A woman who has a blighted ovum will usually have a positive pregnancy test in the beginning of the pregnancy. She may also begin experiencing normal pregnancy symptoms, such as fatigue and nausea. Blood tests will also confirm the pregnancy and show pregnancy hormones rising at a normal pace in the early weeks.
Usually, the body will spontaneously expel the pregnancy sac, which is referred to as a miscarriage. Women may have abdominal cramps and bleeding that is similar to menstrual flow, but it may be heavier than normal. Miscarriage usually occurs by the end of the first trimester; however, it can also occur very early in the pregnancy. In many cases, the blighted ovum goes undetected until the first ultrasound, which shows an empty pregnancy sac. Some women may need to take medications or have a D&C (dilation and curettage) procedure performed to remove the pregnancy sac and placental tissues.
The impact on future pregnancies
A blighted ovum does not usually occur a second time, and it is simply the result of chromosomal abnormalities with that one pregnancy. Experts at The Mayo Clinic note that many women who have had a blighted ovum go on to have healthy pregnancies.
Women are usually advised to wait until they have had at least one period after the miscarriage to begin trying to conceive again. Couples that have experienced more than two miscarriages may wish to undergo testing to see if there are genetic problems or other issues that could be contributing factors.