Abnormal Pap Smear

Women are encouraged to start getting yearly Pap smears at the age of 21 or within 3 years of becoming sexually active. Pap smears are not diagnostic tests, but they are screening tools used to find any abnormal cells or dysplasia in the cervix. When women are faithful in having regular Pap smears, they increase their chances for early detection and treatment of any potential problems.

What does an abnormal pap smear mean?

Being alarmed or worried is a completely normal reaction when told your Pap smear is abnormal. An abnormal Pap smear may indicate that you have an infection or abnormal cells called dysplasia. It's important to remember that abnormal Pap smear results do not mean you have cancer. These results just show that further testing should be done to verify whether or not there is a problem.

What could cause an abnormal pap smear result?

An abnormal Pap smear may indicate any of the following:

• An infection or an inflammation
• Herpes
• Trichomoniasis
• Recent sexual activity
• HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) This is also called genital warts (up to 60% of women may carry this virus on their cervix, genital area, or skin and are completely unaware of it).
• Dysplasia (abnormal cells that can be pre-cancerous)
  

What is the treatment for an abnormal Pap smear?

A positive result indicates the presence of abnormal cells, also called an abnormal Pap. Remember that this is a test, not a diagnosis. A positive result does not prove that you have cancer or even dysplasia (a pre-cancerous condition). However, it usually means you should have further evaluation, such as another Pap smear, a colposcopy (using a microscope to look into the cervix) or a biopsy (removing a small amount of tissue from the cervix). Your doctor will discuss the results with you.

One in ten Pap smears indicate some abnormality, though most are not serious. Further testing will be required to determine if you have infection, inflammation, a yeast infection, trichomoniasis, herpes or the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

HPV is the main risk factor for cervical cancer, but most women who receive treatment for abnormal cells caused by HPV, do not develop cervical cancer.

In 2003, the FDA approved a screening test that can be done in conjunction with a Pap smear to determine if you have the HPV virus.The HPV DNA test can detect high risk types of HPV before any abnormal cells can be detected on the cervix. This screening is recommended for women over the age of 30, who are at an increased risk of an HPV infection turning into pre-cancerous cells.

Some Pap smears indicate an unsatisfactory sample because of recent sexual activity or use of vaginal creams and douches. Regardless of the reason, an abnormal Pap will require another Pap smear in a few months.

If the abnormal cells are persisting, you may need further treatment, which may include the following

• A colposcopy is an examination in which a speculum is inserted into the vagina, and the cervix is painted with a vinegar solution which makes any abnormal areas stand out. When an abnormal area is located, a sample (biopsy) of the area may be taken for accurate diagnosis by a pathologist.
• Cryosurgery, or a freezing of the abnormal cells, is usually performed next. Cone biopsy is a procedure in which a triangle of cervical tissue is removed including the abnormal cells; this is either performed in a doctor's office or as an outpatient procedure. Bleeding and watery discharge are common after this treatment.
• The LEEP procedure is similar to a cone biopsy, but a loop-shaped instrument is used to remove the abnormal area. Bleeding and discharge may also occur.
  

What check-ups are necessary after treatment?

Check-ups following treatment are necessary to make sure all the abnormal cells are gone and the cervix has healed. Early detection is the key to minimize the risk of cancer developing. After treatment, women will be advised by their health care providers as to how often they will need to have routine Pap smears.

What if I have an abnormal pap smear during pregnancy?

It is safe to have a Pap smear during pregnancy. If your Pap smear results are abnormal, a colposcopy could be performed during your pregnancy. However, further treatment will probably be delayed until after your baby is born. Frequently, the birth of your baby will wash away any abnormal cervical cells. Having an abnormal Pap smear does not pose a risk to your baby.

Normal Levels of HCG & Progesterone

Overview

Pregnancy is an intricate development of cells which multiply and eventually form a baby. Hormones play a complex role in this metamorphosis and assist physicians in determining the healthy progression of a pregnancy or potential problems. Understanding what these key hormones do and the information they provide may help in understanding the process.

Functions of hCG

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or hCG, is a hormone only present during pregnancy. It is produced by the cells that make up the placenta and provides nourishment for the egg once it is fertilized and attaches to the uterus. Levels of hCG are present throughout pregnancy, however they increase dramatically during the first trimester and then begin to level off and eventually decline.

Functions of Progesterone

Progesterone is the hormone that helps maintain a pregnancy for the entire gestation. Prior to conception progesterone is released by the corpus luteum to help build up the uterine lining in preparation for implantation. Once fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum will continue to release progesterone until week 10 of the pregnancy, at which time the placenta has developed enough to take over. Progesterone also limits the immune response, prevents early contractions and decreases prostaglandins.

Levels of hCG

During pregnancy, the levels of hCG will vary from one woman to another. When analyzing hCG levels, the most important factor is that the numbers are doubling, at least, every 48 to 72 hours. To achieve a positive pregnancy test, the hCG level must be at 25 mIU/ml or higher. During a normal pregnancy, hCG levels will start around 5 mIU/ml -- milli-International Units per Milliliter -- and may eventually rise to around 300,000 mIU/ml by the end of the first trimester. At that point ultrasounds are the best indicator of a healthy pregnancy rather than hCG levels.

Levels of Progesterone

Progesterone levels vary considerably from one woman to another during pregnancy and also rise as the pregnancy progresses. A normal gestation will see an increase in progesterone of 1 to 3 ng/ml, or nanograms per milliliter, about every two days. A guide for progesterone levels is 9 to 46 ng/ml in the first trimester, increasing to about 17 to 146 ng/ml in the second trimester with a culmination in the third trimester of 49 to 300 ng/ml. It is important to remember the increase in progesterone is often more important than the actual number.

Considerations

In cases where a pregnancy is not progressing normally, a woman's hormone levels may indicate a problem. If there is a threatened miscarriage both hCG and progesterone will be low and not increasing as expected. When a miscarriage does occur, both hormone levels will drop significantly. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, hCG levels may increase normally for a while but progesterone will stay low and not progress. It is important to refer to your doctor if you suspect a problem. HCG and progesterone levels vary so dramatically from one woman to another that one woman's hormone levels indicating miscarriage could be the same levels for another woman's successful pregnancy.

Changes in Cervical Fluids

The Look & Feel of Fertile Cervical Mucus
Changes in Cervical Fluids: What Happens and When

Get Pregnant - 5 Essential TipsAs the customer service representative at Early Pregnancy Tests, I sometimes receive email inquiries about fertility charting, using a basal thermometer, and monitoring natural fertility signs to predict ovulation. And while bbt charting will be the cornerstone of your fertility chart, monitoring changes in cervical mucus (cervical fluids, CM) is very important - particularly because method of charting allows you to anticipate when you will ovulate each month. This week, I received an email inquiry about the difference in appearance and texture between fertile and non-fertile cervical fluids - a great opportunity to clarify how cervical mucus can be used to determine when you are most fertile each month.

As a brief review, changes in cervical mucus (CM) are not only a key signal of fertility, but are also a big part of successfully achieving pregnancy. Cervical mucus is produced by glands within the cervix, and specifically within your cervical canal. During your menstrual cycle, both the quantity and the quality (texture, appearance) of cervical fluids undergo a number of changes. In human reproduction, fertile-quality cervical mucus supports conception by providing a fluid, healthy medium in which sperm can survive and propel themselves. CM protects sperm from the naturally-acidic environment of the vagina and helps sperm to move through the cervix into the uterus. And because cervical fluids insulate and nourish sperm, the presence of fertile cervical mucus can also extend the life-span of sperm, in turn increasing the odds of conceiving by helping sperm "hang out" and wait for the egg to appear following ovulation. (FertileCM is a natural product that can be used to increase the quality and quantity of cervical mucus you produce.)

So, that's the mechanics of cervical mucus - but how can I use this information as part of my fertility charting? As one customer recently asks...

Question: "Dear Pat, I have been using your basal thermometer now for an entire cycle now and I was able to draw a coverline this month! While on the topic of bbt charting, do you have a picture of fertile cervical mucus and can you describe for me the differences between non-fertile and fertile cervical mucus? Also, when can I expect to see changes in cervical mucus during my cycle - e.g., on which cycle days will the cervical mucus become fertile?"

Answer: Of course, variations in individual mucus patterns will differ among women due to unique variables like cycle length, age, hormonal balance, use of fertility drugs, etc. However, the appearance of "fertile quality" cervical fluids typically arrives directly prior to ovulation, meaning that women can use CM as a very reliable means of ovulation prediction. Let's take a look at the changes in look and feel of CM as you move through your menstrual cycle...

The appearance and texture of cervical fluids will change as you move through your menstrual cycle. Also, the quantity of cervical mucus present is also a key sign: When you are most fertile, CM should be quite abundant. Texture: During your cycle, cervical mucus may be absent or profuse, dryish or wet, thick or thin, sticky or slippery. It may "hold its shape" or it may stretch between your fingers like raw egg-white. Appearance: The look of cervical fluids will also change during your cycle and CM may be white, creamy, yellowish, translucent, or transparent.

When It Happens: During the first part of your menstrual cycle, CM may not be present or it will be dry and thickish. The color may appear white. As you enter the follicular (pre-ovulatory) phase of your cycle, estrogen increases and you may experience "transitional" cervical mucus, marked by increased moisture, increased volume, a more stretchy texture, and a thinner feel. Transitional mucus will still be a bit tacky and hold its form to some degree. The color of transitional cervical mucus may be white, creamy, or yellowish, though it will still be mostly opaque.

Directly prior to ovulation, cervical mucus should be abundant. Fertile cervical mucus is characterized by a transparent appearance - and it may look and feel like raw egg white and stretch between your fingers without breaking (see fig 1). This stretchiness is called Spinnbarkeit and indicates that ovulation is likely imminent. Fertile CM will be thin, slippery (like lubricant), stretchy and translucent. Typically, fertile-quality cervical fluids will appear a few days prior to and during ovulation. Following ovulation, the quality of CM will change again due to sudden decrease in estrogen and increase of progesterone. You may experience transitional mucus, followed abruptly by an increasing dryness (non-fertile CM) through the rest of your luteal phase. Below is a table that provides an overview describing CM changes, what the changes mean, and when they occur.

As noted above, there are many variables that can affect how cervical mucus is produced - and women may have different experiences charting changes in CM. Notably, popular fertility drugs like clomid can cause dryness or a decrease in CM. In addressing the problem of dryness, Pre-Seed is a great product - the only intimate moisturizer of its kind to not act as a barrier to sperm. Pre-Seed was formulated to provide a fertility-friendly medium for sperm and Pre-Seed may actually increase the odds of conceiving for many women.

A new dietary supplement called, appropriately enough, FertileCM is designed to actually help women produce cervical fluids during the ovulatory phase of their cycle. FertileCM works by facilitating blood flow and circulation to the reproductive organs, and research studies indicate that key ingredients in FertileCM support the production of endocervical secretions during the time a woman is most fertile.

HCG Levels in Pregnancy

What is hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)?

Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is produced during pregnancy. It can be detected by a blood test around eight to eleven days past ovulation. HCG maintains the corpus luteum, which is responsible for progesterone production in early pregnancy. Progesterone helps to keep the lining of the uterus thick for a healthy pregnancy. If there is no hCG present in the woman’s body the lining of the uterus will begin to shed and a new menstrual cycle will begin.

What are normal beta hCG levels?

There is quite a range in what is considered a normal hCG level. In about 85 percent of pregnancies hCG levels will double every two to three days. Your doctor may check your beta hCG level more than once to see if it is rising appropriately. See Justmommies hCG doubling calculator.

Low hCG levels

Low hCG levels may indicate a miscalculated date of conception, an ectopic pregnancy, or a possible miscarriage. However, a perfectly healthy pregnancy may have low hCG levels.

High hCG levels

High hCG levels may indicate a miscalculated date of conception, a molar pregnancy, or a multiple pregnancy

What can interfere with hCG levels?

Some fertility drugs containing hCG may affect your hCG levels. Other than that, other medications including antibiotics and oral contraceptives will not affect your hCG level. If you are taking a fertility medication that would affect your hCG level your health care provider should discuss with you how this would affect your tests.

HCG levels from normal twin pregnancies

NORMAL TWIN PREGNANCIES

Twin pregnancies tend to show higher HCG levels on a given day of pregnancy. However, there is a large variation in HCG levels between pregnancies, and great overlap exists between single and twin pregnancies.

The values below are from a group of 29 normal twin pregnancies. Because this is a very small group of patients and because lab assays vary, it is important not to rely on these values to determine whether your pregnancy is viable, a single, a twin, etc.

• Check with your physician about your own levels

HCG levels from normal singleton pregnancies

Levels are listed for various days after the ovulatory HCG injection or LH surge

First (same as Third) International Reference Preparation was used
"High" is highest seen in this group of pregnancies
"Low" is lowest seen in this group of pregnancies
"#" is the number of tests done for that day in this group of pregnancies

The values below are from a group of 53 normal singleton pregnancies. Because this is a very small group of patients and because lab assays vary, it is important not to rely on these values to determine whether your pregnancy is viable, a single, a twin, etc.

• Check with your physician about your own levels

Ovulation Cramps

Fourteen days after the menstrual cycle is over, eggs are released from the ovary and this phase is known as ovulation. A woman can know about her ovulation from various ovulation symptoms that may develop in her body. One of the most important ovulation symptoms is developing a cramp in the body. There will be some pain due to cramp and it will mainly occur in the abdominal region of the woman. The duration of this pain may vary across different patients and it may last for few hours to two days.

If the abdominal pain occurs and if it is found to be continuing, then you can follow some natural remedies which can give you relief from the pain. First of all, when ovulation symptoms develop, one may feel that the urge to drink water has gone down to a great extent. So, one can feel quite relieved by taking eight or ten glasses of water everyday. Water will keep the body well hydrated which will give the woman a great relief from cramp pain.

If you have got heating pads at home, you can also make well use of that. Just place the heating pad for no more than 15 minutes in the abdomen. Slowly you will feel that the pain from the cramp is going down. You will feel a soothing effect at the place of the pain.

There is no reason to get worried if you do not have heating pad at home. You can sit in a tub filled with warm water and take hot water bath.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF INFERTILITY?

It is the condition of not getting pregnant after 1 year of unprotected and regular sexual intercourse. 15% of the couples in the world feel the need to apply for supportive fertility techniques.

The point not to be forgotten is that even when normal couples with no health problems have sexual intercourse every day, in a single menstrual period, the possibility of getting pregnant is only 25%. After one year the possibility of pregnancy rises up to 80%.
In the cases of rare menstrual periods, 3 or more miscarriages, past pelvic infection, small testicles of the male and the past age of the woman a consultancy to a doctor should be made without waiting for a year.
The reproductive potential of the women is at peak between the ages of 20 to 30; after years the potential decreases and after 35 a faster decrease can be observed. Extremely thin and fat people can also encounter difficulties for getting pregnant. Also, smoking and alcohol decreases the sperm count of the man and spoils the egg quality of the woman.

Pregnancy Signs

There are a few common symptoms that let you know that you are pregnant.

They are:

• Missed period - If you have a regular 28/29 day cycle, then being late or missing a period is a pretty good sign that you may be pregnant however there are other factors that can delay periods see Could I be pregnant? so its usually better to look for more than one sign of pregnancy than just delayed period. If you have a more irregular cycle, or have just come off the Pill or other hormonal contraception, then a late period may NOT be an indication that you are pregnant.

• Nausea or morning sickness - can occur not just in the morning but all day long. It can be as severe as throwing up or just feeling off your food. Alot of women find that their sense of smell is heightened during pregnancy, and smelling food cooking can make you feel sick. You may also find that you are absolutely starving but the thought of actually eating food is revolting or alternatively finding something that you feel like eating is very difficult.

Nausea or morning sickness generally wears off at the 12 /13 week point. Not all women feel nauseous and different prganancies can produce different symptoms.

• Frequent urination - the desire to pee frequently is a pretty good sign of pregnancy and can start very early.
  

• Sore Breasts - are another sign of pregnancy but some women experience sore breasts before bleeding. Increase in breast size, soreness and the darkening of the nipple area are key.

• Fatigue - it takes ALOT of energy to grow a baby, so you may feel really tired during pregnancy. Take it as a hint and rest up, cause once that beautiful baby arrives regular sleep can be a thing of the past for quite some time.

• Mood Swings and raging hormones - the sudden changes in hormone activity as your body adjusts to its new pregnant state can cause emotionality and mood swings. Again this can be pre-menstrual, but if it continues and your period just doesn't come, then it could be a sign.

• Spotting - A woman may spot (lightly bleed) 9-10 days after fertilisation. It is not a normal period and it is perfectly normal. However, once it is done and you are confident you are pregnant, you should not spot anymore. If you do bleed at all during pregnancy see your doctor.
  

So these are the most common signs of pregnancy, some of them can be confused with PMS so the more you have the better. If you think you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test or see your doctor and find out for sure. Then, take good care of yourself.

Causes of infertility

The causes of infertility are many and varied. They are classified as either absolute or relative. Absolute causes of infertility will, in the absence of treatment, totally prevent pregnancy. Relative causes reduce the chance of pregnancy but do not necessarily prevent it all together. An analogy is that absolute causes are like turning the pregnancy switch off and relative causes are similar to turning the dial down.

Over the last thirty years the impact of changing attitudes towards pregnancy, childbirth, work and family commitments has electively lead to a marked increase in the age of first pregnancy. As a result of these changes in western societies there is no doubt that increasing female age has become the single most important influence on a couples chance of achieving a pregnancy. For most couples it is a more important influence on the chance of successful pregnancy than any specific cause and it is becoming a more and more common problem as couples decide to start families later in life.

Among the specific causes of infertility there are however only four absolute causes of infertility that without treatment totally prevent pregnancy. They are:

• No sperm

• No eggs

• Blockage preventing egg and sperm meeting

• Prevention of embryo implantation

Often however a series of relative causes multiply together to reduce the chance of pregnancy by such an amount the realistic impact on couples is as severe as if they had an absolute cause.


Female factors

There are several main areas where fertility can be jeopardized in the female: the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the hormones affecting these.

There will be a decrease in fertility if:

• ovulation is irregular or absent – this can be corrected with hormone treatment in most cases
• there is an obstruction between the vagina and the ovary, preventing the sperm and egg from meeting. These usually occur in the fallopian tubes, and it was for this condition that in vitro fertilization (IVF) was originally developed. Obstructions can often be treated surgically, but generally success rates are better with IVF
  
• there is an abnormality of the uterus, such as polyps or fibroids (obstructions can often be treated surgically, but can return) which impairs embryo implantation into the lining of the uterus
• endometriosis which is a common condition where tissue like the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, hampering a number of events leading to a pregnancy
  

Male factors

Male fertility seems less complicated than female fertility simply because the male is responsible for fewer stages in the process of creating a baby. Essentially, male fertility comes down to sperm.

There will be a decrease in fertility if the sperm are:

• not being produced in adequate numbers (or at all)
• being produced, but facing an obstruction that prevents them from reaching the outside world
• being produced, but not swimming very well
• stimulating antibody production in either partner by causing an allergic reaction.
  

Some of these problems can be treated surgically, but in most cases IVF is the best option.


Unexplained infertility

The cause of infertility is not always obvious. In many cases, both partners can appear to be fine, but they can’t seem to get pregnant. This is known as unexplained infertility. Having no identifiable cause does not mean that there is no available treatment. Indeed the prospect of spontaneous pregnancy is often higher than for those couples with a specific cause. Indeed IVF is highly effective for couples with female age under 40 years who have unexplained infertility.

Male Infertility

When couples are having difficulties becoming pregnant, it is generally the female who will seek treatment first. This is probably due, at least in part, to enduring stereotypes surrounding the woman’s responsibility in conception. However, the statistics show that men are the infertile partners in 40-50% of couples unable to get pregnant. There are many factors influencing male fertility, including lifestyle and family history.

This is not meant to be discouraging, but instead to enlighten you to the many possibilities available to infertile men wishing to seek treatment. Many of the same medical treatments available to women, such as assisted reproductive technologies, surgery and fertility drugs are also offered to men.

And while some men may try to disguise their embarrassment to shield their pride, it is important that men learn how to come to grips with their infertility so that they can seek treatment. Indeed, less than half of all infertile men are totally sterile, so the chances of being able to reproduce, given proper treatment, are quite high. For example, men who are experiencing impotence will be happy to know that there are many treatments available, especially now that open discussion around erectile disfunction is becoming more and more common.

While female fertility, and specifically, the female biological clock, has long been thought to be the factor contributing to a couple's infertility, a new study has found that a male biological clock does indeed exist. Learn more about the link between male fertility and age, and also what types of male infertility treatment can help to minimize the effects of age on male fertility.

Hormones play an integral role in maintaining healthy male fertility. However, a low testosterone level may indicate a fertility problem known as hypogonadism, which may adversely affect reproductive functioning. Varicocele is another common cause of male infertility, but it can normally be treated effectively to improve fertility..

Additionally, you may be surprised to learn that the immune system can have an effect on male fertility through antisperm antibodies.

My home pregnancy test showed a faint line. Am I pregnant?

Tests you can do at home are very sensitive and can pick up the presence of pregnancy hormones in your system even before you have missed a period.

For a home pregnancy test to give you a positive result, your body has to be making a detectable level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). However, not all pregnancy tests can detect the same amount of hCG; a sensitive test is one which turns positive even if a low amount of the hormone is present. The more sensitive a pregnancy test is, the earlier it will show a positive result.

If the test you're using is only faintly positive, it may not be very sensitive. If you still have the box, it should say somewhere what the test's sensitivity is; the lower the number, the better the test. For example, a test with a sensitivity of 20 IU/L (milliInternational Units per Litre) will tell if you're pregnant sooner than a test with a sensitivity of 50 IU/L. Read the side of the box to see what it says.

Many women get a faintly positive result if they're not as far along as they expected. If this turns out to be the case for you, taking another test in two or three days should give you more exact results. Most home urine tests should be positive by the time your period is due if your body is making the normal amount of hCG.

Pregnancies with complications also produce hCG but in lesser amounts, so that could be causing the faint line. If your test is faintly positive and then a few days later turns completely negative, you may have had a very early miscarriage.

Experts estimate that about 50 per cent of fertilised eggs don't make it, and a further 15 per cent of recognised pregnancies end in miscarriage, so unfortunately this is very common. It is only since pregnancy tests became so sensitive that people have realised how often early miscarriages can happen. In the past, these very early losses might not even have been noticed, and the woman would never have known she had been pregnant.

Bleeding During Early Pregnancy

Bleeding During Early Pregnancy

Girl worried about bleeding during early pregnancy Bleeding during early pregnancy is a lot more common than you might imagine - but that doesn't stop it from being worrying for the prospective mother-to-be. A quarter of all pregnant women may experience spotting in early pregnancy and more than 10% experience bleeding of some kind. So what could be causing it and what should you do?

First of all, stay calm and stay put. Don't rush about: bleeding during early pregnancy can be sufficiently serious to justify contacting your doctor or midwife right away if it's anything more than light spotting. Fresh blood or any bleeding accompanied by stomach pain or severe cramping should be investigated without delay. There are also some perfectly normal explanations but you need a health professional to decide for you.

Let's look first of all at the most common, less serious reasons for bleeding during early pregnancy.These include:
Implantation Bleeding.
This is caused, in the very early stages of pregnancy, by the egg implanting itself into the wall of the uterus. Because it occurs around the same time as you might have had your period, this makes it hard to distinguish between the two causes.
Hormonal or 'Breakthrough' Bleeding.
You might expect your pregnancy hormones to overwhelm your normal hormonal cycle but this doesn't always happen. Some women report bleeding during early pregnancy that strongly resembles having periods during pregnancy. It is actually now thought to be caused by the variation in background hormonal levels that just happen to be greater in some women than in others.
A Cervical Erosion
This is an area of softer tissue near the neck of the womb and it can sometimes bleed.
A Cervical Polyp
Just like the cerival erosion, a small polyp or benign lump can sometimes be the cause of bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy.
A Cervical Infection
Again, if it causes inflammation of the lining of the cervix, this may cause light bleeding or spotting. You would need to get this checked out and treated by your health professional.

More Serious Possible Causes of Bleeding During Early Pregnancy

Miscarriage
The term 'miscarriage' is used to describe the loss of a baby in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Sadly, miscarriage is an all-too-common occurrence and it's calculated that about 98% of miscarriages happen in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. It's possible to lose the fetus before you even realise you're pregnant. In many cases, this may be nature's way of ensuring that only the healthy foetus survives, as we know that in the animal world as well as the human, imperfections are quite common. But it's also known that some women are more liable to miscarriage than others, for some physiological reason. It's in situations like these that immediate rest and professional care the moment you experience any bleeding during early pregnancy may prevent a miscarriage. If you are worried about miscarriage or want to find out more, wherever you are in the world, one of the best websites I know is a UK one and is run by the Miscarriage Association.
Placental Abruption
This occurs when the placenta begins to come away from the wall of the uterus. It may not always cause bleeding but it almost always causes pain, so whatever stage of your pregnancy you're at, if you experience sharp abdominal pains or severe cramping, call a doctor right away.
Ectopic Pregnancy
There is about a one in a hundred chance that a woman may have an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, in one of the fallopian tubes. As the fetus grows the mother experiences pain and bleeding. This is a very serious medical emergency, as if the tube ruptures, the resulting internal bleeding can kill the mother. Please do not, under any circumstances, try to ignore bleeding accompanied by severe pain, or any severe pain even on its own, during early pregnancy. Click here if you need to know more about ectopic pregnancy.
Placenta Praevia
In late pregnancy it can sometimes happen that the placenta is still lying low in the womb instead of having migrated upwards, as it should. In such a case, the baby's route down the birth canal is blocked by the placenta. Any bleeding late in pregnancy must be carefully checked out, using ultrasound and/or a pelvic examination, in order to make sure it's not placenta praevia. If it is, you will probably need to have your baby delivered by caesarian section.

These are the main reasons why you might experience bleeding in early pregnancy - and I have included some references to serious reasons not to ignore it in later pregnancy too, simply because they are so important to know about.

Finally, here is one possibly helpful tip which you may not pick up elsewhere but which my friend swears gave her a healthy baby after many miscarriages. She began spotting in early pregnancy yet again and her doctor, having told her to stay in bed, admitted that he was not hopeful of her keeping her pregnancy. A homeopathic practitioner happened to be visiting me and told me about Sabina 6, a homoeopathic preparation that might just save her pregnancy. With her doctor's blessing she took it faithfully, rested for 3 months - and now has a 100% healthy son. If you are one of those who are getting desperate to keep a pregnancy, it might just be worth finding out more.

I am pregnant? How early can I test ?

If you and your partner try to understand one of the hardest parts is the waiting list. The infamous wait two weeks is enough to frustrate even the most patient woman. The question thus arises, you must wait two weeks? With technological advances, it is now possible to become pregnant from the comfort of your own home before you've even missed your period. How early can you test depends on the type of audit you.

How pregnancy tests work
Whether you use a blood test in a laboratory or with a urine test at home, work, both by detecting the hormone hCG. There are several different types of experiments in the laboratory for the detection of hCG. Many doctors use the same type of test kits used in home pregnancy tests. These tests are working with a substance that changes color when it is up to hCG. Blood samples can be used to transfer the exact amount of hCG produced by women whereas urine tests is to determine whether or not hCG is high enough to confirm pregnancy. A pregnancy test is positive if the hCG level is 5 mIU / L or higher installed.

What is hCG and when will I start producing?

To understand how pregnancy tests work, it is helpful to know what is hCG and the basis for early fetal development. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, it is very early in pregnancy and provides various functions to support the birth, including the stimulation of progesterone and estrogen production.

Since the pregnancy begins, your child goes through many stages of development. A woman, eggs and sperm of humans agree on fertilization to form what is technically now a zygote. The zygote goes through rapid division, and finally the outer layer which trophoblast. The trophoblast begins secreting hCG in early pregnancy. This does not occur until your child implants in the womb. Ovulation and fertilization typically occurs in the middle of a women's menstruation cycle method, usually around 14 days after the beginning of menstruation. If fertilization occurs, zygote to travel the fallopian tube towards the uterine cavity. Around seven to nine days after conception, your baby will implant deep into the uterine wall. Your body does not produce hCG until then. When your body is the production of hCG, you should be able to determine pregnancy by a pregnancy test at home.

When should I test?

Newer home pregnancy tests detect very small amounts of hCG, some as low than 5 mIU / L. With these tests it is possible, as has already been positive seven days past ovulation. It is important to remember that implantation occurs anywhere seven to ten days after ovulation and women produce different amounts of hCG, may have a pattern of doubling hCG amounts every two to three days. Although it is possible that positive as early as seven days past ovulation, there is also a good chance that implantation has not occurred, or that you are not producing hCG at a high enough to be detected by a pregnancy test at home. For best results, it is still recommended to wait until a woman has missed her period or 14 days past ovulation. For those who just can not wait to the very fast you should test is seven days past ovulation.