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View Full Version : What changes in your blood when your pregnant?


MarinesBelle17
Jun 8, 2009, 07:05 AM
They say get a blood test done since its 100% the only for sure way to know if your pregnant. Well what in your blood changes to know if your pregnant?

stevetcg
Jun 8, 2009, 07:37 AM
There is an enzyme (3 letters... I think it was DHT but that's probably wrong) that they measure. If it is present in a significant amount, you are pregnant.

If you do not show this enzyme in a measurable amount, they can repeat the test in a few days and look for an increase, also indicating you are pregnant.

stevetcg
Jun 8, 2009, 07:39 AM
Human chorionic gonadotropin (better known as hCG)

I was close... sort of. :)

LearningAsIGo
Jun 8, 2009, 11:34 AM
Steve is correct, its hCG. This is a hormone produced by embryos.

A quantitative hCG will tell if you are pregnant based on the amount of hCG in your blood. I believe anything over 5 technically means you're pregnant. Those numbers double every 48 - 72 hours in a healthy pregnancy.

MarinesBelle17
Jun 8, 2009, 12:53 PM
Could they misread that when they take the blood?

stevetcg
Jun 8, 2009, 12:57 PM
could they misread that when they take the blood?

HIGHLY unlikely.

shazamataz
Jun 9, 2009, 06:57 AM
People have been known to get a negative result from a blood test even when they are pregnant.

If you had a negative result but still think you are pregnant go back in a few weeks for another test.

MarinesBelle17
Jun 9, 2009, 12:04 PM
People have been known to get a negative result from a blood test even when they are pregnant.

If you had a negative result but still think you are pregnant go back in a few weeks for another test.

How can you get a negative. On your bloodwork and STILL be pregnant?

stevetcg
Jun 9, 2009, 12:07 PM
how can you get a neg. on ur bloodwork and STILL be pregnant?

Because not everyone processes and puts out hormones in exactly the same manner. Its pretty accurate and a repeat test will confirm it 100%.

Also, if you are more than 8 or 9 weeks along, a doctor will be able to visualize the fetus with an ultrasound.

Have you seen a doctor? What did he say/do?

MarinesBelle17
Jun 9, 2009, 12:16 PM
Because not everyone processes and puts out hormones in exactly the same manner. Its pretty accurate and a repeat test will confirm it 100%.

Also, if you are more than 8 or 9 weeks along, a doctor will be able to visualize the fetus with an ultrasound.

Have you seen a doctor? What did he say/do?

I took blood test to see if I am/was in may. They came back negative. But I'm still having pregnancy symptoms. My urine test come back negative. But still with the symptoms.

stevetcg
Jun 9, 2009, 12:19 PM
Then go back to the doctor. Urine tests are pretty accurate, but the definite test is a repeat hCG test.

Also keep in mind that pregnancy symptoms are not unique to pregnancy.

MarinesBelle17
Jun 9, 2009, 12:22 PM
Then go back to the doctor. Urine tests are pretty accurate, but the definite test is a repeat hCG test.

Also keep in mind that pregnancy symptoms are not unique to pregnancy.

Well, I have some symptoms that I didn't know happened, but was told that's normal during pregnancy.

stevetcg
Jun 9, 2009, 12:25 PM
Many women think they are pregnant when they are not. They get all sorts of symptoms. Many women who are pregnant do not show any symptoms for months.

Your doctor is likely the only one that can confirm this one way or another. Make an appointment with him and tell him about your symptoms. If its not pregnancy, its SOMETHING.

MarinesBelle17
Jun 9, 2009, 12:36 PM
Many women think they are pregnant when they are not. They get all sorts of symptoms. Many women who are pregnant do not show any symptoms for months.

Your doctor is likely the only one that can confirm this one way or another. Make an appointment with him and tell him about your symptoms. If its not pregnancy, its SOMETHING.

Well what else can it? What "sickness" has the same symptoms as pregnancy?

stevetcg
Jun 9, 2009, 12:41 PM
well what else can it? what "sickness" has the same symptoms as pregnancy?

Intestinal virus? Adverse reaction to birth control?

Could be a lot of things. Its also possible that it is a non-viable pregnancy. That is when the ovum doesn't fully form and you seem pregnant for a few weeks and then pass the blighted ovum.

But again... see a doctor. He is the only one that can tell you for sure.

MarinesBelle17
Jun 9, 2009, 12:44 PM
Intestinal virus? Adverse reaction to birth control?

Could be a lot of things. Its also possible that it is a non-viable pregnancy. That is when the ovum doesnt fully form and you seem pregnant for a few weeks and then pass the blighted ovum.

But again... see a doctor. He is the only one that can tell you for sure.

I don't take birth control.

LearningAsIGo
Jun 9, 2009, 12:55 PM
Pregnancy symptoms are different for every woman.

For example, I tend to be nauseous, have breast tenderness, bloating, and hot flashes.

Other women will feel absolutely nothing.

Still others will feel many more symptoms. My cousin was connected to a 24 hour pump with anti-nausea meds because she was so ill when she was pregnant.

That being said, all of those things and more can be due to stress, stomach viruses, PMS, etc. There is also something called "psychosomatic" symptoms. This can be common with pregnancy symptoms. If a woman is convinced she may be pregnant, she may feel physical symptoms that are manipulated by her own mind. In other words, your mind tells your body you are pregnant, when you are not.

Talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing. For peace of mind, ask him to repeat the hCG blood work and give you a transvaginal ultrasound. Without a doubt, that will get you an accurate answer.

MarinesBelle17
Jun 9, 2009, 12:59 PM
Pregnancy symptoms are different for every woman.

For example, I tend to be nauseous, have breast tenderness, bloating, and hot flashes.

Other women will feel absolutely nothing.

Still others will feel many more symptoms. My cousin was connected to a 24 hour pump with anti-nausea meds b/c she was so ill when she was pregnant.

That being said, all of those things and more can be due to stress, stomach viruses, PMS, etc. There is also something called "psychosomatic" symptoms. This can be common with pregnancy symptoms. If a woman is convinced she may be pregnant, she may feel physical symptoms that are manipulated by her own mind. In other words, your mind tells your body you are pregnant, when you are not.

Talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing. For peace of mind, ask him to repeat the hCG blood work and give you a transvaginal ultrasound. Without a doubt, that will get you an accurate answer.


LOL. All in my head. That's nice. I don't like having nausea, I don't like being sore, I don't like being tired. If I don't want any of that, why would my mind lie to me?

stevetcg
Jun 9, 2009, 01:03 PM
LOL. all in my head. thats nice. i don't like having nausea, i don't like being sore, i don't like being tired. if i don't want any of that, why would my mind lie to me?

Cause the human brain can convince itself of just about anything. Its not because you want to be sick... its because you want to be pregnant.

There are a lot of *real* reasons too. Its not necessarily in your head. Its just one possibility.

For what its worth, I am tired, nauseous and sore too. Im also a 37 year old guy so I doubt I am pregnant. I just don't sleep well enough.

LearningAsIGo
Jun 9, 2009, 01:03 PM
LOL. all in my head. thats nice. i don't like having nausea, i don't like being sore, i don't like being tired. if i don't want any of that, why would my mind lie to me?

This is very real and particularly common among women who believe they could be pregnant.

If you don't believe me, please talk to your doctor about it. I'm sure he'd be glad to explain how real this is.

I'm sorry I took time out of my day to try and help explain what I can about your strange situation.

Best of luck. In the future, just consult your doctor and avoid the FREE Internet advice.