Chemical Pregnancy: What It Is, Symptoms, And More - WebMD

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Written by Alyson Powell KeyMedically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on November 05, 2024

• Chemical Pregnancy Symptoms
• What Causes Chemical Pregnancy?
• Chemical Pregnancy Tests
• Chemical Pregnancy Treatment
• How to Prevent Chemical Pregnancy
• Chemical Pregnancy and IVF
• Chemical Pregnancy vs. Clinical Pregnancy
• Dealing With an Early Miscarriage
• Tips for Getting Pregnant After Chemical Pregnancy
• Takeaways
• Chemical Pregnancy FAQs

5 min read

A chemical pregnancy is a very early miscarriage. It usually happens before the pregnancy reaches five weeks. Many may not even realize they have had an early miscarriage if it happens soon after a missed period.

Chemical Pregnancy Symptoms

As it's an early miscarriage, many people don't realize they've had a chemical pregnancy. They may only realize it if they've already had a positive pregnancy test and then get their period. Other signs of a chemical pregnancy include:

• A late period (by a week or more)
• A heavier-than-normal period
• More menstrual cramping than usual
• Mild stomach cramping
• Low hCG levels
• Lack of common pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness or breast soreness after a positive pregnancy test
• A positive pregnancy test followed by a negative one a few weeks later

Chemical pregnancy spotting vs. implantation bleeding

Implantation bleeding happens early in a pregnancy after a fertilized egg implants into the wall of your uterus. You may have light bleeding for a couple of days, which is normal. It's different than bleeding from a chemical pregnancy, which may start as spotting, then look and feel like a normal period.

What Causes Chemical Pregnancy?

There are many potential causes of an early miscarriage, including:

• Imbalanced hormones
• Genetic abnormalities in the embryo
• Lack of proper implantation in the uterus
• Low body weight

It's important to note that there's little that you can do to prevent an early miscarriage, and it's not the fault of either partner. It usually doesn't reflect your or your partner's ability to get pregnant. But, if you believe you've had a chemical pregnancy, it's best to consult a doctor for advice.

Risk factors for chemical pregnancy

While there's nothing you can do to prevent an early miscarriage, there are some risk factors that make you more likely to have one, including:

• Thyroid problems
• Advanced maternal age pregnancy (a pregnancy over the age of 35)
• Diabetes
• Blood clotting disorders
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Having an irregularly shaped uterus
• Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Chemical Pregnancy Tests

Your doctor will first ask for the date of your last period and your medical history, and then they may run these tests to confirm a chemical pregnancy:

• A pregnancy test
• Blood tests to measure hCG, a hormone that your body makes during pregnancy
• An ultrasound to show whether there's a baby developing

Chemical Pregnancy Treatment

Most chemical pregnancies don't require treatment. The miscarriage happens early enough in the pregnancy that it may just seem like a normal or slightly heavy period. If you do have an early miscarriage, you can try to get pregnant again right away if you want.

Those who have had multiple chemical pregnancies or miscarriages should talk to a fertility specialist to figure out what's going on.

How to Prevent Chemical Pregnancy

There's not much you can do to prevent a chemical pregnancy. Take prenatal vitamins before you get pregnant to promote healthy fetal development if you plan to get pregnant. Some experts suggest that anyone who may become pregnant, even unintentionally, take prenatal vitamins as a precaution.

Chemical Pregnancy and IVF

In vitro fertilization (IVF) alone doesn't raise your chances of having a chemical pregnancy. But you're probably more likely to notice one since you and your doctor will closely watch the pregnancy.

Chemical Pregnancy vs. Clinical Pregnancy

A chemical pregnancy can only be detected through a pregnancy test, which shows higher hormone levels. A pregnancy becomes clinical when a doctor can verify the pregnancy through an ultrasound or fetal heartbeat. A chemical pregnancy has no signs that can be felt or heard.

Doctors can usually detect signs of a clinical pregnancy at five to six weeks through an ultrasound or at six to seven weeks by verifying a fetal heartbeat. However, hormonal pregnancy tests can detect a chemical pregnancy as early as two weeks after conception.

Dealing With an Early Miscarriage

Any miscarriage, including early ones, can be emotional, and people deal with them in different ways. It's normal to feel a sense of grief and loss. Many people blame themselves for the miscarriage. There may also be hormonal shifts after a chemical pregnancy that make you more emotional.

Here are some tips for dealing with a miscarriage:

• Realize your feelings are normal after a chemical pregnancy.
• Allow yourself to grieve at your own pace.
• Realize each person's grieving process is different, and allow yourself to grieve in your own way.
• Consider joining a support group.
• Consider speaking with a therapist.
• Communicate openly with your partner about how you're feeling.
• Realize that it is normal to feel fear around getting pregnant again.
• It's normal for emotional healing to take longer than physical healing.

Tips for Getting Pregnant After Chemical Pregnancy

Chemical pregnancies are very normal. About 10%-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most people who have an early miscarriage go on to have a healthy pregnancy later on. Talk to your doctor once you and your partner feel ready for another pregnancy. You can try again as soon as two weeks after a miscarriage. Here are some ways to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy:

• Start taking a daily prenatal vitamin or folic acid supplement a few months before you conceive.
• Reach a healthy weight before you get pregnant.
• Eat a balanced diet and exercise while pregnant.
• Limit caffeine to 200 milligrams a day (around 1 to 2 cups of regular coffee).
• Avoid alcohol, smoking, and illegal drugs.

Takeaways

A chemical pregnancy is a very early miscarriage, usually happening before five weeks. It may just feel like a slightly heavier period shortly after a positive pregnancy test. You may only notice it if you’ve taken a pregnancy test since it’s too early to see the embryo on an ultrasound.

Signs of a chemical pregnancy include heavier bleeding, more cramping, and lower pregnancy hormone levels. This type of miscarriage can happen for different reasons, such as hormone changes or issues with the embryo. However, it’s not usually something that you could have prevented or that impacts your future chances of pregnancy. You probably won't need treatment, but seeing a specialist can help if it happens often. 

An early miscarriage can be emotional, and support from loved ones, support groups, or a therapist can help with healing. Chemical pregnancies are common, and many people go on to have healthy pregnancies afterward.

Chemical Pregnancy FAQs

What hormone imbalances cause a chemical pregnancy?

Doctors don't know the exact causes of a chemical pregnancy but think hormone imbalances are a factor. Specifically, a lack of progesterone or low levels of other hormones may play a role.

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