Medical Information : Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be confirmed by a urine or blood test. Urine tests are 99% accurate and can be purchased over the counter. The first possibility of a positive urine test can be 7 days after implantation although more accurate results are obtained 2 weeks after implantation. Blood pregnancy tests however are more accurate and can give the results within hours. HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropins is the hormone of pregnancy that is monitored with this test. In most normal pregnancies the HCG level doubles every 2-3 days initially. If the level is very low or not rising properly there may be an ectopic pregnancy (see below) or a miscarriage(see below). In this case the HCG level may be followed very closely or an ultrasound may be recommended.

Ultrasounds are usually performed at 5-7 weeks of the pregnancy to evaluate if there is a normal intrauterine pregnancy (a gestational sac with an embryo)as well as to determine if there are multiple pregnancies. Cardiac activity can be detected as early as 5 ½ weeks however most commonly it is seen after 6 weeks. Sometimes repeat ultrasounds may be recommended. If a gestational sac is not visualized, three possibilities exist: the pregnancy may be outside the uterus(ectopic), the pregnancy may be abnormal or a miscarriage, or the ultrasound was done too early. In these cases there may be a need for a repeat ultrasound