily. ...[Read More] Understanding No Fetal Heartbeat: Causes and Concerns in Early Pregnancy
Understanding Infertility: Coping with Endometriosis and IVF Challenges
Infertility Hello: I have endometriosis, which makes it difficult for me to conceive, so I chose to undergo artificial insemination four times. One of those attempts was successful but resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. I then underwent two rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF); ...
Dr. Li Guanghan Reply:
I suspect that the 51 you mentioned may refer to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Such a low level of this hormone could indicate an atrophic ovum or poor development of the fertilized egg, which increases the risk of miscarriage. The duration of rest needed varies from person...[Read More] Understanding Infertility: Coping with Endometriosis and IVF Challenges