What happens to empty sacs??

Believer09

So, I guess all 3 embryos implanted but only one resulted in a baby.  What will happen to the 2 empty sacs?  And exactly why are they EMPTY--meaning is that what is termed a blighted ovum?  My doc said they will be absorbed--but how does that happen?  Does it hurt?  Is there cramping?  Is there bleeding involved?  Perhaps that is where the brown discharge was coming from, but I just want to be warned before more bleeding or cramping starts.

TIA!

kristinem17

Same here.  3 transfered but they were never all complete.  One never developed a yolk sac, the second only got as far as the sac and yolk sac and the 3rd went all the way... I asked the same questions and was told by both my RE, my OB and now the Peri that the other two sacs just dissolve themselves/absorb into my body... at my 13 week u/s with the Peri, you could clearly see all 3 sacs on the screen.  Obviously the one with the baby was the largest - the other two were very small and empty.  Of those two, one was larger than the other.  At my 16 week u/s this week only 2 sacs were visible - so the 3rd sac is finally completely absorbed.  Before too long the 2nd one should disappear as well.  I have felt no pain or cramping and have not had any spotting or bleeding what so ever. 

CHI-06

yes an empty sac is what a blighted ovum is... and they are just absorbed as your Dr said.  I did bleed and passed tissue still but I also didn't have one that actually took.  Since you have one so your body knows it is pregnant I would think you wouldn't bleed as much?  But I am not really sure... I would confirm with your Dr.

Believer09

kristinem17:

Same here.  3 transfered but they were never all complete.  One never developed a yolk sac, the second only got as far as the sac and yolk sac and the 3rd went all the way... I asked the same questions and was told by both my RE, my OB and now the Peri that the other two sacs just dissolve themselves/absorb into my body... at my 13 week u/s with the Peri, you could clearly see all 3 sacs on the screen.  Obviously the one with the baby was the largest - the other two were very small and empty.  Of those two, one was larger than the other.  At my 16 week u/s this week only 2 sacs were visible - so the 3rd sac is finally completely absorbed.  Before too long the 2nd one should disappear as well.  I have felt no pain or cramping and have not had any spotting or bleeding what so ever. 

Thanks so much!  I'm actually really happy you responded--I wanted desperately to hear from someone who is further along and had the same experience!  At the u/s yesterday the empty sacs seemed larger to me than the one with the baby in it.  But, hopefully at my next appt the baby will be bigger and so will that sac.  Congrats to you! 

Believer09

CHI-06:

yes an empty sac is what a blighted ovum is... and they are just absorbed as your Dr said.  I did bleed and passed tissue still but I also didn't have one that actually took.  Since you have one so your body knows it is pregnant I would think you wouldn't bleed as much?  But I am not really sure... I would confirm with your Dr.

thanks!  I've had some brown discharge but it's stopped and I'm wondering if it was due to the empty sacs.

krissyh21

Mine disappeared by the NT scan at 12 weeks, at least I couldn't see it as they were examining my ute. I never had any pain, I did have bleeding early on but it was caused by a hematoma not by the sac.

Good luck! 

Temp159135562506975

I'm sorry for your loss- but glad the other one is doing well.  they say that a disappearing multiple does not effect the health/chances for the remaining one - so try to focus on that.

 

Temp848906437505510

I think mine was last seen around 15 weeks.  At my 21 week ultrasound, they no longer saw the empty sac.  I never had any bleeding or any other repercussions.

JamaicaMon!

I'm pretty sure mine was still there at my 19 week big u/s.  The tech didn't point it out to me, but it was pretty hard for me to miss.  Anyways, my RE had told me that my body would reabsorb it, but I'm guessing it hasn't yet.  I wonder if I may even deliver a small empty sac.  Who knows.  I haven't had any issues from it thus far though.  No spotting, bleeding, etc.  OB doesn't seem concerned either.