A blighted ovum, also known as an anembryonic pregnancy, describes a particular type of pregnancy loss or miscarriage. Find out more. A blighted ovum is a fertilized egg that implants in the uterus but doesn’t become an embryo. It usually leads to miscarriage and can be diagnosed by ultrasound. Learn about the possible causes, treatment options, and future pregnancy risks. A blighted ovum is the leading cause of early miscarriage and can be very distressing to experience. Here, we look into what causes it and explain why having a blighted ovum once doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll miscarry again in the future. An anembryonic pregnancy is a type of miscarriage that occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but fails to develop into an embryo and forms an empty sac pregnancy. This article will explore the blighted ovum symptoms, causes, and risk factors.