What causes frozen fruit? Frozen pregnancy - medical measures. Reasons why pregnancy does not develop

Miscarriage occurs in women of different age groups, and the reasons for a frozen pregnancy in each of them can be radically different. This problem appears due to various factors: diseases, heredity, hormonal imbalances and others.

Fortunately, only a few people know first-hand what a frozen pregnancy is and what the reasons are that lead to the death of the fetus. Although the pathology is rare, the expectant mother should know what the signs of this condition are, so that if danger arises, she can promptly consult a doctor to save the baby’s life and, possibly, her own.

The causes of frozen pregnancy in the early stages are diverse and often have a complex effect. It is impossible to unambiguously determine the factor that led to the death of the fetus. After removing the embryo from the uterine cavity, the doctor sends the material to a test, which in most cases is difficult due to maceration of the tissues of the dead fetus.

In the first trimester, there are two critical periods when various complications of pregnancy can occur: from 6 to 8 weeks and from 11 to 13. It is during these intervals that a woman should pay special attention to her health and, at the slightest disturbance or suspicion of problems, immediately consult a doctor.

There are many reasons leading to frozen pregnancy in the early stages of intrauterine development:

• genetic disorders;
• chromosomal aberrations;
• hormonal imbalances;
• acute infectious processes occurring in the maternal body;
• chronic infection;
• bad habits.

Let us consider in more detail each of the prerequisites that can lead to the intrauterine death of a child.

Genetic developmental abnormalities

A special place in the etiology of frozen pregnancy is occupied by structural disorders affecting the chromosomal composition of the fetus. Normally, a person has a haploid set of chromosomes, but when various genetic aberrations occur, the number of cells can change towards decrease or increase, which leads to the appearance of congenital disorders in the child.

Possible deviations:

1. Trisomy (2n+1). In the human karyotype, a change in the haploid set occurs, and it acquires an additional chromosome. This is the most common type of chromosomal aberration, which leads to pregnancy loss. If intrauterine death does not occur, then the born child has multiple defects of physical and mental development. These include (trisomy 21), trisomy X, Enwards syndrome (trisomy 18) and Patau syndrome (disorder of pair 13).
2. Monosomy (2n-1). When such a change in karyotype occurs, intrauterine death occurs in 98% of cases, and only 2% of children are born, however, they have serious disorders (Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome or XO monosomy).
3. Triploid (3n) and tetraploid (4n) sets of chromosomes are rare. Even if fetal death does not occur during intrauterine development, the born baby has a wide range of disorders that are incompatible with life.
4. Translocations. In addition to violations of the number of chromosomes, there are also karyotypes in which the chromosomes change their parts with each other. This pathology can be inherited by one of the parents. When interviewed, it often turns out that there have been previous cases of miscarriage in the family.

Hormonal discorrelations

This type of disorder ranks second among the causes of frozen pregnancy in the first trimester. In this case, the death of the embryo occurs due to the fact that the level does not reach the limit necessary for the maturation of the corpus luteum, and estrogens are produced in excess quantities. Hormonal imbalance does not allow the embryo to receive the necessary nutritional components, which causes the cessation of vital activity.

Another cause of hormonal disorders are endocrine diseases that a woman suffered from even before pregnancy.

Bad habits

Drug addiction during pregnancy leads to the fact that harmful substances entering the female body have a toxic effect on the child. This can lead to developmental disorders, and in some cases to pregnancy failure.

Alcohol and drugs pose a particular danger in the first trimester, when the placental barrier has not yet formed, and everything that enters the mother’s body enters the uterine cavity through the bloodstream, where the embryo is located.

Medicines

A pregnant woman is allowed a small list of medications that can be taken while carrying a child, since many medications have a teratogenic effect. Some medications can cause minor disturbances in the fetus, while other drugs lead to serious abnormalities that are incompatible with life.

Spontaneous abortions are caused by the following medications:

• Mercaptoturine;
• Colchicine;
• Methotrexate.

Before taking this medicine, check with your doctor to see if it will harm your baby.

Teratozoospermia

Another reason that can lead to miscarriage is teratozoospermia. This is a pathological condition of sperm when a large number of abnormal male germ cells are present in the ejaculate.

Most often, this occurs in the partner, however, in some cases, conception occurs, but due to the fact that the sperm are pathological, the death of the embryo soon occurs.

External factors

A fetus can become frozen in the early stages of pregnancy for many reasons. Very often it is completely impossible to predict what caused his death.

Sometimes intrauterine development stops due to banal factors:

• lifting weights;
• climate change;
• long plane flight;
• radioactive radiation;
• prolonged exposure to scorching sunlight.

Why can there be two missed pregnancies in a row?

After a woman has already experienced miscarriage once, the biggest fear in her life is the subsequent conception, during which intrauterine fetal death occurs. Those who have experienced such a shock often do not know how to move on and whether they will be able to get pregnant again and give birth to a healthy child.

Doctors say that if a woman promptly sought medical help in case of fetal death, and was prescribed appropriate treatment, then she has a high probability of becoming a mother.

A repetition of the sad experience is possible in situations where a woman does not have a completely adequate attitude towards sex life and motherhood, if a subsequent pregnancy occurred spontaneously, and appropriate treatment was not carried out after the first case of intrauterine fetal death. Doctors advise refraining from conceiving for 6-12 months so that the body recovers from the loss of a child and prepares to accept a new life.

2 missed pregnancies in a row sometimes happen, however, this is not a pattern, because the reasons for repeating a sad experience may be the following:

• uncontrolled sexual life within a year after pregnancy fading;
• identified genetic disorders that require consultation with a geneticist at the stage of family planning;
• an infectious disease that has not been completely cured (this is especially true for sexually transmitted infections, when treatment is required for both partners);
• hormonal disorders that have not been treated.

If a woman is serious about her health and is determined to become a mother, then she will listen to all the advice of the attending physician and follow his recommendations, which will reduce the likelihood of the pregnancy fading again.

How to avoid another frozen pregnancy?

Unfortunately, there are no methods of specific prevention against frozen pregnancy, because its causes in the early stages cannot be predicted. Very often, fetal development stops due to neural tube defects.

For this reason, all women during the planning period and from the first days after conception are recommended to take prophylactic doses of 0.4 mg. If a woman has previously experienced miscarriage, as well as disturbances in the formation of the neural tube in the fetus, then the dosage of vitamin B 9 is advised to be increased to 4 mg.

To avoid the influence of the causes that cause a frozen pregnancy at 6-12 weeks, when re-conceiving, you should adhere to certain tactics for monitoring the condition of the expectant mother:

• Carrying out using, determining serum protein markers and.
• If there is evidence of congenital developmental anomalies in the family history, invasive antenatal determination of chromosomal aberrations and other genetic disorders is recommended.
• Carrying out amniocentesis according to indications.

1. Prevention of infection and timely elimination of signs of infection. For this purpose, doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory therapy and immunomodulators.
2. Suppression of the autoimmune reaction. For this purpose, drip parenteral administration of γ-immunoglobulins every other day, 0.025 liters, is recommended.
3. Elimination of hemodynamic disturbances. Taking direct-acting anticoagulant drugs and antiplatelet agents.

Such measures play a big role in preventing the fading of a subsequent pregnancy and increase the likelihood of acquiring a new status: a happy mother.

The causes of frozen pregnancy in the early stages can be different. Unfortunately, in most situations it is impossible to predict when this will happen. No woman is immune from the possibility of losing a child. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a responsible approach to planning conception, timely detection and subsequent treatment of various diseases reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Useful video about the causes of missed abortion in the early stages

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Any woman can experience a frozen pregnancy; the causes and consequences of the negative condition are being studied by specialists from all countries to prevent the pathological situation and prevent the death of the fetus in the womb. The development of the fetus can stop due to its death at any stage. A woman’s body rejects non-viable tissue, and miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is inevitable.

According to world medical statistics, symptoms of frozen pregnancy are observed in 20% of women who decide to conceive. Most situations occur before a missed period, so pregnancy does not always become obvious. At risk are women who have crossed the threshold of 35 years of age and have experienced a similar condition previously.

Why does pregnancy stop?

Among the provocateurs of frozen pregnancy, the causes of which are not fully understood, are:

Among the provocateurs of frozen pregnancy, one can also note diabetes mellitus, increased physical activity of the mother, stress and depression. The 8th week is considered the most dangerous, when the fetus acutely perceives any teratogenic effects.

For a long time, doctors have been arguing about the use of alcohol during pregnancy. Some allow minor deviations from the recommended rules, while others categorically prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, even in small doses. Their effect is detrimental to the fetus. Drinks can easily provoke a frozen pregnancy; not every woman knows what to do after the death of an embryo. Many give up on themselves, fearing a repetition of the situation, but this is unfounded. The main thing is to follow the recommendations during subsequent pregnancy, so as not to encounter pathology again.

One of the indisputable truths is to eliminate alcohol for a 9-month period. The mechanism of action of the fiery liquid is simple - after administration, it easily penetrates the placental barrier, saturating the child’s body with the action of negative components. Since the baby’s liver is not yet formed, the level of alcohol molecules is destructive for him - it exceeds the concentration in the blood of an adult by 10 times. Moreover, its preservation in the amniotic sac is long-term. Large doses of alcohol during pregnancy threaten:

• freezing of the embryo, cessation of its development;
• abnormal heart muscle defects, brain underdevelopment;
• miscarriage, spontaneous abortion;
• premature birth;
• birth of a child at term with low weight.

It is a mistake to believe that beer labeled “non-alcoholic” bypasses the taboo imposed on alcohol and does not cause adverse reactions. Each composition released by modern manufacturers contains an alcohol-containing formula. The safety of the product due to the low concentration of the dangerous substance has not been scientifically proven, so including the drink in the list of prohibited items is the right step towards the birth of a healthy baby. Recent studies have shown that in addition to beer, you should also abstain from kvass, which contains up to 2.6% alcohol.

The timing of a frozen pregnancy may vary, but it is most likely for the early development of the embryo. The main reasons why an anomaly occurs are listed above. There are psychological factors in the freezing of a child in the womb. Experts include the following as the main provocateurs of the condition:

• emotional instability, psychological and intellectual overload;
• family quarrels, nervous environment at work;
• personality traits of a pregnant woman;
• psychological immaturity for the birth of a child, unpreparedness or unwillingness to give birth, to bind oneself to obligations, the bonds of motherhood;
• state of chronic, incessant stress, depressive psychoses.

Science has proven that the emotional state of a mother is the same as her child. All experiences, feelings and sensations are easily transmitted to the baby. Psychologists have even identified certain relationships. For example, a woman with increased internal anxiety is more likely to give birth to a low-weight baby.

The risk of losing a child increases due to the unstable psychosomatic state of the expectant mother. An analysis of the social factors of women facing miscarriage indicates that most of them have difficulties in family life, at work, and misunderstandings with loved ones. Doctors also talk about the adverse effects of stress on pregnancy. Financial dissatisfaction, unresolved housing issues, fears and phobias lead to depression.

It is known that mood swings, lack of self-confidence, and low self-esteem cause fluctuations in blood pressure and pulse over a wide range, which provokes hypoxia of the fetus and can result in the fading of its development. For those women who did not want to conceive, what happened is very stressful. Using unconscious strategies for solving a problem, a woman is able to program her body to get rid of an unwanted baby. There are a lot of behavior options for this. Involvement in active work, poor nutrition, heavy stress. If in the past the pregnancy had an unsuccessful resolution, the pregnant woman is full of fears for the repetition of the situation, which worsens the quality of her life and the development of the child.

Signs of a frozen pregnancy

A woman can notice the first signs of a frozen pregnancy by listening to her own well-being. It is impossible to diagnose fetal growth arrest at home. Searching forums for information and advice is a waste of time. If you have any suspicions, it is better to visit a doctor. You should be wary:

• Abrupt cessation of toxicosis if you previously experienced nausea and dizziness with any foreign smell or movement;
• Softening the mammary glands, stopping their increase. After swelling and soreness, the breasts become resistant to mechanical stress. Separately, these signs of a frozen pregnancy do not mean anything. Many women note that a similar condition often occurs during normal, uncomplicated gestation;
• Decreased basal body temperature. A decreasing level of progesterone provokes similar symptoms. Measurements are taken immediately after waking up through the rectum. However, this method is not a panacea in determining what happened. Third-party factors and accompanying phenomena can affect the decrease in temperature - sexual contact the day before, taking certain medications, maternal illness

Additional symptoms may include increased body temperature, pain in the lower abdomen, and spotting. If pregnancy fading occurs at a late stage, the expectant mother ceases to feel the movements of the fetus. A negative state is insidious; alarming symptoms do not always manifest themselves clearly. It may take a long time before warning signs are detected. Sometimes seeing a doctor takes several weeks. Symptoms can also appear during normal development of the embryo, during an ectopic pregnancy. A doctor will be able to make a diagnosis after an examination.

Frozen pregnancy and miscarriage

Both states are different from each other. Pregnancy fading is characterized by retention of a dead fetus in the womb. A dead embryo can remain in the uterus for a long time and will eventually be removed with the help of a doctor. Such conditions can last for months and even years. The failed child is subjected to maceration, mummification. In the first case, we are talking about wet cell necrosis, which does not cause putrefactive processes. Up to 90% of all situations follow this path. At first, there are no signs of infection, but later they develop rapidly, which in especially severe cases leads to the death of the mother. Externally, the fruit looks wrinkled, lethargic, flabby and wrinkled on palpation. The skin collects on it in bubbles, peeling off and accumulating in certain places. With the onset of infection, the dead embryo turns green.

Mummification involves the natural desiccation of an unborn child. Most often this process affects one of the twins. Multiple pregnancies can cause the umbilical cord to become entangled in the neck of one of the babies. Then the embryo shrinks, dries out, and the amniotic fluid located near it dissolves. When a dead fetus undergoes the process of petrification, it becomes fossilized and can remain in the body indefinitely. Often this condition is characteristic of an ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnostics

You cannot rely on the test to determine your condition. Sometimes the analysis produces two strips after the death of the fetus. The body contains hCG for several weeks. If you track its content over time, you will notice a fading of the level, its gradual decrease. The right decision is to take several tests sequentially that can be compared. Basal temperature reacts sensitively to changes, the level of which decreases. But this method is only available by keeping a daily diary, where the appropriate marks are placed.

Tests after a frozen pregnancy must be included in the list of ultrasound examinations. This is the most accurate diagnostic technology. In addition to stating the fact of the death of the pod, the method will show the period of development cessation. In the early stages of pregnancy, an ultrasound examination is performed no earlier than 7 weeks. If the results are questionable, a re-examination is carried out in a week or two. It is better to give preference to modern models of ultrasound machines; with old equipment, the early stage of development may not diagnose cardiac activity. Making an unreliable diagnosis will cause unnecessary panic and harm the psychological state of the subject.

Therapeutic treatment of the condition begins after diagnosis. If the pathology is confirmed, there are several response options:

1. Waiting for a miscarriage- This is a natural process of ridding the body of a foreign body. Ideally, the amniotic sac will be released completely with the embryo and amniotic fluid contained in it.
2. Prescription of specialized drugs, the action of which is aimed at contracting the uterus and pushing out the dead fetus from the internal cavity. The method is applicable if the pregnancy did not last longer than 8 weeks.
3. Surgery– intervention is carried out using different methods. These include gynecological cleansing and vacuum aspiration.

After the procedures, a control ultrasound is performed to assess whether the internal space of the uterus is completely cleared, whether there are any foreign tissues left in it that can cause inflammation, and subsequently become the cause of developing sepsis.

Gynecological cleansing

Several weeks may pass from the moment the fetus dies until it is rejected by the uterus. The remaining traces of the deceased embryo provoke the development of the inflammatory process, bleeding and other complications. To eliminate risks, doctors recommend undergoing gynecological cleansing, during which a specialist will clean the upper layer of the inner cavity of the uterus.

The woman does not feel any discomfort from the procedure, as she is under anesthesia. Cleaning after a frozen pregnancy rarely lasts more than an hour; usually the doctor needs 15-20 minutes. There is no need to be afraid of complications after it, although they may appear in rare cases. Tissue samples obtained from the uterus are sent to the laboratory for histological analysis. It takes two weeks to prepare, after which the results are returned to the attending physician. Genetic testing helps determine the cause of miscarriage. Histology determines the presence or absence of atypical cells in the uterus.

Vacuum aspiration

In addition to curettage, a vacuum aspiration method can be performed, which allows a more delicate way to get rid of the remains of the embryo in the uterus. Indications for the procedure are:

• getting rid of signs of unwanted pregnancy if 12 weeks have not passed since conception;
• if there are signs of a frozen pregnancy found confirmation by additional examination methods;
• incomplete exit of embryonic parts from the uterus, the presence of foreign elements in the organ;
• carrying a child for certain reasons contraindicated. Usually the reasons are a threat to the life of the mother or the risk of developing fetal pathology;
• when placental tissue lags behind at the time of childbirth, when its remains are found in the uterine cavity;
• a congestion is detected in the uterus blood clots or fluid;
• if for further diagnosis a biopsy is needed to take endometrial materials for analysis.

The procedure is ineffective:

• with inflammatory processes developing in the uterus;
• to neutralize the risks of ectopic pregnancy;
• if there are changes in the uterus due to neoplasms or tumor.

Aspiration is carried out in several ways:

• Under intravenous anesthesia with vacuum. The special suction has high power and copes with the task of removing residues in a few minutes. The technology is not practiced beyond the four-week gestation period.
• Under local anesthesia with manual vacuum. Used up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Before aspiration, a woman undergoes a visual examination by a specialist, takes recommended tests, and a smear to determine the vaginal microflora. Examination methods include ultrasound, blood and urine tests, tests for hidden infections in the body. Consultation with a therapist is mandatory. 30 minutes before the surgical intervention, tablets are taken, the effect of which is aimed at softening the cervix. After visiting the operating room, at least an hour should pass to monitor the patient's condition. During this time she lies on her stomach, followed by a follow-up examination.

How is aspiration performed?

The doctor treats the reproductive organs with antiseptics that block the entry of infection through the genital tract. Specialized instruments (spectrums) are inserted into the vagina. After treating the neck with an antiseptic, it is fixed, freeing access to the internal cavity. A carefully inserted probe helps to examine the walls. Then an aspirator tube is inserted into the cavity, extending from an electrical device or manual “syringe”. By rotating the catheter, the doctor removes the top layer of mucous membrane and stores it in a test tube to be sent for histology.

The consequences of aspiration can be complicated by the following conditions:

• menstrual irregularities;
• disruptions in the hormonal system;
• incomplete cleansing of the uterine cavity.

After the procedure, you cannot have sex for a month, catch a cold, go to the bathhouse or sunbathe in the open rays of the sun. It is not recommended to take a bath or go to the pool; if you maintain personal hygiene, it is advisable to limit yourself to a shower. Medicines should be taken in accordance with the schedule drawn up by a specialist.

After curettage or aspiration, the patient is allowed to go home on the day of the operation. Antispasmodics are prescribed to neutralize pain. You should not be active or use physical labor for 24 hours. Exertion can trigger bleeding. Pain in the lower abdomen and lumbar region persists for several days. This is a normal condition, since the upper layer of the internal cavity of the uterus is damaged. Severe pain is suppressed by painkillers, the use of which must be agreed with a doctor.

Heavy discharge should also not be alarming. They can last up to 2 weeks. The use of tampons is strictly prohibited. The only available remedy is sanitary pads. If this rule is violated, the situation may lead to serious inflammation in the tissues of the reproductive organs. When resuming sexual contacts, it is worth consulting with a gynecologist about the selection of contraceptive drugs.

A new pregnancy can occur after a frozen pregnancy immediately after the condition has stabilized. It is stupid to leave things to chance. First you need to find out what led to the pathological condition and the loss of the child in order to eliminate the root cause of the anomaly to prevent it in the future. Your period comes after a couple of weeks, sometimes after a month and a half.

Immediate consultation with a doctor is required if after surgery:

• there was a sharp increase in body temperature;
• The pad is changed hourly - the sanitary product gets wet through immediately after use;
• blood is released for more than two weeks, its volume does not decrease or become less intense;
• Even taking potent drugs does not help relieve pain;
• vaginal discharge gives off an unpleasant putrid odor.

It is impossible to say with certainty that a thorough examination is necessary after a frozen pregnancy. It is recommended by doctors, but each couple makes their own decision. If a woman experiences a second frozen pregnancy, diagnosis of the root causes is mandatory. In most situations, the condition is a consequence of random factors, errors in the development of the fetus in the early stages.

Frozen pregnancy, the causes and consequences of which negatively affect the emotional background of the mother who has lost her child, also occurs in completely healthy couples. In the West, the practice of a thorough examination is recommended only after 3 repetitions of fetal development arrest in the womb. As for the tests after an anomaly has occurred, the list is quite extensive: OBC, OAM, blood for hormone levels, smear for microflora, research for hidden sexually transmitted infections, tests for TORCH infections, transvaginal ultrasound. If necessary, the list can be supplemented with other diagnostic procedures. It is mandatory to obtain advice from a geneticist, endocrinologist and immunologist.

Likely consequences

If a frozen pregnancy is detected on time, and traces of what happened are painlessly eliminated, there are no negative consequences. It’s another matter if a woman has a history of two missed pregnancies and is planning a third one. In case of a primary tragedy, the risk of a repetition of a negative scenario does not exceed 20%; in case of repeated pathology, the danger arises in 35% of cases; a third arrest of embryo development in the womb threatens 40% of violations in the subsequent period.

Planning a new conception

The chances of a normal second pregnancy after the embryo died the previous time are high. The main thing is to listen to the doctor’s recommendations and follow the instructions given by the specialist. The opinion of most gynecologists boils down to one thing - a new pregnancy should be planned no earlier than three to four months after a frozen one. During this period, the woman’s body recovers, gains strength, and accumulates positive potential. Hormonal levels are stabilized, and the stress factor from experienced unrest is reduced.

Before conception, the specialist advises the use of hormonal birth control pills, which prevent the risk of pregnancy at an unplanned period. By taking oral medications, a woman unloads the ovaries, giving them additional rest. Canceling OC increases the chances of egg fertilization by sperm. If a frozen pregnancy occurs, three months after it you need to start taking folic acid. The drug is of great importance for the normal development of the fetus. Vitamin B 9 is a DNA-forming substance that promotes the harmonious development of the child’s nervous system.

If pregnancy occurs immediately after the fetus freezes in the womb, the chances of a successful delivery are also high. However, a consultation with a good specialist in the field of gynecology is necessary, and it is likely to undergo specialized therapy to reduce the risk of miscarriages.

Folic acid

Science has proven that taking vitamin B9 a month before conception and the first three months after it reduces the risk of developing abnormalities in the embryo by 50%. Taking folic acid is mandatory at the planning stage of pregnancy and at the time of its inception in the body. The daily dose of the drug is limited to 400-800 mcg. It is important to know this, because some women limit themselves to taking multivitamins, forgetting to evaluate the B9 content in them. If the dose is less than recommended, it should be increased with additional doses of the drug. What dosage will be acceptable in a particular case is determined by the attending physician, based on the situation, the health of the pregnant woman, and the characteristics of her body.

Additionally, you need to include foods containing folic acid in your diet. These are spinach, citrus fruits, broccoli and white cabbage, kiwi, strawberries. Allergy sufferers should be careful with food components that cause reactions. If there is a tendency to allergies, oranges and tangerines are replaced with cabbage and spinach. You cannot think that the folic acid contained in foods is enough to cover the daily requirement. Taking medications based on it is necessary.

There is no need to fear an overdose of the vitamin; it has a water-soluble base. Therefore, it easily leaves the body along with urine. However, cases of overdose caused by long-term use of large doses of the drug are noted in medical statistics. The excess of the norm was 37 times. The result is abnormalities in the child’s nervous system.

A doctor’s prescription of an exceeded B9 norm is justified in the following cases:

• if the mother has already given birth to a baby with an abnormality of the nervous system;
• when the expectant mother is overweight;
• while taking anticonvulsants;
• anemia detected as a result of blood tests, which is caused by a lack of folic acid in the body.

In these situations, the dose of the drug can be increased to 5000 mcg.

How to prevent a frozen pregnancy - causes and consequences of the threat

Having analyzed the causes of the pathological condition and the threats it poses to health, the doctor draws up an individual monitoring protocol for a woman who has survived the misfortune and is planning a new conception. General recommendations include:

• Contact a gynecologist at the stage of pregnancy planning, receiving advice from a geneticist, endocrinologist, immunologist, taking tests and undergoing specialized examinations to identify health conditions.
• Rejection of bad habits, including smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Balanced diet with the inclusion of beneficial vitamins and microelements in the food intake. Exclusion from the diet of semi-finished products, fast food, exotic cuisine, coffee and strong tea.
• Exclusion from the list of certain categories of medicines that the doctor will tell you about. Aspirin is among the prohibited drugs; it can be painlessly replaced with paracetamol.

Nutrition when planning pregnancy

Regardless of the reasons for a missed miscarriage in the past, planning a new conception requires compliance with certain rules. One of the main ones is a balanced diet. Having studied the AGOG recommendations, we share our experience:

• It has been proven that a woman does not need to consume double the norm of healthy foods either when planning to conceive or during pregnancy. After the doctor confirms the fertilization of the egg and the development of the fetus in the body, you should increase your daily diet by only 300 kcal.
• The best option for proper nutrition is eating in fractional portions up to 6 times a day.
• At the stage of planning conception, include in the number of foods you eat foods containing vitamins A, C, B9, and iron.

Drinking coffee is a controversial issue. The question of whether it is possible to drink a tasty drink with a high caffeine content after a frozen pregnancy does not have a single point of view. Previously, experts unanimously argued that coffee provokes miscarriage. Today it is recognized that up to 150 mg of drink per day cannot harm the developing fetus.

Psychological rehabilitation

The grief that occurs brings family members closer together, but this does not happen in all cases. Sometimes a frozen pregnancy becomes a stumbling block, a reason for a woman to mistrust others, push away her husband and try to survive what happened alone. This is strictly forbidden. Important:

• Stop berating yourself for what happened, transferring evil and irritation to loved ones - parents, husband. What happened can bring people together and help establish warmth and trust in the family;
• Don't isolate yourself in your grief, don't hide your feelings. It’s better to cry, talk it out, releasing the negativity accumulated in the soul. It is known that it is often easier to trust problems to a stranger. The “fellow traveler effect” is triggered when a person realizes that he will never see his interlocutor, so he actively explains his own problems to him. Use a loved one as a vest. This will make it easier for you to understand yourself and him, and restore the lost warmth in your relationship.
• If after a few months After the incident, the situation does not stabilize, it is necessary to contact a professional family psychologist. A good specialist will put the situation into perspective, help you look at it from the outside, and redirect your actions towards achieving new goals.
• Learn clamp removal techniques and relaxation techniques. When you feel the rush of negative emotions, you need to relax and distract yourself. The skill will also be useful in simple life in the future.

It’s good if a woman goes to a psychologist together with her husband. It is always easier to cope with a common problem together. Working together will help you look at each other in a new way and learn the unknown secrets of your partner’s soul. It is difficult to survive a pathological condition. Ideally, you need to be distracted by something else - go on vacation, get a new job, change your place of residence. These steps reset your past life, allow you to forget about the negative and set yourself up for success.

Frozen pregnancy and TORCH infection

One of the main causes of missed abortion is TORCH infections. They cause up to 90% of violations in the gestation program. The statistics are inexorable. The risk of fading for nulliparous women is below 10%. After stopping fetal development for the first time, lack of control of TORCH indicators increases the danger to 25%, after 2 losses - up to 40%. Those who have experienced pregnancy loss more than 4 times due to fetal infections are rarely ready to give birth again. However, they may well experience the joy of healthy motherhood if infectious lesions in the body are controlled.

It is difficult to make a rating of the most dangerous diseases that provoke frozen pregnancy. Laboratory tests using ELISA and PCR show results if carried out in the first few days after the incident. After a week or two, it is difficult to determine the causative agent. It is necessary to undergo a full examination for TORCH infection at the stage of planning a future pregnancy. Upon completion of the examination, the woman receives a maternal passport, which remains valid for the entire period of the applicant’s reproductive age.

Frozen pregnancy in questions and answers

Summarizing the above, we should once again briefly dwell on the main postulates:

1. When does it occur? A frozen pregnancy can occur at any stage of embryo development. Most often, the anomaly is detected in the first trimester.
2. Why is this happening? Disorders that occur in the early stages of fetal development include hormonal imbalance, infectious processes, menstrual irregularities, and genetic changes. This may be caused by chromosomal abnormalities or the fact of a blood connection, when the father and mother are related. Nature itself applies the filter of natural selection, rejecting non-viable fruit and provoking its death. The risk of embryo failure increases if a woman with a negative Rh factor has had several abortions before the desired pregnancy occurs. According to statistics, abortions often become a kind of harbinger of pathology. They grossly disrupt hormonal status and cause trauma to the uterus and infection of the cervix. At a later stage, frozen pregnancy occurs more often due to a chronic illness of the mother, which occurs in a severe form - diabetes mellitus, heart muscle defect, kidney disease. The threat can be reduced if treatment is started at the stage of pregnancy planning.
3. What should you be wary of? Pain in the lower back and abdomen, spotting of blood, a decrease in basal temperature, and a lack of dynamics in the growth of hCG should cause concern for the child’s well-being. If during pregnancy you felt toxicosis, dizziness, nausea and other similar symptoms, followed by their rapid disappearance, this is a good reason to be wary and visit a gynecologist with complaints. The doctor will conduct an examination on a gynecological chair and, if necessary, send you for ultrasound diagnostics. Another symptom that characterizes a frozen pregnancy is the cessation of swelling of the mammary glands. If your breasts are limp and have lost their elasticity, you should listen carefully to your inner state.
4. How dangerous is a frozen pregnancy? If the female body pushes out an embryo with a fertilized egg and waters through the birth canal after development has stopped, this is good. Soon the organs of the reproductive system will return to normal, gain strength and be ready for a new conception. If this does not happen, you should undergo an ultrasound to record the remaining material in the uterine cavity. To remove them, the method of curettage and vacuum aspiration is used. The technology will be recommended by the attending physician, taking into account the clinical picture and individual characteristics of the patient. Waiting tactics can also be used, in which the body will miscarry some time after the pregnancy has died. In order to release the remains of the embryo and membranes, medications are also used, the action of which is aimed at contracting the walls of the uterus. Seeing a doctor earlier eliminates the risk of complications. If the fetal sac remains in the uterus for a long time, blood loss may develop, caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, when the blood stops clotting and the abundant blood flow poses a threat to the woman’s life.
5. What are the prospects? After what happened, it is important not to give up, but to do everything necessary to ensure that the next pregnancy ends in a successful birth. Doctors allow conception after 4-6 months, but everything is individual. Visit a doctor, undergo the recommended examinations, eliminate dangerous factors for pregnancy, take care of yourself, get yourself in order physically and psychologically. Get advice from a geneticist, endocrinologist and immunologist. A powerful medical tandem will reduce the likelihood of errors in planning a new pregnancy.

During pregnancy, a woman is influenced by many factors that can lead to undesirable consequences, and in some cases, harm will also be caused to the fetus.

Women at any age can experience a problem such as frozen pregnancy, the symptoms of which are quite easy to identify. In general, this phenomenon means that fetal death has occurred. If you take care of your own body at the stage of pregnancy planning, and then follow all the doctor’s recommendations, you can prevent the development of such a terrible process. Any woman should know the signs of a frozen pregnancy, as well as monitor all changes in her own body. This pathological phenomenon does not occur very often. According to statistics, out of 176 normally occurring pregnancies, only 1 case occurs with such a fatal outcome for the fetus.

A frozen pregnancy after a certain period of time after conception and development of the fetus is a pathological change in the body of a pregnant woman, in which the development of the child in the womb abruptly stops, which subsequently means his death. Doctors also tend to call this phenomenon a failed miscarriage, because... There are no clinical manifestations of the miscarriage itself. This problem occurs at any period of pregnancy, as well as at any age, and the first pregnancy is frozen, and subsequent ones can also be like this, so you need to monitor the condition of the woman’s body and her fetus. In addition, age is not the main factor in this phenomenon; however, according to statistics, fetal death most often occurs in women after 40 years of age. Moreover, freezing in most cases occurs before the 13th week.

In the future, the woman may develop inflammatory processes, as well as other unpleasant complications. The reasons that cause this terrible phenomenon are very diverse. Moreover, they can cause complications in such a way that in the future, after the first unsuccessful pregnancy, the woman will no longer be able to conceive a child. A frozen pregnancy, the timing of which can be different, differs in its symptoms at different stages.

Causes of pregnancy fading

The reasons that the fetus freezes are most often complex. It is very difficult to determine these factors in most cases, because... wet necrosis of fetal tissue begins. There are a number of main reasons that doctors identify.

1) Hormonal imbalances. It is this factor that can lead to a woman’s body experiencing a deficiency of progesterone or its imbalance with estrogen. This leads to the fact that the fetus does not receive enough nutrients. This phenomenon causes the death of a child. The causes of hormonal problems can be disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries, problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland, polycystic ovaries, as well as other endocrine diseases.

2) Immunological phenomena. They have a big role to play. The point is that the fetal egg can be considered by the body of the woman who is carrying it as a foreign body. This is due to the fact that only 50% of the information it contains comes from the woman, but the second half of the genetic information comes from the child’s father. It is this part that is foreign to the mother’s body. In the future, if there are abnormalities in the mother’s body, the immune system can independently produce active substances that will be aimed at eliminating the foreign body, i.e. fetus. In this case, the immune system kills the child.

3) Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which a woman develops thrombosis. This is very dangerous for both pregnancy and postpartum recovery. A woman should be under constant medical supervision. APS, according to statistics, is observed in 5% of all cases with fetal freezing.

4) Infectious diseases. Any acute or chronic disease can lead to fetal death. The most dangerous are mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, all viruses from the herpes class and ureaplasmosis. The infection can be in a passive state in a woman’s body, and during pregnancy the woman’s immunity weakens, so that the infection becomes active. Pyelonephritis, pneumonia, influenza, gonorrhea, syphilis and other diseases are very dangerous for women. If a woman has had rubella, this can lead to the death of the fetus or to disturbances in the development of various organs and systems of the unborn child. The earlier a pregnant woman is infected with rubella, the worse the consequences for the child.

5) Genetic abnormalities. It is impossible to prevent an unsuccessful combination of various genes.

6) Other factors, which include bad habits of parents, frequent use of antidepressants, constant stress, injuries to a pregnant woman, climatic conditions, lifting heavy objects, prolonged exposure to sunlight, radiation contamination, etc.

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the early stages

Early frozen pregnancy most often appears in the first 3 months. Most often, fetal freezing can only be determined by examination by a doctor. Moreover, it is necessary to understand that the examination can be carried out only a few weeks after the death of the fetus, and before that the woman will not pay attention to the changes. The first sign of a frozen pregnancy is the absence of toxicosis. But this symptom will disappear only if the woman already had it. In addition, all the symptoms that the woman was carrying the fetus gradually begin to disappear. For example, basal temperature decreases. Then the pain and discomfort in the mammary glands disappears.

If the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages consist only in the fact that the symptoms of the pregnancy itself disappear, then in the later stages, the symptoms differ significantly. The fetus stops moving, the tone of the uterus begins to decrease. The mammary glands no longer become rough. The woman feels weak, tired, lethargic. There is a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. It is very difficult not to pay attention to the fact that just recently the child was moving inside, but now he does not move. But before the movement stops, the young mother may feel that fatigue, toxicosis and other symptoms have disappeared, and she feels great, which is not at all typical during pregnancy. This way, her toxicosis will disappear, she will feel healthy, her appetite improves, discomfort and pain disappear. Do not be careless: if such symptoms of a frozen pregnancy appear, you need to urgently consult a gynecologist.

By the way, it is surprising that in some cases, despite the death of the child, the belly continues to grow, and various tests show that the woman is still pregnant. However, in this case, it is not the fetus that develops, but only the intrafetal membrane.

If you diagnose the condition of a woman’s body during the pregnancy, and also identify the causes of fetal fading, then in the future there is a fairly high chance of a successful pregnancy after some time. The consequences are generally uncomplicated if risk factors are correctly identified and both spouses are treated.

When the fetus freezes, inflammatory processes can develop in the woman’s body. So you will need medications to eliminate inflammation. In addition, the death of the fetus threatens intoxication of the mother’s body, because the fetus gradually begins to deteriorate, and the tissues of the deceased fetus enter the woman’s tissues.

A frozen pregnancy does not mean that in the future a woman will not be able to bear a full-fledged child. With proper treatment, you can conceive again in a couple of years. However, both spouses must first be treated.

What to do if the fetus is frozen?

If there is a suspicion of fetal death, the woman should be urgently hospitalized. An accurate diagnosis can only be obtained after an ECG, ultrasound and FCG. Moreover, a frozen pregnancy is not always an ultrasound error, because A large number of additional procedures are performed to make a diagnosis. In addition, after the death of a child, a woman may experience green amniotic fluid when examined with an amnioscope. This shade appears due to the fact that the waters are stained with meconium. Then the green tint disappears. In the future, an admixture of blood can be detected. X-rays are used extremely rarely. But still, if you use it, then in the picture when the fetus freezes there will be the following signs: a discrepancy between the size of the fetus and the gestational age, unclear contours of the skull, bones are located in a tile-like manner, the fetal spine is curved, the lower jaw droops, decalcification of the skeleton occurs.

As soon as the diagnosis is made, it is necessary to begin treating the woman. Pregnancy must be terminated for medical reasons. Cleaning is carried out after a frozen pregnancy. If the termination is not performed immediately, the fetus will gradually deteriorate in the womb, and this in turn will lead to inflammation and intoxication. Most often, a frozen pregnancy in the first trimester leads in most cases to a miscarriage.

So, the doctor can choose a number of measures to treat the woman. Firstly, he can wait until the body provokes a spontaneous miscarriage. This decision is appropriate, because placental hormones decrease, and the process itself is completely natural. Secondly, the doctor may prescribe special medications that will help provoke a miscarriage. This is done only if the pregnancy is up to 2 months. This procedure uses progesterone antagonists. In addition, a prostaglandin analogue must be administered vaginally. Thirdly, the doctor may prescribe surgical intervention: abortion or uterine curettage. Antibacterial therapy is imperative. After a couple of weeks, an ultrasound should be performed in order to assess the recovery of the woman’s body after the operation.

If the pregnancy was terminated, the doctor must identify the causes of such a terrible pathological phenomenon. Both partners need to be examined. For a woman, it is imperative to conduct a histological analysis of fetal tissue. Both people must pass all necessary tests. You definitely need to study your hormonal levels. This applies not only to sex hormones, but also to those hormones produced by the thyroid gland. In addition, doctors must identify all hidden infections in spouses. This will help prevent this situation from happening again in the future. In general, pregnancy after a frozen pregnancy is possible if the causes are correctly identified and treated.

The following methods are prescribed for examining partners. It is necessary to conduct a cytogenetic study. It will help identify all fetal abnormalities at the genetic level. Secondly, it is necessary to examine the uterine cavity. Thirdly, an ultrasound is performed, and bacteriological culture is also examined. It is mandatory to do tests for hidden infections and so on. Tests are prescribed to determine hormonal levels. The karyotype of both spouses is studied. An immunogram is required. In addition, a man needs to have a spermogram done. All these tests will help identify the causes of missed abortion, which is subsequently necessary to eliminate risk factors, as well as restore the woman’s body.

As soon as the factors that led to such pathological development of the fetus are determined, specific treatment is prescribed. Then the therapy will be designed to maintain the woman’s health, as well as stabilize all processes in her body.

In addition to therapeutic therapy to restore body functions, it is necessary to understand. That the freezing of the fetus is a heavy blow to the human psyche. You definitely need to see a specialist for psychological correction.

In the future, strict contraception is required for prevention. To restore a woman’s body, she needs vitamins and beneficial elements, so proper nutrition is necessary. In fact, the treatment and recovery process can drag on for several years. The end result will be a new pregnancy for the woman, as well as further childbirth and the birth of a child with good health indicators.

If the fetus is frozen during the first pregnancy, the probability that the second pregnancy will be successful is 85-90%. Planning the next pregnancy is recommended no earlier than 1.5 years after the end of the treatment process and recovery of the woman’s body. During the planning period, it is imperative to carry out psychological adjustments for both partners, a medical examination and general health improvement of the woman and man. It is imperative to give up all bad habits. A married couple must adhere to all norms of work, rest and sleep. You definitely need to play sports. And, of course, you should adhere to proper nutrition. Most often, pregnancy failure occurs due to a genetic error. The risk of it happening again a second time is very small. So in general, it is necessary to adhere to a healthy lifestyle and constantly be under the supervision of a doctor.

Many pregnant women often worry for various reasons. They are wondering if there could be a frozen pregnancy. Of course, it is impossible to immediately determine this, so you need to monitor the condition of the young mother’s body, as well as adhere to all the recommendations of the gynecologist. Even if the first pregnancy was successful, this is not a guarantee that subsequent ones will be the same. A woman may have a second frozen pregnancy. So it is very difficult to predict such a phenomenon. However, if the causes of fetal death are correctly identified, and the necessary treatment is carried out, then after the woman’s body is restored, it will be possible to easily give birth to a full-fledged child. The main thing is to adhere to all doctor’s recommendations and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Frozen pregnancy is manifested by the cessation of fetal development as a result of disorders that arose already during the period of waiting for the child. This condition is typical for the early stages. The outcome of a frozen pregnancy is fetal death and premature termination of pregnancy.

Causes of frozen pregnancy

The fetus is most vulnerable until the twelfth week, when the formation of important organs and systems of the unborn baby occurs. During this period, the greatest likelihood of miscarriage or miscarriage remains.

Frozen pregnancy can be caused by many reasons. Among them are:

• a genetic failure that is accompanied by chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus. These developmental disorders appear very early and carry the threat of miscarriage;
• disturbances in the hormonal system of a pregnant woman, occurring against the background of a lack of progesterone or, conversely, too high a level of androgens. This complication can be detected before pregnancy if you take hormonal status tests and receive treatment in advance;
• suppression of the pregnant woman's immunity. When pregnancy occurs, a woman’s immunity sharply weakens: all reserves of strength go to protect the child. Weakened immunity causes problems with the vaginal microflora, which provoke infection of the fetus;
• rubella. The disease causes multiple developmental defects;
• flu. For the expectant mother, it is very difficult and has multiple complications. Influenza contributes to the appearance of intoxication in a pregnant woman, disrupts blood flow and oxygen supply to the fetus;
• diabetes;
• drinking alcohol and smoking;
• treatment with certain medications;
• irrational and unbalanced nutrition;
• constant stress, overexertion;
• lack of oxygen in the room;
• work in hazardous production;
• lifting weights;
• living in an environmentally unfavorable area.

The risk group includes the following categories of women:

1. Over 35 years of age.
2. Those who have had an abortion in the past.
3. With abnormal development of the uterus;
4. Who had an ectopic pregnancy.

Why does frozen pregnancy happen?

Frozen pregnancy is caused by bleeding disorders, which are based on antiphospholipid syndrome. It manifests itself in a decrease in the formation of blood vessels in the placenta, as a result of which its basic functions are reduced. Another sign of antiphospholipid syndrome is blockage and damage to the uteroplacental vessels, which contributes to impaired development of the placenta (most often occurs in the sixth week).

Frozen pregnancy sometimes also occurs due to a woman’s poor lifestyle. The first signs can immediately make themselves felt. Direct factors affecting the condition of the fetus include:

• poor nutrition;
• little exposure to fresh air;
• wearing clothes that strongly compress and tighten the stomach;
• prolonged exposure to a computer monitor.

Signs of a frozen pregnancy

The peculiarity of miscarriage is that the fetus has already died, but the symptoms of pregnancy still continue. If a woman experiences a sudden cessation of pregnancy symptoms, she should immediately go to the hospital.

The main symptom of fetal freezing is a discrepancy in the size of the uterus: it either becomes sharply enlarged or significantly decreases in size. The woman does not feel these changes. This symptom can only be determined by a gynecologist at the next examination.

A frozen pregnancy is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. No movement of the child for several days. During an ultrasound, the baby's heartbeat cannot be heard.
2. Copious bloody discharge.
3. Feeling of weakness, chills and internal trembling.
4. Fever.
5. Drawing and aching pain in the lower abdomen, cessation of its growth. There is also no enlargement of the uterus.
6. Disappearance of signs of toxicosis.
7. A decrease in basal temperature and a sharp increase in body temperature, especially if the fetus died a long time ago and the woman does not know anything.
8. Stopping breast growth.
9. No baby's heartbeat.

To avoid a frozen pregnancy, you must regularly visit your doctor and take the necessary tests. The doctor may be the first to see the discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the current stage of pregnancy. Carrying out an ultrasound examination will help to accurately listen to the presence or absence of an embryo’s heartbeat.

Frozen pregnancy in the early stages

The life of the fetus in the earliest stages of its development is very fragile. Even minor deviations can lead to a missed pregnancy: psycho-emotional stress, stress, severe fatigue and overwork, long exposure to direct sunlight and long-distance air travel. For the normal development of a baby in the womb, it is necessary to completely eliminate all physical and psychological stress.

Frozen pregnancy in the early stages usually occurs before 13 weeks for the following main reasons:

• certain chromosomal disorders, hereditary diseases. If a child is not viable, then nature does not give him the opportunity to be born;
• malfunction of the hypothalamus;
• Rh conflict between the expectant mother and her baby, especially if the mother is Rh negative and has had abortions before.
• drinking alcohol or drugs, smoking.

Frozen pregnancy in late stages

The main reasons for miscarriage in the later stages include: previous infectious diseases of the child's mother, abdominal trauma, the situation if the child himself suffocated with his own umbilical cord.

Almost one hundred percent symptom of a frozen pregnancy is the absence of fetal movements for more than five hours. Among other signs, it is worth noting: the disappearance of nausea, vomiting, cessation of abdominal growth and a decrease in the tone of the uterus. Over time, bloody discharge may occur.

If a frozen pregnancy occurs in the later stages, it is necessary to pay special attention to the issue of rehabilitation of the woman, both therapeutic and psychological.

For three months, a woman must take hormonal contraceptives to normalize hormonal levels and restore the organs of the reproductive system. Taking multivitamins (to increase immunity) and sedatives (to tidy up the nervous system) is also indicated. A week after pregnancy fading, it is worth conducting a control ultrasound examination.

For a woman who has experienced fetal death, the support of family and friends is very important. In some especially severe cases, it is better to seek qualified help from a good psychologist.

It is necessary to plan your next pregnancy at least six months after the incident. This time should be used with maximum benefit: for the treatment of chronic diseases, examination of the endocrine system.

Complete physical and psychological rehabilitation after a sudden termination of pregnancy is the key to successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby in the future.

Diagnosis of frozen pregnancy

A frozen pregnancy is diagnosed only by a doctor and with the help of a comprehensive examination, which includes:

1. Gynecological examination: will help determine whether the size of the uterus corresponds to the stage of pregnancy.
2. Ultrasound, which can be used to diagnose the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus and the arrest of its growth.
3. Blood test: will show a stop in the production of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Examination after miscarriage

After a frozen pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo a long examination to determine the causes of fetal death. Not only the woman, but also her partner should be examined.

A histological and cytogenetic study of embryonic tissue is also carried out, which will help determine the presence or absence of genetic failures.

If a frozen pregnancy occurs due to an infectious disease, it is determined which infection caused the death of the fetus.

Treatment after a frozen pregnancy

After a frozen pregnancy, a woman needs to carefully take care of her health. Possible intoxication by decay products of the tissues of the fetus and placenta, inflammatory processes in the uterus, so doctors are taking measures to completely remove the fetus from the uterine cavity.

Treatment of frozen pregnancy is carried out in two main ways:

• Medication method. It consists in the fact that a woman takes medications that cause spontaneous miscarriage.
• Vacuum aspiration method is a surgical intervention under anesthesia. Using vacuum suction, the uterine cavity is cleaned.

The procedure for cleaning the uterus during a frozen pregnancy:

Often after a missed pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives are used for treatment. They help normalize the menstrual cycle and prevent inflammatory processes in the female organs.

The issue of further pregnancy planning is decided by the doctor individually. It all depends on the period at which the frozen pregnancy occurred, the woman’s age, and the presence of concomitant diseases. During treatment, you should carefully protect yourself from possible pregnancy.

The preventive measures taken will help avoid miscarriage in the future. Before planning her next pregnancy, a woman should be vaccinated against rubella and chickenpox, especially if she works in a children's educational institution, treat sexually transmitted diseases, take a course of multivitamins and strengthen the immune system. The treatment regimen is agreed with the attending physician individually. In most cases, the prognosis after treatment is favorable.