Is it meaningful to perform a biopsy on an arrested embryo?

For women who want to get pregnant and have children, the cessation of embryonic development is the worst news, because it means that the pregnancy has failed. However, if they want to have children in the future, they must find out the reason why the embryo has stopped developing. In order to find out the truth, medically, an embryo biopsy can be performed. Therefore, it is still necessary to do an embryo biopsy after fetal development arrest occurs.

Is it meaningful to perform a biopsy on an arrested embryo?

There are many reasons why an embryo stops developing. Genetic defects, systemic diseases, reproductive organ abnormalities, endocrine effects, bad habits, traumatic stimulation, immune dysfunction and environmental factors, etc.

Guidance:

If embryonic arrest occurs frequently, it is best to find out the cause. Chorionic villus sampling can determine whether the embryo has chromosomal abnormalities. In addition, it is recommended that both husband and wife should go to the hospital for a pre-pregnancy eugenics check before getting pregnant. Genetic counseling is also required when necessary. Eliminate adverse physical factors to ensure safe conception and avoid similar situations from happening again.

It is recommended that the villi must be sent for testing. Check the chromosomes to see what the cause of habitual fetal growth retardation is. Only by finding the cause can it be treated to prevent fetal growth retardation from happening again.

If embryonic arrest occurs, all pregnancy reactions of the pregnant mother will gradually disappear. First of all, there will be no more early pregnancy reactions such as nausea and vomiting, and the feeling of breast swelling will also be reduced. Then there will be vaginal bleeding, usually dark red bloody leucorrhea. Finally, there may be lower abdominal pain and expulsion of the embryo. The above symptoms vary from person to person. Some people may not even show any signs, but may directly experience abdominal pain and then miscarriage, or the embryo may stop developing without any symptoms and be discovered through routine B-ultrasound examination.

Most pregnant women have no obvious symptoms after the fetus stops developing. Some pregnant women may have spotting, but generally have no abdominal pain, which is different from threatened abortion.

Patients with a history of amenorrhea should undergo B-ultrasound examination in the early stages of pregnancy, regardless of whether they have spotting or not, to avoid missing the diagnosis of fetal arrest. B-ultrasound monitors embryo and fetal development. If there is no gestational sac at ≥6 weeks, or a gestational sac is present but is deformed and wrinkled, or if the gestational sac is ≥4cm but no fetal bud is seen, or if the head and arm length of the fetal bud is ≥1.5cm but there is no fetal heartbeat, it can be determined that the embryo or fetus is developing abnormally. The latter three situations can be diagnosed as embryonic arrest. In addition, blood β-hcG measurement can also help diagnose embryonic arrest. If blood β-hcG is <100IU/L at ≥5 weeks, or <2000IU/L at ≥6 weeks, it indicates insufficient secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin. If the value no longer rises during dynamic observation, it can be determined that the chorionic epithelium is degenerating and the embryo is abnormal.