Intrauterine pregnancy of unknown viability (IUPUV)

You have attended The Early Pregnancy Unit/Clinic 24 today for an assessment and ultrasound scan.

We understand that early pregnancy is a very anxious time for patients & their partners, and we hope that this information leaflet will help to explain to you what the scan has shown & what the plan will be.

How does an early pregnancy develop on ultrasound?

A normally developing early pregnancy can first be seen on ultrasound as a gestational sac, in this a yolk sac develops and finally a fetal pole with eventually a visible heartbeat. By about 7 weeks gestation we would expect to see all three of these features, however each pregnancy is different, and dates can often be over or underestimated.

What is an Intrauterine Pregnancy of Unknown Viability (IUPUV)?

An “intrauterine pregnancy” means that a pregnancy has been seen within the womb via ultrasound and is therefore not an ectopic pregnancy. However, we have been unable to determine whether the pregnancy will continue to progress at this point. This is often due to it being too early in development but might be because the pregnancy has stopped developing.

What are the next steps?

You will be offered a further ultrasound within the next 7-14 days to ascertain how the pregnancy has grown over time. In a healthy pregnancy, we would expect the development of the three key aspects as detailed above, eventually being able to see a fetal heartbeat. We will also be looking for growth of the pregnancy, which usually equals to about 1mm every day. Sometimes it can take several scans before we can confidently see development, especially if the pregnancy is at a particularly early stage.

Should these features not develop overtime then it indicates the pregnancy will sadly not progress past this early stage. We will counsel you on the next steps at this point.

Will a scan sooner be useful?

Unfortunately, earlier scans will not provide additional information, as we need to give the pregnancy time to develop. We know that this uncertainty can be extremely difficult: Please let us know if you need any extra support during this time. The contact numbers for Clinic 24 are listed at the end of this leaflet.

What should I be looking out for at home?

You may have had pain or bleeding prior to your ultrasound scan. Should you have further symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, you can take regular paracetamol (no more than 4g per day) and monitor these at home. If you are concerned about any bleeding or pain please contact Clinic 24 or Daphne ward for advice (telephone numbers and opening times are provided below). If the pain does not respond to pain relief, if you feel unwell or if you are bleeding heavily (requiring you to change a night-time sanitary pad every 30 minutes) then please attend the Emergency Department.

What should I do if I think I've miscarried?

Symptoms of miscarriage vary. Some people describe a sudden cramping or contraction like pain, with heavy bleeding that may include clots or tissue. For others it can involve only light bleeding.

If you are unsure about any of your symptoms then please contact the Clinic 24 telephone line to update us, where we will be able to assess your symptoms and make a plan for your care.

Is there anything else I can do to help?

At this time, we recommend continuing your regular medications including folic acid, eating a balanced diet and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent miscarriage at this early stage.

Who can I contact for help or advice?

If you have any concerns or questions the Clinic 24 – the Early Pregnancy unit:

Telephone: 01223 217636

Monday-Friday 08:00-20:00

Saturday-Sunday 08:30-14:00 (closed on Bank Holidays)

Daphne ward (inpatient gynaecology ward)

Telephone: 01223 257206 or 01223 349755

Any other time

You can also attend the Emergency Department (ED) at any time if you are concerned about the amount of bleeding you have and Clinic 24 is closed.

Further information

The Miscarriage Association

Telephone: 01924 200799 (Monday - Friday, 09:00 – 16:00)

The Miscarriage Association Website (opens in a new tab)

Association of Early Pregnancy Units

Early Pregnancy Website (opens in a new tab)

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Website (opens in a new tab)

Early miscarriage: information for you (pdf) Website (opens in a new tab)

We hope this information leaflet has been of help to you. If you have any further concerns, please contact the staff in Clinic 24.

Privacy and Dignity

Same sex bays and bathrooms are offered in all wards except critical care and theatre recovery areas where the use of high-tech equipment and / or specialist one to one care is required.

My Chart

We would encourage you to sign up for MyChart. This is the electronic patient portal at Cambridge University Hospitals that enables patients to securely access parts of their health record held within the hospital’s electronic patient record system (Epic). It is available via your home computer or mobile device

More information is available on the My Chart section of our website