No embryo 6w1d

mdrl_1

I went in for my first ultrasound today and there was a gestational sac and yolk sac but no embryo. My doctor wasn’t overly concerned because my periods are irregular. But I use ovulation strips religiously and am 99% sure I’m at least 6w1d, if not 2 days. Should I be concerned they didn’t find an embryo at this stage? Or did anyone else experience something similar? I can handle the hard truth. 

rac2718

I've seen some women post in another forum that this happened to them and the dating was just off and everything was fine at their follow up ultrasound. 

This happened to me in the fall with a sad outcome. I also used ovulation strips and was 100% sure of dates. US at 6w2d showed gestational sac and yolk sac. They said it was just too early and they'd rescan in 2 weeks. At 8w I started spotting so they moved my US up a few days. 8w1d US now showed an embryo that measured 6w3d with a very slow heartbeat. They redated me and I just felt like I was waiting on the inevitable. I started bleeding at 8w4d and at 8w5d it was a confirmed MC that happened very quickly that evening. This was Dec. My period returned in January. We didn't TTC in Feb. I got pregnant in March and am 12w4d with a so far normally progressing pregnancy.

I wish you all the best. The not knowing and waiting is so difficult. I hope when you go back there's an embryo with a nice strong heartbeat. 

mdrl_1

I’m so sorry you had to experience that. It’s grueling having to wait and see how everything is progressing. Everyone keeps telling me they think it’s just too early but I’m so certain of the dates. I read different things online, some saying you should be able to see the embryo at 6 weeks while others say it might still just be too small to see. Very confusing. 

I’m so happy to hear you made it past the 12 week mark with your current pregnancy! I hope that eases your anxiety a bit. I wish you all the best!

roadspeckle

Thinking of you! I’m so sorry you’re having to play the waiting game. Did they do a beta HCG at all?

mdrl_1

Yes, they did at what I thought was 4 weeks, every 2 days, 465 > 1122 > 2269 but haven’t done another recently. It’s possible even if those numbers looked good, things could have slowed down though since then, right?  

rac2718

If they saw a gestational sac and a yolk sac, that means your hcg levels hit a level high enough for these 2 components to be visible. 

I completely forgot that my sister in law didn't have an embryo present at her 1st ultrasound. She was doing fertility treatments for PCOS and monitored closely. They told her that her hcg was too low to see an embryo yet. She went back 10 days later and it was totally fine. Her baby girl is due in September. Everything's been great since. 

bows22

@knottie even if you are sure of your ovulation date, if you had a late implanter you could still be a couple of days behind. I think you can still be cautiously hopeful 

mdrl_1

@bows22 oooh, that makes sense. Does late implantation lead to other potential issues? I think even if we are 2 days off, it would be more understandable that we wouldn’t have seen the embryo in my last scan. Hoping I’m off! 

mdrl_1

@rac2718 thanks so much for sharing an encouraging experience! I’m just worried if I am actually 6 weeks along and it’s abnormal to not see an embryo at that stage? But maybe it’s not that odd, do embryos develop that late soemtimes depending on hcg levels? I was glad to see the gestational and yolk sac at least!