Letter B

Blighted ovum

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A fertilized ovum (egg) that did not develop or whose development ceased at an early stage, before 6 or 7 weeks of gestation.

On the ultrasound examination of a blighted ovum, only the gestational sac that normally surrounds the embryo can be seen.

There is usually no embryo inside the gestational sac.

A blighted ovum is a form of early spontaneous abortion (miscarriage).

At least 50% of early spontaneous abortions are due to chromosome abnormalities.

The most common chromosome abnormalities in early spontaneous abortions are 47, +16 (an extra chromosome #16) and 45, X (a missing X or Y chromosome).

These two chromosome abnormalities are not familial and do not recur in future pregnancies.

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