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A chemical pregnancy is an early miscarriage that occurs shortly after implantation, typically around the time of the next expected menstrual period. It is characterized by a positive pregnancy test due to the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced after implantation, but the pregnancy does not continue to develop.123

This type of miscarriage accounts for the majority of pregnancy losses. While many occur before a woman is aware she is pregnant, a positive pregnancy test followed by bleeding can indicate a chemical pregnancy. The most common cause of miscarriage, including chemical pregnancies, is an inherited defect in the fetus.1

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