{"id":39425,"date":"2025-06-23T12:58:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T12:58:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:58:57","slug":"what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a chemical pregnancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A chemical or biochemical pregnancy is defined as an early pregnancy that is confirmed through a positive test for the hormone beta human chorionic gonadotropin (\u03b2-hCG), either in urine or blood, but which does not progress to the stage where the pregnancy can be visualised via ultrasound. It occurs before the 5th week of gestation. Most of the time, this type of loss goes unnoticed, as it often only manifests as a slight delay in menstruation, without the woman ever suspecting that implantation had taken place. However, in assisted reproduction treatments, where there is close monitoring from the outset, it is easier to detect.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Tabla de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/#How_common_is_a_chemical_pregnancy\" >How common is a chemical pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/#How_is_a_chemical_pregnancy_diagnosed\" >How is a chemical pregnancy diagnosed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/#What_are_the_causes\" >What are the causes?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/#What_is_the_prognosis_after_a_chemical_pregnancy\" >What is the prognosis after a chemical pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/#How_is_a_chemical_pregnancy_treated\" >How is a chemical pregnancy treated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy\/#How_to_cope_with_a_chemical_pregnancy\" >How to cope with a chemical pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_common_is_a_chemical_pregnancy\"><\/span><strong>How common is a chemical pregnancy?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is believed that chemical pregnancies are fairly common in spontaneous conceptions, potentially affecting nearly half of all pregnancies, although the exact figure is difficult to determine. In assisted reproduction, where pregnancy is monitored earlier, the reported incidence ranges from 8% to 25% of pregnancies.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_a_chemical_pregnancy_diagnosed\"><\/span><strong>How is a chemical pregnancy diagnosed?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A biochemical pregnancy occurs when an embryo successfully implants in the endometrium and begins to secrete the hormone\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/beta-hcg-how-interpret-pregnancy-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u03b2-hCG,<\/a>\u00a0but for some reason the development does not progress beyond the very early stages.<\/p>\n<p>In such cases, the<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/pregnancy-test-after-ivf-when-is-it-most-reliable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0pregnancy test is positive<\/a>, but before a gestational sac can be visualised by ultrasound (usually from the fifth week of gestation), \u03b2-hCG levels begin to decline, indicating that the pregnancy is not continuing.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, it is a pregnancy diagnosed solely through the detection of \u03b2-hCG hormone in the woman urine or blood.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, in these cases, the \u03b2-hCG levels at the time of the pregnancy test are lower than what would be expected in a normally developing pregnancy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_causes\"><\/span><strong>What are the causes?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The exact cause of a chemical pregnancy is often difficult to determine. However, several potential causes or associations have been proposed, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo<\/li>\n<li>Anatomical or functional abnormalities of the endometrium<\/li>\n<li>Sperm-related factors, such as sperm DNA fragmentation<\/li>\n<li>Environmental factors (pollution, unhealthy\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/habits-that-have-a-negative-impact-on-your-fertility-avoid-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lifestyle habits<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/does-stress-have-any-impact-on-conception\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stress<\/a>, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_prognosis_after_a_chemical_pregnancy\"><\/span><strong>What is the prognosis after a chemical pregnancy?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although a chemical pregnancy can be very disappointing, its occurrence indicates that at least one embryo reached the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/embryo-classification-by-quality-for-in-vitro-fertilisation-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">blastocyst stage<\/a>, implanted, and attempted to continue development. Therefore, it can be viewed as a hopeful sign.<\/p>\n<p>In assisted reproduction, several studies suggest that women who experience a chemical pregnancy have higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in subsequent cycles compared to those who had a negative \u03b2-hCG test.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_a_chemical_pregnancy_treated\"><\/span><strong>How is a chemical pregnancy treated?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There is no specific treatment for a biochemical pregnancy. Follow-up is required to ensure that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/low-beta-hcg-what-happens-when-the-result-isnt-around-100-miu-ml\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u03b2-hCG levels return to undetectable levels<\/a>, in order to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, for example.<\/p>\n<p>It is essential for the patient to consult with a medical professional to address any concerns and reduce the psychological burden associated with this situation.<\/p>\n<p>It is also important to provide reassurance regarding the optimistic outlook for future treatments, noting that there is no adverse impact on future pregnancies and that the overall fertility prognosis remains favourable. It must be emphasised that a biochemical pregnancy was indeed a real pregnancy, although it did not progress.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_cope_with_a_chemical_pregnancy\"><\/span><strong>How to cope with a chemical pregnancy?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Emotional and psychological support is crucial in these situations. Receiving guidance from a specialised team, sharing the experience with others who have been through the same, and focusing on the next steps can help manage the situation with greater peace of mind.<\/p>\n<p>Although a biochemical pregnancy may feel like a setback on the path to parenthood, it also offers an opportunity to gain further insight into the reproductive process and to make adjustments that may improve the chances of success in the future.<\/p>\n<p>In assisted reproduction, each attempt provides valuable information and, with the right approach, the dream of becoming parents may be closer than it seems.<\/p>\n<p>Have you experienced a chemical pregnancy and would like to consult a specialist about possible causes and solutions? At URE Centro Gutenberg, we can help. Book a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free appointment online<\/a>\u00a0and we will offer you a personalised consultation to study your case and provide the best possible solution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A chemical or biochemical pregnancy is defined as an early pregnancy that is confirmed through a positive test for the hormone beta human chorionic gonadotropin (\u03b2-hCG), either in urine or blood, but which does not progress to the stage where the pregnancy can be visualised via ultrasound. It occurs before the 5th week of gestation. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[497,498],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fertility-problems","category-frequently-asked-questions-fertility-and-assisted-reproduction"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39425"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39428,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39425\/revisions\/39428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}