Chemical Pregnancies

When you are actively trying to conceive a child you probably want to know as soon as possible whether you are pregnant. So you head to the store and purchase an early detection pregnancy test. Most early detection tests say you can test up to 5 days before you miss your period. A faint line shows up within the time frame. You get excited and start making plans. You call your mother and a few of your friends. Then right on schedule (or maybe a day or two late) your period shows up. You have experienced what some people would call a "false positive" pregnancy test.

Home pregnancy tests work by measuring the amount of HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) in your system. The average woman will test as less than 2. In early pregnancy HCG levels rise at a rapid rate. It will double every 48 hours. Most early response pregnancy tests will measure at 20-25. However it will vary from test to test and some will measure as little as 12.5.

So that's it, if you have HCG in your system you are pregnant. So why did I start my period? It is possible that you experienced what is called a chemical pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy is basically an early miscarriage where the egg and sperm joined however did not implant in the uterus. Chemical pregnancies can be due to chromosomal problems, inadequate uterine lining, low hormone levels, luteal phase defect or infections. There is no way to prevent a chemical pregnancy and they account for 50-75% of all miscarriages.

Since they occur the week of the missed period so you may receive your period on time or it is delayed by only a day or two. The symptoms of early pregnancy are very similar to that of your menstrual cycle. So the majority of women will never know they experienced a chemical pregnancy. For those trying to conceive and are keeping a militant eye on every cycle, it can be a devastating loss. Because chemical pregnancies are not common knowledge, it can be hard for those around you to understand what is going on. Don't for a second think that since you were only pregnant for a short amount of time, that you weren't genuinely pregnant and don't have the "right" to be extremely distraught.

Chemical pregnancies are one of the major downsides of early response home pregnancy tests. You will need to weigh the benefits of knowing early with the knowledge of knowing you lost a pregnancy.