By Dr. Victoria Verdú (Licensed Gynaecologist No. 282847366).
In the field of fertility, a biochemical pregnancy refers to a very early pregnancy loss that occurs shortly after the embryo implants. In these cases, the body begins to produce the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which can be detected through a blood test. This is why it is called “biochemical”—because it is only detectable through this test, and there are no ultrasound signs of pregnancy or a visible gestational sac.
A biochemical pregnancy occurs when the egg is fertilized and implants in the uterus, but it does not develop properly and ends in a very early loss, usually before the fifth week of gestation. The most common cause is the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, which prevent it from developing correctly.
These abnormalities are very common when there is advanced maternal or paternal age, or when there are inherited structural genetic defects from one or both parents.
However, a biochemical pregnancy can also be caused by problems in the woman’s uterus, such as polyps or uterine fibroids, as well as hormonal imbalances (such as low progesterone levels) or immune system issues (where the immune system may recognize the embryo as something foreign and attack it). Another possible cause could be the quality of the egg or sperm, since low-quality gametes may create a poor-quality embryo with lower chances of implantation.
The good news is that a biochemical pregnancy, although emotionally painful, is usually an isolated event and does not prevent a successful pregnancy in the future.
While it’s not always possible to determine the exact cause, known risk factors include:
Biochemical pregnancies are more frequently detected in cases of assisted reproduction. This is not because patients undergoing these treatments are more likely to experience them, but because very early tests are performed to confirm pregnancy. In contrast, in natural pregnancies, these tests are usually done only after noticing a missed period, so many biochemical pregnancies may go unnoticed and are mistaken for a delay or an irregular menstruation.
To identify a biochemical pregnancy, it is necessary to perform a blood test to measure the hCG hormone, which means it cannot be detected retrospectively. Therefore, if hCG was not measured at the appropriate time, the biochemical pregnancy leaves no clinical evidence afterward, which explains why so many go unnoticed. It can only be identified as such if the test is performed while it is happening.
A biochemical pregnancy usually does not leave physical aftereffects or affect fertility, and it does not require a uterine curettage (since no embryonic structures are identified in the cavity), so the vast majority of women who have experienced one are able to achieve a successful pregnancy afterward.
In many cases, in fact, it can be considered a sign that implantation is possible, which means that motherhood may be achieved through assisted reproduction. In general, an isolated biochemical pregnancy does not require further in-depth studies, unless it happens repeatedly or there is a history of other pregnancy losses.
The female body usually recovers quickly after this type of pregnancy loss, as the pregnancy was not very advanced. In fact, many women ovulate in the following cycle or even just a few days after the loss.
From a medical standpoint, it is possible to try again when the woman feels ready, both physically and emotionally.
In most cases, it cannot be prevented because it is usually caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the embryos, which is something beyond our control. Many non-viable pregnancies simply do not progress, and this is something that happens very commonly in nature.
However, if biochemical miscarriages are recurrent, it may be useful to investigate possible preventable causes such as hormonal imbalances, uterine problems, blood clotting disorders, or immune deficiencies. One option could be IVF with preimplantation genetic testing to detect chromosomally normal embryos.
As in many other situations, there is a general recommendation to improve reproductive health, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding tobacco, or managing stress—things that, while they do not guarantee pregnancy, can improve the chances.
Privacy Policy
IVF-LIFE, hereby informs you of its privacy policy applied to personal data. The use of the website does not imply that the user must provide any information regarding their identity, and cannot be associated with a specific user by the company. In the event that personal data is provided, this data will be collected and used in accordance with the limitations and rights set out in the aforementioned regulation.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROCESSING OF YOUR DATA?
DATA CONTROLLER: IVF SPAIN ALICANTE S.L.U (hereinafter IVF-Life)
CIF: B-54973227
Postal Address: Avenida de Ansaldo, no. 13, 03540, Alicante (Alicante)
Contact with the Data Protection Officer: dpo@ivf-life-group.com
DATA CONTROLLER: Instituto Vasco de Fertilidad (hereinafter IVF-Life)
CIF: B95575874
Postal Address: Avenida de Tolosa, 71-73, 20018 Donostia / San Sebastián (Spain)
Contact with the Data Protection Officer: dpo@ivf-life-group.com
DATA CONTROLLER: IVF Spain Madrid (hereinafter IVF-Life)
CIF: B 85138113
Postal Address: C/ de Manuel de Falla, 6-8, 28036 Madrid (Spain)
Contact with the Data Protection Officer: dpo@ivf-life-group.com
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- Connection, geolocation and navigation data.
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The use of certain services or requests addressed to IVF-LIFE are subject to the prior completion of the corresponding form. All the information provided by the User through the forms on the Portal for the above purposes or any other must be truthful.
To this end, the User guarantees the authenticity of all the data provided and will keep the information provided to IVF-LIFE perfectly up to date so that it corresponds at all times to the User's real situation. In any case, the User will be solely responsible for any false or inaccurate statements made and for any damage caused to IVF-LIFE or third parties because of the information provided.
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Our services are aimed at people of legal age, in the event that some of our services are specifically aimed at minors, IVF-LIFE will request the consent of parents or guardians for the collection of personal data or, where appropriate, for the automated processing of data as set out in current legislation. If the User is a minor, they are required to have the prior consent of their parents or guardians before proceeding to the inclusion of their personal data in the forms on the Website.
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We only process the personal data that is strictly necessary to manage or resolve your request or application.
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To the extent that you subscribe to our newsletter, your personal data will be used for the periodic sending of company newsletters.
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Usability and quality analysis to improve our services (cookies).
If you access our platform, we inform you that we will process your browsing data for analytical and statistical purposes, i.e. to understand how users interact with our platform and thus be able to make improvements to it. Likewise, we sometimes carry out quality actions and surveys aimed at finding out the degree of satisfaction of our customers and users and detecting those areas in which we can improve.
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The legal basis for the processing of your data is the informed consent to respond to queries raised through the website, forms and other means provided, which implies the prior reading and acceptance of these conditions by the interested party.
Marketing
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Social networking
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Usability and quality analysis (cookies)
User consent to the use of cookies.
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Request for information. We will process your data for as long as it is necessary to deal with your request or request and thereafter 1 year.
Marketing
We will process your data until you unsubscribe or cancel your subscription to the newsletter.
Social media
We will process your data for as long as it is necessary to deal with your request and for as long as you are a follower of our profile.
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Personal data will not be transferred or communicated to third parties, except: legal obligation, we obtain your express consent, or we understand that there is a legitimate interest on our part, which will be duly communicated to you.
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You can access these social networks voluntarily and through the links available on the website itself or by accessing directly and on your own from your browser or installed app.
You should know that this website is not responsible for the use of the data that these social networks may make. However, when these data are generated in the social network and derive from an interaction with our website, we will not be held responsible for the use of such data.
In order to consent to our transfer from this website and the processing of your data, you should carefully read the privacy policy of the social network you wish to access:
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Spotify: Spotify Privacy Policy
In this way, before clicking on the logos of the SS. RR. present on our website, you can inform yourself and make a redirection with prior knowledge of the processing of your data and on a voluntary basis.
Other technological services:
- WhatsApp: WhatsApp Privacy Policy
- Companies of the "IVF LIFE Group" on the legal basis of consent or legitimate interest: Instituto Vasco de Fertilidad S.L.U., with NIF B95575874 and address at Avda Tolosa, 71-73 Donostia (Gipuzkoa), and IVF Spain Madrid S.L., with NIF B85138113 and address at Calle Manuel de Falla, 6-8, 28036 Madrid.
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We undertake to respect the confidentiality of your personal data and to guarantee you the exercise of your rights.
You may exercise them free of charge by sending us an e-mail to our address above, simply by providing proof of identity, the reason for your request and the right you wish to exercise.
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Ask us for access to the data we hold about you.
Ask us to rectify the data we already hold about you. Please note that by actively providing us with your personal information in any way, you warrant that it is true and accurate and you undertake to notify us of any changes or modifications to it.
Ask us to delete your data to the extent that they are no longer necessary for the purpose for which we need to process them as we have previously informed you, or to the extent that we no longer have the legitimacy to do so.
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To receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable form and to transfer it to another data controller.
Moreover, where the processing of your data is based on our legitimate interest, you also have the right to object to the processing of your data.
Finally, we inform you of your right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection supervisory authority, with the Spanish Data Protection Agency.
CHANGES TO THE PRIVACY POLICY
We may change the information contained in this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we do so, we will notify you by various means through the Platform, or we will notify you at your email address when the change in question is significant to your privacy, so that you can review the changes, assess them and, where appropriate, object to or unsubscribe from any service or functionality.
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