I've edited your title because missed abortion suggests you had gone for an abortion which failed and isn't appropriate in this forum (for those wondering there is an abortion support forum).

There really is no answer to this until your doctor confirms either way.

In my personal opinion, and through my research (I am not a medical professional), non viable pregnancies do not continue to produce hcg beyond around 8 weeks.

You don't say how far you are.

I object strongly to doctors who make diagnoses at 6 weeks pregnancy because it is exceptionally difficult to see the absolutely minutely tiny embryo at that point.

if you are less than 8 weeks then it is possible that the pregnancy is not viable, if you are more than 12 weeks and your hcg levels continue to rise (even if slowly) then there is a chance that it is a viable pregnancy.

However, as I said this needs to be confirmed by your doctor.

hello. the progesterone levels can fluctuate. mine at 5 weeks was like 31, then at 7 weeks it was 28. My Dr office said that was a normal range fro fluctuation. it must have been because i am 24 weeks now! try not to stress, i stressed so much and if you are going to m/c there is nothing you can do about it. i hope that doesn't sound mean... hopefully everything is fine. they won't tell you anything until they know for sure.

Thanks for the replies. "Missed abortion" was the medical term the Doctor used on the ultrasound request, wasn't trying to be confusing. I was 8 weeks at the time I wrote the post, as the title said. I am now 9 weeks and one day. I was able to get a sooner scan. Today they have confirmed that there is still a sack, no yolk sac, fetal pole or heart beat - so it is a blighted ovum and it looks like I will have to get a D&C.

I am so sorry to hear that Btwin? Was this your first pregnancy? Are you and your dh doing ok?

Yep, first pregnancy. Had been trying for 6 months after I had had my right ovary removed due to an abcess. My GP and gyno didn't hold high hopes for us to conceive without help, but we did and they were shocked. It is very unfortunate that this is how it ends. It has taken me a few weeks to come to terms with it and accept that this is part of the journey when you are trying to start a family. At least we know I can fall pregnant. My hubby has been wonderful. He has been coming to the scans and dr appointments with me and just generally holding me and letting me cry when I need that, and reminding me that life goes on when I need that. I was so suprised to learn that up to 1 in 5 pregnancies ends in miscariage and approximately half of first trimester miscarriages are due to a blighted ovum. I hadn't even heard of such a thing until it happened to me. A baby really is a "miracle" when you think about how dodgy the human reproductive system is and everything that can go wrong! So we will just keep trying for our miracle.

Kia I know that this is an old post but I just wanted to tell you Just yesterday I had to have a D&C because I was 17wks pregnant but found out that the baby had died at 9wks. For some reason my body held on to it this whole time. My uterus was even measuring for 17wks and I was feeling movements because it was filled with blood. My OB called it a ''Missed abortion'' not a missed miscarriage. Also, I was continuing to have pregnancy symptoms because my body was still producing pregnancy hormones.

Anyways just wanted to tell you that missed abortion is actually the right terminology, although I can understand why you wouldn't feel that way.

I just came across this post and wanted to say how sorry I am for you and your hubby. Last year I found out I was expecting at around 6-8 weeks. I was sent to the local hospital for a scan where it was confirmed that I should have been ten weeks but I had had a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks, it was devastating and I have still not come to terms with how this happened. As Shanyan said, I was still having symptoms until the day of the D&C.
Anyway I hope that you and your hubby get your little miracle x Amelia x