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Showing posts with label False Positive Pregnancy Test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label False Positive Pregnancy Test. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Are HCG test shows positive is always leads to pregnancy?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Q : I have 2 weeks delay in period. urine pregnancy test (HCG) done several times in different days shows that i am pregnant.according to LMP it should be 6 weeks+. but during ultrasound doctor couldn t see sac or fetus at all not in uterus and not in tubes. she advised me to do beta hcg blood test too. is it possible that if test shows positive that i am not pregnant but have some other gyno issues to investigate? is it always HCG shows only positive pregnancy? Thank you
A : Hello Yes,positive urine test indicates pregnancy.If your calculations are right,then at 6 weeks there should have been a fetal pole.If there is no intrauterine sac then ectopic pregnancy is the next possibility.For several tests to be false positive is highly unlikely.Do the beta hcg blood test and also get a second ultrasound with a different doctor.

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

False Pregnancy Test Results

Sunday, May 22, 2011
Q : I haven t had my mentrual cycle since mid June. I had been taking Seasonale and have been told many people have had abnoraml cycles after stopping.I took multiple at home pregnancy tests, all of which were negative..beginning in August. I also took to two urine preg tests at my primary care office, which were neg. In addition, I have two blood tests (one in late november, and one in december, both neg.)I have been have all types of fluttering movements in my pelvic area, am constantly hot, and don t have much of an appetite. Is there truth to the hcg levels can vary and that it s possible for blood tests to not show positive after the first couple months when the hcg levels drop? I do not want to be pregnant,but I ve been having ongoing pregnancy symptons and justdon t know what else to do. Please respond. Despite all of these symptons, even more than I listed and unfortunately I have gained a great deal of weight after a serious car accident so although my stomach has grown, based on my excess weight,I don t know if its continued weight gain or something else...my primary is so dismissive about all I tell her,and simply says I am not...when will I believe it. I want to believe it but the only other time that I missed my cycle was when I was pregnant, and I don t want to be. I look forward to your response.
A : it is possible to test negative on both urine and blood tests and still be pregnant, although it is VERY rare... it can be caused by what is known as the prozone/hook effect where the hcg levels are SO high that the tests can not read the results. Documentation has shown that diluting the sample at 1:10 and 1:100 will should return a readable result. Another cause could be something called masking /interference. This is when the woman has antibodies to the hcg already circulating in her system which cause interference with the antibodies used in pregnancy tests and the horomone becomes hidden or undetectable. Some causes can be previous exposure to mice, rats, or hamsters, or b12 therapy an even a few other things which I have not researched more information on. It is likely that the confirmation or ruling out of a pregnancy will have to come by way of a manual exam and ultra sound. [I know about these things because I have experienced them first hand with my second pregnancy... 7 negative urine tests, 2 negative blood tests, and my internal exam was inconclusive, I couldn t be confirmed, but couldn t be discounted either. My Ultrasound is Monday and I m 3 months along... and showing. = ) ] You know your body, trust your instincts and look up information one the things I mentioned and take it with you to your doctor. If she still won t listen, find a new doctor and take it with you until someone does listen. Whether this is a wanted pregnancy or not, your health is just as important at the baby s and you will need ample time to make a decision as to whether to raise a child or place it for adoption. I wish you the best of luck. It s a very frustrating emotional roller coaster to ride without adding the flaws of science to it.

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Monday, April 11, 2011

Beta hCG level chart

Monday, April 11, 2011


Beta hCG level chart


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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Does a person have to go to a hospital for an abortion?

Saturday, February 26, 2011
Most first trimester abortions can be performed at a clinic that is specially set up to handle these kinds of surgical procedures. But girls or women who have serious medical conditions like epilepsy or asthma should have the abortion done in a hospital.

Some second trimester abortions can also be done in a clinic. After the 18th week, they should be done in a hospital.

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Does a past abortion affect my chances of getting pregnant?

Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Does a past abortion affect my chances of getting pregnant?
Does a past abortion (or more than one) affect my chances of getting pregnant?

Expert Answers
The BabyCenter Editorial Team

Probably not. However, in rare cases, multiple dilations and curettages (the cleaning out of the uterus, also known as a D&C) can cause some scarring
at the top of the cervix or inside the uterus. A procedure called hysteroscopy (when a small camera is placed through your cervix into your uterine cavity) can be used to check for this problem and can usually repair the scar tissue at the same time. But even if that's not the case for you, you should know that any procedure that dilates the cervix (a necessary step during most abortions) can weaken it.

So if you've had more than one abortion and you get pregnant again later on, you may find that you have what's known as an incompetent cervix — a cervix that starts dilating prematurely. This can sometimes be treated with a stitch to keep the cervix closed, called a cerclage. On the bright side, having conceived before proves that you ovulate and that your fallopian tubes are open.

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

Sex after birth? Take your time!

Thursday, October 7, 2010
What is different after giving birth?

After a birth, not only changes the female body, but the entire life of the woman and the partner. In women, the uterus shrinks, simultaneously, blood and mucus excreted (lochia). After six to eight weeks, the uterus has formed back to its former shape and size. Any cuts or wounds heal. The hormone balance is adjusted to the new circumstances. The effort of the birth, the newborn care, older siblings and not enough sleep fatigue many women. They often take little time or energy on to her partner, which can strain the relationship very much.
Further support is if the parents are able to understand at this time as a unit that has the same objective.

When you can after the birth have sex?

Sexual intercourse after the birth can be resumed as soon as it is fun again and no complaints are present. The lochia should be dry. Since breast-feeding does not protect against a new pregnancy, the prevention considerations are more complex and discuss together. Recommended such as the condom appears or progestin preparations, which do not affect the flow of milk. Non-breastfeeding mothers can e.g. the insertion of the beginning of the period with the pill. With them is six to eight weeks after the expected delivery of the first menstruation.

When the desire is to sex again?

There is no limit of normal or a defined point in time when the appetite for sex, especially on sexual re-established. This depends on many external and internal factors and of course the partnership. In most cases, initially covers the closeness between mother and child, woman's needs for contact and affection from. Many women have little desire to after the birth of sexuality. You often feel tired, drained and listless and take in its true female role diminished. Dissatisfaction with body image can suppress feelings of pleasure. Other women feel after giving birth very powerful. They experience themselves are attractive and the performance they have achieved, proud. They enjoy breastfeeding and erotic situations often experience more enjoyable exercise than before the pregnancy.

Sexuality after childbirth

is the absence of birth-related complaints it anymore no medical restrictions on sexuality.

A birth changed the life of a woman and a partnership fundamentally. Impact it has mostly to sexuality. Thus offers a serious change in the chance to meet new in the sexual community. Preferences, the pre-pregnancy and birth may have changed. It is important to carefully and cautiously explore new and their own needs and desires with those of the partner's re-tune. For most couples, it is initially difficult to establish intimacy, especially as one ear is usually geared towards children. A change in thinking that not only undisturbed sex is equated with good sex can relax such a situation.

Sexuality does not mean sex.
It includes heat, proximity, common understanding and tenderness, caressing, cuddling or petting. Also supports this type of donation in our own perception of the role as a woman or man, which sexual desire can be supported. These forms of sexuality can be lived, if a little trouble maker and reports required under the breast or bottle. Hormonal shortly after delivery, it may cause interference of lubrication (wet to the vagina) can occur. With a bit of lubricant or saliva can be easily remedied this problem.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

What is menstruation

Friday, October 1, 2010
What is menstruation (usually period)?

The first menstrual period (menarche) begins during puberty. The bleeding is a sign of early maturity and fertility. In more or less regular cycles is repeated in the body from now on an interplay of hormones. In young girls and women in menopause, the bleeding is often irregular. The menstrual fluid is blood from the uterus and parts of the endometrium.


The female sex organs

The internal sex organs of women consist of two ovaries and fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina (vagina). The ovaries are responsible to train mature fertilizable eggs. If the ovary is by hormones (follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormone, FSH and LH), stimulates the egg matures. Around mid-cycle dissolves in the mature egg from the ovary (ovary). This process is called ovulation or ovulation.

The egg travels down the fallopian tube after all (tube) to the uterus (womb). The endometrium is prepared by the action of these hormones and progesterone (progesterone) to incorporate the egg. Progesterone is released shortly after ovulation. If the egg is fertilized, it attaches itself in the endometrium.

If no fertilization takes place, there is a diminished supply of progesterone, the uterine lining which is broken down and are shed residues in the menstrual period (menstruation).

At each monthly period a woman loses about 150 milliliters of blood. The whole cycle takes about 28 days. Unless the woman is pregnant, he starts all over again. The cycle time between the first day of menstruation and the last day before the next menstrual period is counted. Cycle lengths of 25 to 35 days are considered normal.

When menstruation begins?

Most girls get their first period at age 10 to 14 years. The average is 12.5 years.

Women get her period until they are between 45 and 55 years and menopause begins. Overall, a woman gets in their lives about 500 menstrual bleeding.

Can you feel ovulation?

Many women feel their ovulation (ovulation). It is noticeable as a weak pain in the abdomen. Some women are having the time of ovulation also has a small circulation.

The timing of ovulation can be determined by body temperature. At the time of ovulation it rises by 0.5 degrees. This is exploited in the temperature method. At best it is in the mouth (oral) or intestine (measured rectally).

You should measure the temperature every day before getting up. In order to compare the measurements, they should choose a type of temperature measurements (oral or rectal). Increases body temperature, ovulation took place. This takes about eight to ten days after each menstrual period (about the 14th day of the cycle). This is also the most fertile time in the cycle.

In the middle of the cycle, the vaginal discharge mucous-like threads and moves. Also on the consistency of the mucus can be seen the time of ovulation.

What factors affect menstruation?

The menstrual cycle is a very complex process involving many hormones, the female sex organs and nervous system are involved.

Hormones and hormones affect the menstrual cycle. For an irregular cycle, your doctor should measure hormone levels in the blood and determine whether it is in equilibrium.

The body weight also plays a role in the menstrual cycle. Underweight often brings the release of hormones and thus the menstruation stops. Recent studies have shown that extreme obesity leads to irregular menstrual bleeding. Compared to women with ideal weight, they are not so easily get pregnant. Proper nutrition is especially important.

Stress is another factor that influences the hormones and menstruation. Menstruation is, in some cases altogether. Fear of women to be pregnant out, the stress sometimes for later onset of menstruation. Mental and physical balance have a positive effect on the control days.

Regular exercise and mental and physical balance are for pain-free and reasonably convenient "rule days" most beneficial. Too much sports and overexertion can affect the hormone so far that the absent menstruation altogether.

What problems can occur during menstruation?

Women feel during menstruation varies. Many have no problems, others are limited by extreme pain in their activities.

The following symptoms may occur:

  • Spasmodic contractions (painful contraction) in the abdomen,
  • Pain in the abdomen,
  • Back pain,
  • Nausea, possibly accompanied by vomiting,
  • Diarrhea;
  • Sweating;
  • Fatigue and lack of energy.

Pain and discomfort, why?

During menstruation prostaglandins are released into the uterus. They are hormone-like substances that trigger different regulatory mechanisms of the body or interfere with them. From the uterus, for example, they can cause perceived as painful contractions. Blood and mucous residues are excreted through the contractions. Other causes of painful periods may be earlier infections or benign nodes in the muscle wall of the uterus (fibroids). This is especially true for slightly older women.

Severe period pain can be treated successfully with combined preparations of estrogen and progestin (eg, pill or vaginal ring). Also progestin preparations, such as new mini-pill, mini pill, the contraceptive implants, or the three-month injection is suitable. By the hormones the endometrium is less built up, the wound is smaller when dissolve the remains in the blood and the blood is running to weaker and shorter.
Tips for Well-being

You can do several things to feel better:
  • Do not use caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, black tea and cola.
  • Avoid stress and relax.
  • Have a massage from your partner.
  • Do you exercise but do not overwork your body.
  • Stay warm and have warm drinks.
  • If you have particularly severe pain, take pain medication. Seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

What is a pregnancy test?

Saturday, September 18, 2010
What is a pregnancy test?
A pregnancy test measures the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your urine. This hormone is produced by the placenta from the cells that form the placenta, excreted in the moment in which the fertilized egg implants in the uterus (about six days after fertilization). In the first days after implantation increases these hormones in your body. Pregnancy tests should be able from the first day of a missed period HCG in urine. The HCG levels are between 60 and 90 Day of pregnancy is highest.

Do you have the first test fails, then it may be because the HCG level has not yet reached the value that can be detected in a urine test. Wait a few days and repeat the test.

Not all pregnancy tests are the same. Some measure more accurately - and are also more expensive - because they can prove a pregnancy even at a very low HCG level. The HCG concentration is measured in milli-international units (mIU) or amounts of 1/1000th in IU per milliliter. A test with an accuracy of 20 IU / l is more reliable than one with 50 IU / l. This information should be available on any pregnancy test box.

How to use a pregnancy test?
You can take the test on the first day of the missed period at any time of day. Avoid excessive fluid intake before the test, as this may dilute the pregnancy hormone in urine. Non-prescription drugs such as for example Paracetamol should not affect the result, but fertility drugs containing hCG, sure.

First read the accompanying instructions carefully, because the handling is different for different tests. For some it is necessary to collect urine in a vessel and then give using a pipette, a small amount in the test vessel. In others, you urinate directly onto a test strip. In principle, however all the tests work the same way - they measure the amount of HCG in your body. The difference is the presentation of the results (positive or negative): On some lines appear in pink or blue on the test strip, while others view it in a window, a red plus or minus sign or change the color of the urine sample.

How long does it take until you can see results?
The result can be read after about five minutes - that can be the longest five minutes you have ever experienced! If you take the test in the bathroom, then wait in another room and find a job.

Are pregnancy tests accurate?
If you follow the instructions and urine pregnancy tests on the basis of 97 per cent accurate. But mistakes happen after all and that is why children are born, their mothers had two negative pregnancy tests. There are several reasons why a pregnancy test can be negative, you are not pregnant or your body secretes too little HCG. If you take the test too early (before the first day of the missed period), then you get a false negative result because it has not yet made enough HCG. The test result is negative but you still suspect to be pregnant, wait a few days, read the manual carefully and try again. False positive results - the test shows that you are pregnant, but you are not - are very rare.

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, then it is of course difficult to predict the next period. Wait as long as the longest cycle lasted in recent months. If you have recently discontinued the pill, then your natural cycle may have not yet set and test either too early or too late. If the test is negative in one of these situations, then try again after three days.

A tip: Run the test with the morning urine, because that is very concentrated.

Where to buy a pregnancy test?
Pregnancy test, you get without a prescription at any pharmacy.

How do the-counter pregnancy tests which the doctor?
Many hospitals use the-counter pregnancy tests. Occasionally, blood tests are carried out, but they do not differ materially from those feasible at home pregnancy tests. Both measure the HCG levels in your body. A blood test is more accurate than a urine test, ie they can show only six to eight days after ovulation a pregnancy.

A positive pregnancy test, even if it is made very early, is unfortunately not the same as a healthy pregnancy! Therefore, you should go after the test result to the gynecologist. Only he / she can tell you if a healthy embryo - or more! - Was developed.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Best Day to Get Pregnant

Wednesday, August 18, 2010
How to Get Pregnant

The best day to get pregnant can be different for different women, but there are general guidelines to help you to find the best day for you. Women who have regular periods find it easier to determine the best day, and those with very irregular periods find it a bit more difficult, but certainly not impossible, especially with all the new techniques to help determine the optimal time for ovulation.

Women Who Have a Normal Twenty-Eight Day Cycle

Women who have a normal twenty-eight day cycle normally ovulate about two weeks into their menstrual cycle, which would make the best day to get pregnant between the fourteenth and sixteenth days. The egg released during ovulation is ready to be fertilized for approximately 12 hours before it starts to degenerate, and will survive approximately 24 hours.

Women Who Have an Irregular Cycle

For women who have an irregular menstrual cycle, the best day to get pregnant can be determined in other ways. If you know when to expect your next period, count back twelve to sixteen days from this date, which should be the range of dates that you will be ovulating. Your body may also provide other clues to help in determining when you are most fertile.

Cervical Mucus Can Help Determine the Best Day to Get Pregnant

During the menstrual cycle, the cervical mucus increases in volume as well as it changes in texture. This change reflects the body's rising levels of estrogen, shown best when the mucus is clear, stretchy and slippery, similar to raw egg whites. This mucus helps the sperm get safely through the uterus and into the Fallopian tube before meeting with the egg.

Body Temperature Fluctuations

A woman's basal body temperature can also help determine her best day to get pregnant. Basal thermometers can be purchased at most stores, and will show a woman's slightly raised temperature after ovulation. This temperature can increase .5 - 1.5 degrees, making it hard to determine the change on a regular thermometer.

Lower Abdominal Discomfort and Cramping

Some women experience discomfort or cramping in their lower abdominal region during ovulation. Approximately 20% of women feel this discomfort, which ranges from mild aches and twinges of pain all the way to moderate cramping. This condition is called mittelschmerz, and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Using an Ovulation Kit or Fertility Monitor

Using an ovulation kit or fertility monitor to determine the best day to get pregnant is another popular method. These kits and monitors, also available at most stores, read the LH surges prior to ovulation and are easy to use and generally accurate for predicting ovulation. Fertility monitors read LH as well as other hormone changes and require even less guesswork. Finding the best day to get pregnant is now much easier than in the past. Using any combination of these ways to determine a woman's optimal time for ovulation will help a couple to get pregnant much easier, and more quickly.

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Pregnant With No Symptoms

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
How to Get Pregnant

Often, women are so tuned to expecting symptoms when pregnant that when they don't experience any, it appears as if something is wrong. Being pregnant with no symptoms need not always imply impending complications. It could simply be that the body is at its healthiest state, and so does not react to the new baby inside.

What Symptoms to Expect

Commonly, some of the most obvious symptoms of being pregnant are tender breasts, fatigue and morning sickness, as well as back and joint pain and swelling. If the woman has missed her period, and is delayed by over a week or 10 days, it might signal pregnancy. Other than that, most of the other painful symptoms appear several weeks or months into pregnancy. Thus, women who are pregnant with no symptoms should be thankful that they are not put through the suffering as so many women are!

The Second or Third Child

Women who have had children earlier are more likely to experience a subsequent pregnancy with no symptoms. Such women might typically suffer high intensity fatigue, pain and nausea when they had their first child, but with future pregnancies, such symptoms tend to subside. The age of a woman when pregnant also plays a part in the intensity of symptoms she would experience. The older a woman gets, the less likely she is to experience being pregnant with no symptoms. This is because as the body ages, it becomes more difficult for it to adapt to a new baby naturally.

Concerns of Miscarriage

Most women who are pregnant with no symptoms have fears of a miscarriage. They believe that because they are unable to feel the symptoms, there is an increased likelihood of unintentional strain on the body, thereby leading to a miscarriage. However, it is crucial to understand that miscarriages happen essentially because of the genetic framework of the egg, which has been fertilized. Should there be an inherent problem with the egg the body would terminate the pregnancy naturally because it knows the egg would have minimal chances of survival.

Symptoms Manifested in Future

Just because a woman is pregnant with no symptoms does not imply in any way that the symptoms will not manifest later on. Some women experience nothing other than sore breasts until 6 weeks into their pregnancy while others suffer from no symptoms at all throughout the entire pregnancy. Many women might not have any issues 3-4 weeks into their pregnancy, and then the symptoms might appear with a vengeance! Every pregnancy is different, and so there is no general rule involved.

No Cramps or Contractions

Some women might be well into their 40th week of pregnancy and still not face symptoms like cramps and contractions. Women are not considered overdue until they have crossed the 42nd week and this is very normal nowadays. Therefore, technically, if there are no contractions, it means the body is not prepared for labor yet. Lack of symptoms when pregnant should not be a cause for worry. Worrying would only cause more complications.

A woman being pregnant with no symptoms should consider herself lucky. Pregnancy is meant to be a fulfilling and happy journey, and every woman needs to enjoy the process as much as possible.

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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Toileting Your Baby

Thursday, June 17, 2010
Up until my 6th baby they all wore cloth and disposable diapers. With number six I heard about “diaper-free” babies, and I was curious. I read a little about it, and decided to try it. I found out that I had to keep a close watch on the baby and whenever she wet or dirtied I should say a cue word, and put her on the toilet or pot. I should become familiar with her signals that she would make when she was about to go. Eventually she would come to associate the cue word with the action, and would go when I told her to, after noticing her signal. I found I just had not the time to watch her. Every time I stopped watching she would go, then when I came back it was too late. So I gave up.

Before I had number seven I read another book about it, and noticed that I could try putting him on the toilet as soon as he woke up, which is often a time that babies need to go. I read an article by another relaxed mother, who said she keeps diapers on her babies, but puts them on the toilet whenever they poop, saying the cue word at the same time. I determined to give it another try. When he was little it was just too much, although I did manage to catch a few poops, and say the cue words when I noticed him eliminating. At four months old I started holding him over the toilet when he woke up, and whenever I saw he was thinking about a poop. I had four successes the first day! He seemed to know that when I held him in that position he should try to eliminate, and would usually grunt and strain as soon as I held him over the toilet. Now, at 8 months, he goes on the toilet every morning, and during the day if I notice that he needs to go. It is not saving a whole lot of diapers, but I am hopeful that he will toilet train a lot earlier than my other babies (who were between 2 and 2 ½ years old).

The position I hold him in is with his back leaning against my body, with my hands around his thighs, so he is in a squatting position. From here I try to aim his elimination into the toilet. I plan on introducing the potty soon, but will keep him on the toilet also, as going in there helps to familiarise him with the place, and make him feel comfortable and normal about going there.

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

My partner and I have been trying for a baby, and I'm a few days late. This morning I saw small spots of blood when I went to the toilet. Is this my p

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
It's impossible to say for sure at this stage. If your period is usually right on schedule and you are now late, you might well be pregnant. On the other hand, it's not uncommon for women to get their period a few days late sometimes.

If the suspense is too much for you to bear, consider taking a home pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced around the time the fertilised egg implants in your womb. Your hCG levels rise sharply thereafter.

Home tests are able to detect fairly low levels of hCG. It's best to do them with your first urine of the day because it's more concentrated, so should contain more hCG. Follow the directions carefully, and you might get a result this early. If you get a negative result, but your period still doesn't arrive, you might want to try doing another test after a few days.

Lots of women have pregnancy symptoms early on, though not usually until two weeks after a missed period. Sore, tingly or tender breasts may be your earliest indicator of pregnancy, although some women feel this way before each period. Nausea and fatigue are other common pregnancy symptoms, and so is a need to wee more frequently.

It is thought that implantation (when the embryo attaches itself to the lining of the womb) can sometimes cause spotting. One small prospective study, of 151 pregnant women in the US, found that nine per cent of women had at least one day of bleeding in early pregnancy (Harville et al 2006). The authors of this study concluded that bleeding was associated more strongly with the day when a woman's period was due, rather than implantation.

If you have other symptoms, such as a one-sided pain low down in your tummy, see your midwife or doctor immediately; you could have an ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo implants in the fallopian tube rather than the womb). Bleeding with abdominal pain may also be a sign of an impending miscarriage, but that certainly isn't true in every case.

Finally, it's possible that the blood you saw may have nothing to do with pregnancy. Your cervix could be inflamed and bleed easily, especially after cervical smears, internal examinations or sex. Or you may have an infection. Either way, it's always important to report any bleeding between periods or after sex to your doctor.

If you do get your period and haven't yet scheduled a pre-pregnancy visit to your GP, consider doing so now. She will examine you and take you and your family's medical history to identify any potential problems or genetic risks. She can also check that you are immune to rubella (which can be harmful to newborn babies) with a simple blood test.

Use this time to re-evaluate your lifestyle; smoking, drinking, and drugs are not compatible with pregnancy. On the other hand, exercise and a good diet will help you now and throughout your pregnancy.

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

NATURAL METHODS

Sunday, April 25, 2010
There are four methods of natural birth control (also called fertility awareness) that are practiced. These methods may be used to either prevent or plan a pregnancy:

* Basal temperature method
* Cervical mucus monitoring (Billings) method
* Rhythm method
* Sympto-thermal method

The effectiveness of the above methods is approximately 80%. The degree of effectiveness may be higher or lower, and is highly dependent on the commitment level of the couple to practice the specific regimen.

Advantages
* Natural methods provide an effective means of contraception for women who are concerned about the risks associated with artificial birth control. By learning about your cycles, you can become more aware of the events that occur naturally in a woman's body. Natural methods can, in combination with other methods (example: barrier, IUD), offer a high degree of effectiveness and therefore reduce one's risk of becoming pregnant.
* There are also religious factors that play a role in women choosing a natural method as opposed to an artificial one, and these factors can aid in one's comfort level when it comes to dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

Disadvantages
* Use of natural methods offers no protection from sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
* Both partners need to commit some time in order to learn the methods properly. Cooperation, compliance and patience are also a must for any couples considering these methods.
* Abstinence from intercourse during fertile periods may be very frustrating.
* Professional guidance is required in order to learn how to use these methods successfully, and therefore the couple needs to have an established comfort level with their health care provider.
* These methods are not suggested for women with irregular or unpredictable menstrual periods or for women who have persistent or frequent vaginal or cervical infections.
* If you have frequent illnesses, or you are unable to keep records, these methods might not be the right choice for you.


Basal Body Temperature Method
A basal thermometer is used to take an early morning temperature each day, prior to rising. The temperature is charted on a graph. A rise in basal body temperature by one degree indicates ovulation has occurred. Abstinence from intercourse must be from the start of the menstrual period until three days following the rise in basal body temperature.

Cervical Mucus Monitoring (Billings) Method
The amounts and consistency of cervical mucus changes throughout the fertility cycle. Observing these changes in vaginal/cervical mucus may help to determine the peak fertile days of your cycle. Mucus will become increasingly wet and slippery, leading up to ovulation. It will be clearer and stretchy, similar to egg whites. This type of mucus is produced by our bodies to enhance sperm mobility through the cervix, into the uterus and towards the egg. The dryer, thicker, stickier mucus is prevalent during non-fertile days, inhibiting the mobility of sperm through the cervix. Abstinence from intercourse must be up to four days following the peak of fertile mucus being observed.

Rhythm (Calendar) Method
Careful plotting of your menstrual period can give you an idea of your fertile days. An average menstrual cycle is twenty-eight days long. Ovulation occurs approximately fourteen days before the start of your next menstrual period, plus or minus one to two days. Day one of your menstrual cycle is the day that you begin your period. A day of light spotting is also considered day one. As sperm will live for upwards of five to seven days inside a woman's body, a pregnancy can arise from intercourse that occurs seven days prior to ovulation. The egg lives for up to twenty-four hours once released. This means that intercourse must not occur for the seven days prior to ovulation, as well as for the twenty-four hours past ovulation.

Sympto-Thermal Method
This is a combination of the Billings method and the Basal Body Temperature method. As temperature and mucus changes are noted on the chart, fertile days are easier to predict, as peaks and valleys are readily noticed on the graft.

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Friday, April 3, 2009

False Positive Pregnancy Test

Friday, April 3, 2009
If you use a home pregnancy test and two lines (or a plus sign, depending on brand and type of test), you must assume that means you are pregnant. Because home pregnancy tests claim an accuracy of over 99%. But if you have no time for all parents or pregnancy website, you've probably seen a person claims to have a positive test to find out later it was a false positive. How can this be true, a 99% accuracy, and yet women are entitled to a false positive. There are several reasons why a woman can produce a positive result on a pregnancy test a house if they do not become pregnant.

1. Tests

Tests may lead to false positive results. When a home pregnancy test, it is very important to arrive before the test. Your home pregnancy test instructions if test results should be interpreted as a test and the results are no longer valid. Some tests will be a weak positive test result read after the instructed time. You should have a clock or a clock and take the time you test and read results on instructional time. Guess how long it has been conducting the tests may lead to false results. Three minutes, but like twenty minutes, and conversely, if you will be very interested to find out whether you expect.

Another problem that often arises when the test goes back to "verify" your results. Disappointed with a negative result at 3 minutes (or 5 minutes apart, depending on test), a woman can return again to see if they could not see that for the first time positively. Some women will go so far as to dig this test from the trash "just to be safe." This is probably one of the biggest causes of false positive results. Home pregnancy tests must always be read at the appointed time for accurate results.

2. Evaporation Rate Lines

Some home pregnancy tests were taken by women with an evaporation line. If you stare at and inspect a home pregnancy test close, it is possible for some tests to see how the test is. If the urine in the test runs can quickly change the color associated with the test, so women find the test even more. To try to be positive should change color and have a colored line on the sample can be determined. In some tests, you will be able to see what best describe as a watermark, similar to how you respond to a U.S. Dollar bill, when in light. If there is no color, or you have to grossly manipulate light to monitor a line, it could be an evaporation line. Repeat in a few days or a digital tests is recommended.

3. Home pregnancy test interference

Certain medications such as phenothiazine, the test results. Women hCG therapy in the treatment of luteal phase defect, or other fertility problems should consult their doctor at home, the accuracy of pregnancy and study of tests carried out. Sometimes the urine may be associated with blood or gross amount of the protein leads to erroneous results.

4. Certain diseases can cause false positive results.

If you have a positive outcome from a home pregnancy test, it is important to follow up with your doctor for medical advice. Although not common, certain rare diseases can cause a positive result on a home pregnancy test. Certain types of cancers such as choriocarcinoma (an extremely rare form of cancer normally in the womb) may be an increase in hCG levels, and certain forms of breast, ovarian or testicular cancer leading to a false positive result.

5. Faulty pregnancy test

Expired or bad test home pregnancy tests can also lead to false positive results. Always check the expiration date before the test to ensure accurate results. Remember that even with the highest quality control, sometimes flawed testing can occur.

If you are positive and are in doubt about the results of home pregnancy tests, contact your doctor.

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