Normally, pregnant women stop having menstrual periods, but vaginal bleeding may still occur during pregnancy. Although the bleeding can be worrisome, it is most common for women during the first trimester, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Up to...
Progesterone is one of the hormones instrumental in helping a woman become pregnant and maintain the pregnancy. If progesterone levels are low in early pregnancy, it can be a sign that something is wrong with the pregnancy. Low progesterone also...
A missed period does not necessarily mean pregnancy. In some cases, you are dealing with something else. Anything from a stressful time in your life to a severe illness can cause a missed period. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor.
The hormone hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is only produced in pregnancy, and is used as a marker for conception. The placenta produces hCG; it signals the ovaries to keep making progesterone, a hormone that maintains the lining of the womb...
The first trimester of pregnancy produces a whirl of varied emotions, including: excitement, hope, misgivings and fear. These are all normal, as is the desire to know what might go wrong during this time. The developing embryo is most fragile in...
Overview An intrauterine pregnancy is a “normal” pregnancy. That is, a fertilized egg implants itself in the wall of the uterus, where the placenta can develop and the fetus can grow. Fertilized eggs that implant themselves...
Bleeding at any stage of pregnancy can be frightening for a woman. Many cases of bleeding are explained by minor issues like implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus, vaginal irritation from intercourse, or a minor infection. Other more...
One of 60 pregnancies is ectopic, or growing outside of the uterus. Vaginal bleeding is common in early pregnancy, occurring in 20 percent to 30 percent of all pregnancies, the American Pregnancy Association says. Vaginal bleeding in ectopic...
Ultrasound is frequently performed during pregnancy to assess the health and growth of the baby in the womb. Most women who have their prenatal exams in a hospital setting will undergo at least one ultrasound, and many mothers-to-be will have more...
Some hormonal deficiencies are easier to spot than others. Unfortunately, progesterone deficiency, while detrimental to your pregnancy, isn't likely something you'll know about until it's too late. For this reason, your obstetrician most likely...
Human chorionic gonadotropin, also called hCG, is produced during pregnancy when the embryo implants into the uterine wall. Human chorionic gonadotropin is the hormone that pregnancy tests use to determine pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin...
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HGC, is a hormone produced during early pregnancy. Because levels of HCG increase significantly from normal levels during pregnancy, pregnancy tests commonly use this hormone as an indicator of whether a woman has...
There are multiple causes of bleeding during pregnancy, most of which are not life-threatening. Mothers are naturally anxious about the prospect of pregnancy loss, complications or preterm birth. Small amounts of bleeding after sex or vaginal...
An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical problem that can be life-threatening if not treated. One way that an ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed is by measuring the levels of a hormone known as beta HCG. Although beta HCG levels are an important...
Lower abdominal pain in early pregnancy can be a frightening experience, especially for women who are pregnant for the first time. In many cases, natural changes in the body are behind the discomfort, which may pass as the pregnancy progresses....
The first trimester, or three months, of pregnancy, can present many risks to the developing fetus. Because organs, facial features, skeletal tissue and limbs are developing at this time, any negative affect on the fetus can result in serious...
Abdominal cramps in early pregnancy can be alarming. The most likely source of the pain is changes in your body that occur shortly after pregnancy begins. Pain that is persistent, severe or accompanied by other symptoms should be reported to a...
Ectopic pregnancies happen when a fertilized egg implants outside the endometrium, or inner lining, of the uterus. While ectopics can technically include implantation outside the reproductive tract entirely, many are tubal, meaning that the egg...
