‘Did we do something? Does God not love us?’: Sunny Leone opens up losing 4 kids, and choosing adoption

Pregnancy can be a tumultuous road for some. In Leone’s case, an unfortunate case of blighted ovum redirected her plans towards adoption. Indianexpress.com spoke to health experts to understand more about the medical phenomenon.

What is a blighted ovum?

“A blighted ovum, also called an anembryonic pregnancy, happens when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus, but the embryo does not develop. In simple terms, it means that pregnancy begins, but the baby never forms,” said Dr. N Sapna Lulla, Lead Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore. According to her, the pregnancy sac and placenta may continue to grow for a short time, and the body produces pregnancy hormones, so early signs of pregnancy such as a missed period or nausea may still appear.

Sunny Leone with her kids Nisha, Noah and Asher. (Source: Instagram/@sunnyleone)

A blighted ovum usually occurs in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman even realizes she is pregnant. It is one of the most common causes of early miscarriage. But why does it happen?

“The main reason for this condition is chromosomal abnormalities in the fertilized egg. This means there was a problem in the genetic material of the egg or sperm, which prevents the embryo from developing properly. It is not caused by something the woman did or did not do,” elaborated Dr Lulla, adding that unfortunately, a blighted ovum cannot be prevented because it usually happens due to random genetic errors during fertilization.

Dr Shruthi Kalagara, Consultant -Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Sarjapur, Bangalore added that in some cases, the body expels the pregnancy tissue naturally, while others may require medication or a minor surgical procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove it. Afterward, most women recover quickly and can go on to have healthy pregnancies in the future.

However, both experts said that maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as eating nutritious food, avoiding smoking and alcohol, managing stress, and taking prenatal vitamins can support overall reproductive health. Support from family, counselling, or joining support groups can also make coping with the loss easier.

Adoption is a beautiful choice, but a blighted ovum needs an evaluation both medically and genetically to avoid future pregnancy losses.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.