Can an embryo go undetected in an ultrasound scan?

Question

Hello doctor,

My wife is pregnant, so we got an ultrasound scan and the egg was not found. Kindly suggest.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and understand your concern. There is nothing much to worry about. This only indicates we have to wait and hope for the best. As per the scan, there is a small cystic space in the uterine cavity. This can be an early pregnancy that is growing, so wait for 10 to 14 days, by then the baby will grow and only after a particular size it can be seen on the scan. This is not the baby's problem, but that's the sensitivity of the scan machine. Just continue the medication as usual and repeat the scan after two weeks. Till the baby's heartbeat is seen the health of the baby cannot be confirmed, so just hope for the best. If the baby is unhealthy, the following scan may not show anything. So keep your fingers crossed, pray that the baby is fine, and hope the baby's heartbeat is seen. If you are overanxious about the baby, another option is to have a serum beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test and recheck the same after 48 hours. If the baby is healthy, it will double, if it has not doubled, it means the baby is not growing at the expected rate. I hope this will help you.

Thank you.