Empty sac at 6 week scan - anyone?

Harrjenk · 2023-09-30T08:47:27+00:00

Hi, I’ve been through a round of IVF and had a BFP. However at the first scan there was just a very small empty sac (at 6+1). I’m now having blood tests for suspected ectopic but have been told it’s unlikely as I have no symptoms. I’ve been on progesterone pessaries so I think that may have masked any miscarriage. Can anyone tell me how this played out for them? Am I likely to just bleed of its own accord? Feeling a bit stuck as I don’t know what to expect and I’m due to go on a long awaited holiday next week with my family abroad and I’m not sure I should go. Thanks

VulpixTail · 30/09/2023 10:16

I have been through this, but discovered later. Why are they investigating for ectopic if they can see a pregnancy sac in the uterus?

If you have no indications that it is an ectopic pregnancy, if you feel up to it- I would go on your holiday if you think it will bring you some joy and normality to carry on. My body held onto my very early pregnancy for 10 weeks, and I didn’t bleed of my own accord and needed management to resolve the issue. Not everyone does just start bleeding after miscarriage discovery, it can take a very long time.

If you do bleed- it is likely to be a very painful, heavy period-like experience. If you decide to go, load up on your painkillers and pads. Ensure you have a contingency plan with your partner about what you will do if it does start.

I’m sorry you are going through this. X

Original poster

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 11:08

Thank you. They don’t want to rule out ectopic as what they think might be the sac is so tiny they’re not completely sure. And my hcg levels are quite high, so I’m having another blood test tomorrow to see if they are going up or down. I think they are just being very cautious. I just really want to have a bleed now and get on with it or help with medical management asap as luckily it has been discovered very early. Did you discover yours at a 10 week scan? Or earlier and did you have to wait for a while before they helped you along?

OP posts:

VulpixTail · 30/09/2023 11:38

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 11:08

Thank you. They don’t want to rule out ectopic as what they think might be the sac is so tiny they’re not completely sure. And my hcg levels are quite high, so I’m having another blood test tomorrow to see if they are going up or down. I think they are just being very cautious. I just really want to have a bleed now and get on with it or help with medical management asap as luckily it has been discovered very early. Did you discover yours at a 10 week scan? Or earlier and did you have to wait for a while before they helped you along?

It was made conclusive at a 10 week scan, but I had a damning scan 2 weeks before that was deemed inconclusive as the size wasn’t right for dates there, but it was too early to diagnose.

I had medical management that day. The process wasn’t pleasant. Horrible cramps and a heavy, pouring period. But it was actually cathartic to pass my baby in that way compared to the surgical method. Not the case for everyone. But I had retained tissue. It took about 8 weeks in total to have 0 HCG levels and for my cycle to get back on track.

Original poster

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 12:05

@VulpixTail thanks for sharing. How long ago was this? Have you had any luck conceiving since? I’m 40 so was pinning our last chances on this really.

OP posts:

VulpixTail · 30/09/2023 12:14

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 12:05

@VulpixTail thanks for sharing. How long ago was this? Have you had any luck conceiving since? I’m 40 so was pinning our last chances on this really.

I did, thankfully.

My fingers are crossed for you. Are they planning to rescan next week?

Original poster

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 13:25

@VulpixTail How long did it take for you to conceive again?

im not quite sure what their plan is- the blood test tomorrow is the next step as I then would have had them 48 hours apart and then if it’s inconclusive i suppose I may have another scan. I am hoping that by coming off the progesterone on Thursday that it would kickstart a miscarriage but it hasn’t yet. Horrid waiting to see what might happen! I just want it to pass so we can move on and try again.

OP posts:

Ems1992 · 30/09/2023 16:48

Hi. This happened to me in June and I had a blighted ovum and had medical management at 11 weeks. The empty sac kept growing, I kept having pregnancy symptoms and sickness, dark lines on tests… But no foetus.

Sorry it isn’t better news x

Ems1992 · 30/09/2023 16:49

I meant surgical management not medical. I had a d&c as it didn’t pass on its own. It was a really easy recovery and barely any bleeding after x

Original poster

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 18:07

@Ems1992 thanks for sharing. When did they pick that up? Did you have to wait a while to see if it would pass? And why did they opt for the surgical rather than medical? Thanks

OP posts:

Ems1992 · 30/09/2023 18:51

Hi,

So at about 7 or 8 weeks ish I wiped and had some very light pink discharge, and I mean super light. I had kept saying I didn’t feel as sick as what I have done previously. I rang the GP, she sent me to EPU. I actually felt a fraud been there as I had only had pink discharge once and then never again. They did a scan and only saw the sac. Said to go back in two weeks as it can happen early on as everything’s so small. I went back two weeks later, still no bleeding or pain, still an empty sac. They gave me the option of medical or surgical management. As I’d had no bleeding or pain (and my sac was continuing to grow at a normal rate) I thought my body just didn’t recognise it as a faulty pregnancy so I opted for a D&C.
I had the surgery a week later. X

Original poster

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 19:20

@Ems1992 thanks for sharing, what a relief that you trusted yourself and went in. I’m going to push for immediate medical management as I’m not keen to wait around to see if it naturally happens. I have had to have a termination before at 14 weeks and I’m not going to risk this pregnancy going on any longer than it has to. Did you manage to conceive again?

OP posts:

Ems1992 · 30/09/2023 19:45

not yet but this only happened a few months ago so I live in hope! X

Original poster

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 20:17

@Ems1992 i wish you luck! Has your cycle returned to normal?

OP posts:

VulpixTail · 30/09/2023 22:14

Harrjenk · 30/09/2023 13:25

@VulpixTail How long did it take for you to conceive again?

im not quite sure what their plan is- the blood test tomorrow is the next step as I then would have had them 48 hours apart and then if it’s inconclusive i suppose I may have another scan. I am hoping that by coming off the progesterone on Thursday that it would kickstart a miscarriage but it hasn’t yet. Horrid waiting to see what might happen! I just want it to pass so we can move on and try again.

I had no success the first cycle after, a chemical the second and was lucky on my third.

Kitty165 · 03/07/2024 20:28

VulpixTail · 30/09/2023 10:16

I have been through this, but discovered later. Why are they investigating for ectopic if they can see a pregnancy sac in the uterus?

If you have no indications that it is an ectopic pregnancy, if you feel up to it- I would go on your holiday if you think it will bring you some joy and normality to carry on. My body held onto my very early pregnancy for 10 weeks, and I didn’t bleed of my own accord and needed management to resolve the issue. Not everyone does just start bleeding after miscarriage discovery, it can take a very long time.

If you do bleed- it is likely to be a very painful, heavy period-like experience. If you decide to go, load up on your painkillers and pads. Ensure you have a contingency plan with your partner about what you will do if it does start.

I’m sorry you are going through this. X

Just for reference for other mums reading this. Is absolutely possible to have a sac in the uterus and in the fallopian tube. I sit in hospital as we speak with both. Very uncertain times. I've a blighted ovum also so the outcome isn't looking great. It's very rare for it to happen but unfortunately it does.