What is a chemical pregnancy?
A chemical pregnancy is a very early pregnancy loss that happens shortly after implantation, before anything can be seen on an ultrasound, usually before 5 to 6 weeks. A pregnancy test turns positive because hCG is produced, then the level falls and bleeding starts, often around when a period was due. It is common and usually not caused by anything you did.
What happens in a chemical pregnancy
An egg is fertilized and begins to implant, so hCG rises enough to be detected. Then development stops, often because of a chromosome difference in the very early embryo. hCG falls, and the lining sheds. Many chemical pregnancies are only noticed because sensitive early tests are now so common.
- A faint or clear positive test, then a negative a few days later
- A period that arrives on time or a few days late
- Bleeding that may be a little heavier, with more cramps or clots, than usual
- Sometimes no other symptoms at all
How common is it?
Very. Research suggests a large share of all conceptions end before or around the time of a missed period, and up to about 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 early positive tests may not continue. One chemical pregnancy does not mean you will have trouble getting pregnant in future. Read more about miscarriage.
Taking care of yourself
Even though it happened early, it is a real loss, and feelings of sadness, frustration or numbness are all valid. Some people want to try again straight away; others need time. Your next cycle may be a little different, and you can usually ovulate again within a few weeks. The ovulation after miscarriage calculator can help you plan.
Contact a doctor if you have heavy bleeding (soaking a pad an hour for 2 hours), severe or one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness or fainting, or a fever. These can point to an ectopic pregnancy or infection. After three losses in a row, ask about tests for recurrent miscarriage.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chemical pregnancy a miscarriage?
Yes, medically it is a very early miscarriage, though it often feels different from a later loss.
Do I need treatment after a chemical pregnancy?
Usually not. The body passes the tissue like a period. A doctor may check hCG falls to zero if there is any doubt about where the pregnancy was.
Sources
- ACOG: Early pregnancy loss
- NHS: Miscarriage
- Wilcox AJ et al. Incidence of early loss of pregnancy. NEJM (1988)
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
What is a miscarriage?A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 to 24 weeks. Signs, why it happens, when to get urgent help, and how your cycle returns afterward.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): definitionhCG is the hormone made after implantation that pregnancy tests detect. How fast it rises, what beta hCG numbers mean, and when a test can turn positive.Ovulation after miscarriage calculator: when your cycle comes backA gentle ovulation after miscarriage calculator: see when ovulation and your first period may return after a loss or an abortion, plus signs to call a doctor.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?An ectopic pregnancy grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. The warning signs to know, why it's an emergency, and how it's treated.Late period but a negative pregnancy test?Late period but a negative pregnancy test? You may have tested early or ovulated late. Other common causes, when to retest, and when to see a doctor.