What could indicate a missed abortion?

A missed abortion, also known as a silent miscarriage, occurs when the fetus has died but the body does not recognize the loss and there are no clear symptoms of miscarriage. The most telling indicators include subnormal levels of hCG in conjunction with findings from a physical examination, such as a large, hard uterus.

In a missed abortion, the hCG levels will often not rise as expected for the gestational age, indicating an issue with the pregnancy. Additionally, the uterus may measure larger than expected due to a lack of fetal growth or regression, contrasting with the usual signs of a viable pregnancy. This combination of hormonal and physical signs reveals the failure of the pregnancy while still presenting a uterus that may not correspondingly decrease in size or present with typical miscarriage symptoms.

Other symptoms, such as severe cramping and bright red vaginal bleeding, are generally associated with more acute forms of miscarriage and would not typically indicate a missed abortion. Similarly, extremely high hCG levels without corresponding increases in uterine size can suggest other complications, such as molar pregnancy. An increased fetal heart rate with light spotting would usually indicate a viable pregnancy rather than a missed abortion.