Pregnancy loss can be heartbreaking, even when it happens before someone has had the opportunity to see their baby on an ultrasound. My Big Fat Fabulous Life star Whitney Way Thore is sharing her experience with a chemical pregnancy, bringing attention to a type of early miscarriage that many women experience without even realizing it.
In a preview of the season premiere of My Big Fat Fabulous Life, the reality television star revealed that she experienced a chemical pregnancy after undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) with donor sperm in October.
Thore, 42, explained that she initially received a positive pregnancy test, only to get her period less than a week later. “I was only pregnant, like, a few days. It was chemical,” she told her friend Ashley.
Although she understands that early pregnancy losses are common, Thore explained that the experience was particularly difficult because she has spent so long trying to become a mother. She admitted that she worried people might think she hadn’t really lost anything, but emphasized, “You definitely do feel like you lost something.”
What Exactly Is a Chemical Pregnancy?
A chemical pregnancy is an extremely early miscarriage that occurs before the fifth week of pregnancy, often before an embryo can be detected on an ultrasound. It happens when an embryo initially implants in the uterus but stops developing shortly afterward.
The name comes from the pregnancy hormones that produce a positive test result. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels rise initially but fall when the pregnancy stops developing.
Some women experience heavier-than-usual periods or cramping, while others mistake the loss for a slightly late menstrual cycle. Although the experience can be emotionally painful, most people who experience a chemical pregnancy go on to have healthy pregnancies.
How Common Are Chemical Pregnancies and Miscarriages?
Chemical pregnancies are more common than many people realize, partly because they often happen before someone knows they’re pregnant. This makes it difficult to determine exactly how many occur.
Chemical pregnancies account for approximately 50% to 75% of all miscarriages. The article also estimates that as many as one in four pregnancies may end in a chemical pregnancy.
More broadly, an estimated 10% to 20% of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage, with approximately 80% occurring during the first 12 weeks. These statistics highlight why early pregnancy loss deserves greater awareness and compassion, regardless of how early it happens.
