Finally, tested positive for pregnancy? Congratulations! After getting tested positive for pregnancy at home using multiple pregnancy kits, the next step is to make an appointment with a doctor and go for a blood test. After getting positive results in the blood test. The next step for the confirmation is through ultrasound.
While going for an ultrasound, your obstetrician must have discussed gestational sac. The gestational sac is the first sign of pregnancy.
What exactly is the gestational sac? Is it okay not to have a gestational sac after five weeks of pregnancy? There is no gestational sac even after testing positive for pregnancy. What does it mean when there is no gestational sac? Have a gestational sac but no signs of the baby.
These are some of the significant queries of women expecting a baby or trying to get pregnant. This article will tell you everything you need about the gestational sac during pregnancy.
What Exactly is the Gestational Sac?
The gestational sac is a large cavity of an amniotic fluid surrounding the embryo in the upper part of the uterus. Thus, it is one of the earliest signs of detecting pregnancy.
The gestational sac is like a cover for the embryo. It is formed about five to seven weeks after the natural menstruation cycle. It appears like a white-colored rim surrounding a center. The shape of the gestational sac is a sign of any abnormalities or complications in your pregnancy. The round shape of the gestation sac is ideal; any unusual form helps the doctor to predict further complications.
The gestational sac is one of the earliest signs of a positive pregnancy. Still, there is another sac known as the yolk sac, which is inside the gestational sac and gives a clear indication of positive and normal pregnancy. However, sometimes even the yolk sac is not found, and only the gestational sac is visible.
Both the gestational sac and yolk sac are visible through transvaginal ultrasound. However, there can be various reasons for no gestational sac, or maybe the gestational sac not be visible.
What Does It Mean When There Is No Gestational Sac?
The gestational sac does not determine much about normal pregnancy. It is just a sign of pregnancy but does not assure a healthy pregnancy.
However, there can be a few possible reasons for no gestational sac. They are:
Your timing is off
Reasons for no gestational sac
As mentioned earlier, the gestational sac is visible in about five to seven weeks after the natural menstruation cycle. So it is possible that even at the fifth or sixth-week gestational sac may not be visible.
Reasons for no gestational sac
Don’t panic in such a case; you are just getting the detection done too early. Wait for it. HCG levels also determine the presence of the gestational sac. If your hCG levels are less than 1500, you must wait for another ultrasound.
If your hCG levels are higher than 1500, you have been pregnant for more than seven weeks, and there is no trace of a gestational sac, you may be experiencing ectopic pregnancy symptoms.
In such a situation, you should seek immediate medical help. This condition needs prompt diagnosis and treatment. Ectopic pregnancy looks normal initially, but it is painful to the mother and has to be terminated. Globally 2% of women experience ectopic pregnancy.
In signs of ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg gets implanted outside the uterus. This can be fatal for the mother. Thus, in such cases, please always seek medical help. Remember, early detection of ectopic pregnancy can avoid surgeries and further complications.
No gestational sac can also be a sign of early miscarriage. Dropping hCG levels, early pregnancy bleeding can signify early miscarriage. Early miscarriage is also known as a chemical pregnancy.
Most early miscarriages do not cause physical harm, but they can be tough mentally.
Miscarriage is always a tough time for expecting women.
Don’t lose hope, and talk to your partner about your feelings. Apart from the absence of the gestational sac, there can be other signs of miscarriage.
Also Read: Signs Of Miscarriages To Look Out For
What to does it Mean If There Is a Gestational Sac and No Baby?
Usually, an embryo is visible within six weeks of gestation. However, in some instances, there is clear visibility of the gestational sac but no baby. Such a situation can be due to various reasons, such as:
It simply means that your embryo is not able to develop. This can be due to poor cell division or poor quality of the sperm. Such a type of pregnancy ultimately leads to miscarriage. In most cases, this happens even before women are aware of pregnancy.
In clinical terms, nonviable pregnancy means a baby can be born abnormal and die before delivery. In most cases, such pregnancy has fewer chances of survival. Anembryonic pregnancy is a type of nonviable pregnancy.
In such cases, detection takes place too early that the embryo does not get time to develop. In such a case, your doctor might suggest another ultrasound test.
Takeaways
Yes, the absence of the gestational sac is the reason for anxiety and stress. But always remember some alternatives can help you. In most cases, the lack of gestational is due to wrong timing. Be patient and calm and wait for it.
It can also be difficult for the doctor to defect the exact reason for no gestation sac; just try to relax and keep your family and friends close in such stressful times.
Just keep in mind your mental health has a significant effect on your pregnancy, so don’t overthink and draw any conclusions in case of no gestation sac or gestation sac and no baby. Give time and never lose hope!
