Signs you should take a Pregnancy test
Do you think you are expecting a child? There is always a possibility of making a mistake, even with the most successful birth control methods. After all, one sperm is enough to fertilize an egg. It is as simple as taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pregnancy test to see if this has happened. Over-the-counter pregnancy tests (HCG) detect human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in urine. If you are pregnant, HCG is only present. This hormone is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus or outside it. To view the results, simply open the test, follow the instructions, and wait the recommended amount of time. Also, you need to know about the signs that tell you to take a pregnancy test.
When can they be taken?
Take a pregnancy test a week after you miss your period for the most accurate result. Wait for one to two weeks after you have had sex if you do not wish to wait for your period to skip. If you are pregnant, it takes time for your body to produce measurable quantities of HCG. Successful egg implantation usually takes seven to twelve days. If you take the test too early in your cycle, you can get an incorrect result. In any case, here are a few signs that you should consider a pregnancy test.
Missed the period
Missing a period is the most typical reason for someone to suspect they are pregnant. However, pregnancy is not the only factor that might lead you to miss a period. Weight gain or loss, hormonal changes, and stress can all cause the same. You will not know you are pregnant unless you have taken a pregnancy test and had it confirmed by a doctor. If it has been more than a week since your last period, you could be pregnant. However, if your menstrual cycle is erratic, this is an unreliable indicator. If you think you might be pregnant, get a pregnancy test right away and schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional.
Nausea
Morning sickness is a topic that most of us are familiar with thanks to movies and mainstream culture. Early on in pregnancy, nausea is a common occurrence, though it is not restricted to a single time of day. An increase in circulating hormones is most likely to blame for nausea in early pregnancy. Also, it can strike at any time of day, though it is more common in the morning. Nausea and vomiting should subside as you enter the second trimester, approximately 13 weeks, although they may reoccur later in the pregnancy. These symptoms are usually harmless to both you and your baby. Whether you cannot keep any food down and you are losing weight, contact your OBGYN, as this can have an impact on your health and the development of your kid.
Spotting or light bleeding
Light vaginal bleeding that occurs 10 to 14 days after fertilization is known as implantation bleeding. Mild spotting, which you may notice in your undergarments, should be the only side effect. Sometimes, minor cramps that are similar to menstrual cramps accompany transplantation bleeding. If the bleeding is significant or the cramping is unbearable, get medical attention. Some women experience white, creamy vaginal discharge in addition to minor bleeding. This is perfectly normal and is the result of enhanced vaginal lining development.
If the bleeding is excessive or the cramping is unbearable, get medical attention. Some women experience white, creamy vaginal discharge in addition to minor bleeding. This is perfectly normal and is the result of enhanced vaginal lining development. The discharge may last throughout the pregnancy. If the discharge smells unpleasant, seek medical advice. A bacterial or yeast infection may require treatment.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a typical early pregnancy symptom. Rising levels of the hormone progesterone create this draining tiredness, which can start as early as the first weeks of pregnancy. Changes in blood pressure, on the other hand, can make you feel tired. If you are experiencing low energy as a result of your pregnancy, schedule more rest time. Allow time for recovery in your social life, and inform coworkers that you may want assistance. You might also discover that increasing your protein and iron intake will give you the boost you need at this point in pregnancy.
Unusual Bathroom Schedule
You might expect some modifications to your typical restroom routine if you’re pregnant in the early stages. As a result of hormonal changes, you may need to schedule more bathroom visits into your day during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is an extremely common symptom. Thus, you should seek medical advice if you suspect your frequent urination is due to something other than pregnancy. You will have more progesterone circulating in your system when you are pregnant. While this is totally natural, constipation is one of progesterone’s undesirable side effects. This is due to the fact that it slows down the flow of food through your digestive system. If you have constipation when pregnant, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and eat a high-fiber diet.
Confirm if you really are pregnant
Many of these signs and symptoms are not specific to pregnancy. Some of them can signal that you are likely to get sick or that your menstruation is about to begin. Likewise, you can be pregnant without having many of these symptoms. Take a home pregnancy test or visit your health care doctor if you miss a period and observe some of the listed signs or symptoms. In the past decade, home pregnancy tests have become more accurate. Make an appointment with your health care provider if your home pregnancy test is positive. The sooner you have confirmation of your pregnancy, the sooner you can start prenatal care. Also read: Is STD testing and treatment covered in your health insurance?
- Published in Pregnancy Testing
Abortions and Miscarriages in Teens
The world around us changes overnight in our teens. It is important for us to play safely. Know it well before taking your first step forward. Teen pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their health and their sexual and reproductive health. Girls need to be able to make decisions about their bodies and the future and to be able to access appropriate health and education services. Because young people in other developed lands are getting rich sex education and more access to contraception and family planning services, they have more low rates of pregnancy and abortion. For example, in the Netherlands, where teen sex is almost identical as in the U.S., pregnancy rates are only nine times higher than those in the United States.
Choice
It is important that you have enough information about all the options before making a decision. Unfortunately, many young people delay seeking advice during pregnancy, perhaps hoping that it will not be true. For those who choose to continue their pregnancy this delay could mean missing out on important maternity care. But it is important that you get a right treatment. Adolescents have higher rates of complications in pregnancy and childbirth, and are at greater risk for postpartum depression. It is also important to eat well and stop drinking and smoking during your pregnancy. Talk to a doctor who can discuss your pregnancy with great confidence.
If you choose to terminate (abortion), a delay in confirming the pregnancy may affect the type of termination available. For example, medical termination, or taking a contraceptive pill, is only done with a pregnancy less than 9 weeks).
Physical Risks of Adolescent Abortion
- Young abortion patients are twice as likely to experience cervical dislocation during abortion compared to older women because adolescents have smaller cervical organs
- Bleeding and panic
- Adolescents are also at greater risk of post-abortion infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and endometritis (inflammation of the uterus)
- Adolescents are more susceptible to infections because they do not produce infections found in the cervix of older women which protects them from infection.
- They are at high risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy) and other serious problems such as premature birth, stillbirth and frequent abortions.
Psychological and emotional consequences
- Deterioration of autonomy.
- Sleep, lust and sexual dysfunction.
- Decreased motivation.
- Disruption in human relationships.
- Guilt and over-anxiety.
- Depression and suicidal tendencies.
- Drug abuse.
How do you keep yourself safe and protect teen pregnancy and abortion?
Abstinence is the most effective way to prevent a miscarriage. Only you, as the parent can decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong. There are many ways to feel close to someone without sex and there is no need to rush. You get to set your boundaries – physically and emotionally. If you are thinking about having sex, start with information. Learn how to protect yourself from STDs and unplanned pregnancies. Information can help you gain confidence.
Healthy relationships have a few things in common: communication, respect and trust. In healthy relationships, people spend time together, but they make their own decisions and have their own lives as well. If your relationship is healthy, you can talk about any problem whether it is bad or difficult. Talk about your limitations when it comes to sex, whether you are ready or not, discuss birth control methods and STD tests. It is all about listening to the other person and respecting their opinion.
The teen should consult a trusted professional
No matter what abortion procedure you take, your first step is to confirm your pregnancy. If you have not yet received an ultrasound, it will be necessary before proceeding with the procedure, to show how far you are and what abortion procedure you will need. It is also important to diagnose and treat STDs (STIs) before there is an invasive procedure; STDs can be transmitted through your cervix (which opens with any abortion) into your uterus.
Free and confidential pregnancy tests, ultrasound and STD tests and treatments, contact Step One, a trusted pregnancy medical center. In the United States, children have the right to have an abortion without the consent of their parents unless otherwise provided by law. Medical abortion is not successful, it requires a surgical procedure to complete the abortion.
- Published in Basic Wellness, Pregnancy Testing
Did Not Get Your Periods This Month? It Might Be Menopause
Did you not get your periods this month? Do you think it is menopause? How to verify? Well, these questions require proper, and research-based answers. Menstruation is a biological process in a female’s body that discharges blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. In humans, the process begins at the age of 12 and 15. This is the period when a woman can be pregnant. During the age between 45 and 55, menstruation stops and is known as menopause.
What is Menopause?
Generally, after reaching the age of 40s or sometimes 50s, there is a natural decline in reproductive hormones in a woman. Thus, this eventually leads to the stopping of periods in women. This is known as menopause. Menopause is signaled by twelve months since the last menstruation. A woman can no longer be pregnant naturally, after menopause.
When does menopause begin?
In several women, symptoms of menopause begin about four years before their last period. They often continue for the whole four years until menopause. While some women experience symptoms even 10 or 12 years following their last period. The median age for menopause is 51.
Also, certain factors determine when you will begin menopause. These include ovary health and genetics. Before menopause, perimenopause occurs. Perimenopause means a tied time when the hormones in women’s bodies begin to change to prepare for menopause. There is no certainty for perimenopause. Thus, it may occur during the 40s, or not occur at all.
Women whose bodies begin menopause before the age of 40s are known as premature menopause. Women, who undergo menopause between the age of 40 and 45, refer to early menopause. Here are some key terms that relate to menopause:
- Perimenopause states that the menstrual cycle becomes irregular. Periods may be late, or completely over, or more periods. The blood flow may become lighter or heavier.
- Menopause might lead to no menstruation for 12 months.
- Lastly, post-menopause refers to the years after the occurrence of menopause.
Symptoms of Menopause
Every woman has a different experience during her menopause. When menopause occurs suddenly or over a short period, symptoms are usually severe. The common symptoms of menopause are the following:
Irregular Periods
Image by silviarita from Pixabay
A very common symptom that takes place in every woman is the irregular occurrence of periods. They may be lighter or heavier less often or more often, or last longer or shorter. There is no regularity, thus it is very hard to predict when the next period may come or how long they might continue.
Trouble Sleeping
Most of the cases state that menopause causes problems in having a good sleep. It makes women wake up, or trouble while going to sleep. Several times these happen due to things like night sweats. If you face such a problem, you may consult a doctor.
Moody Feeling
The periods and menopause may affect your mood due to changes in hormones. More anxiety or depression may worsen the situation. The irregularity and symptoms might create a problem with your mood as well. Therefore, taking a doctor’s advice is helpful.
Physical Changes
During the course of menopause, you can face physical changes like dry and thin hairs and skin, or gaining weight, or stiff joints. Therefore, there is a need to keep your strength and health in proper check. Other than the above changes or symptoms, you may also feel the following:
- Dry skin, mouth, and eyes
- Memory problems, anxiety, or depression
- Headaches
- Increased sweat problem
- Lack of concentration, more irritation than normal, and many more.
How to get tested for Menopause?
Menopause is a biological process, thus it can be identified by scientific tests. This also includes some tests so as to protect the body from further problems. Since there is a hormonal change in the body that grows into certain harsh symptoms. However, it can be treated and maintained by visiting a doctor and getting some tests done.
Diagnosis of the body may clear out the problem to set up. So, as to have your this time safe and painless. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are the hormones that need to function properly. Doctors perform blood tests to recognize the level of these hormones. Moreover, the PicoAMH Elisa test is the test that measures the amount of anti-Mullerian hormone in the blood. These will help you take care of yourself the right way during this time.
Conclusion
During menopause, it may become difficult for a woman to concentrate on her body due to the many symptoms. Therefore, one may follow certain steps that can change your lifestyle. You need to stay cool and comfortable, exercising and managing weight for physical fitness. Take care of your skin, share your problems or sufferings, supplement your diet, and many more.
- Published in Pregnancy Testing
Home Paternity Test Accuracy VS Through The Doctor’s Office
Introduction
The news of becoming a parent is overwhelming in itself. Just the news can turn your world upside down, let alone the baby being born. It is as stressful as it is ecstatic. Sometimes people need to be sure whether they are a parent of a child. Especially if the duties and the rights of a father are in question. In such cases, the only way to be sure is with paternity testing.
A DNA paternity test is the use of DNA samples of the people to determine whether an individual is the biological parent of another individual. This test can also determine someone being a grandparent of an individual. An individual can depend upon this test. If the consequences are so life-altering, you must make an informed decision. The way and the place you choose to do these tests also determine the authenticity. The two ways in which a paternity test can be done are at home with a paternity test kit and in the doctor’s office. Although the results received are almost the same. There are some differences. Here are the differences:
Court-Admissible Results
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Home paternity testing
The tests which are taken at home are not considered authentic at the court of law. This is because of many reasons. One of the reasons is because the court can not verify that the swabs are of the same person. People can tamper with the results as well. Hence, if you are to present a home paternity test at a court, you will need the samples to be collected under the supervision of a third-party witness. Also, the IDs of the participants are checked.
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Doctor-ordered test
This way of testing is considered authentic because doctors do the paternity test and collect the samples for the same. The collected samples are generally supervised by the third-party, either in their office itself or in the lab where it is tested. They must follow a legal test protocol.
Convenience
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Home paternity testing
It is the easiest and convenient way to do a paternity test. All you have to do is to take the cheek swabs of you and your child. There are no paper works involved or no need to travel to the doctor’s office.
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Doctor-ordered test
The only difference is that you will have to travel to your doctor’s office or the lab with your child. The doctors will take the samples and do the tests and give you the results in hand.
Conclusion
There are two ways of doing paternity. One is to get it done at home and the other is to go to a doctor’s office. Although when you do a paternity test both ways require the same method of sample collection, that is by using a painless cheek swab. The results that are taken with cheek swabs are similar to the results taken with blood samples. This is because the DNA of a person is the same in every cell in that body.
Hence, if you follow the instructions properly, you can receive the same results in a home test as the one done in a doctor’s office. However, it is necessary to get the results accurate. And for that, you need proper testing practices. Different labs have all the answers to your questions. They guarantee you accuracy and complete confidentiality. The tests are legally admissible as well. You can get an authentic paternity test just with a google search. Hence, home paternity tests are as accurate as those done through the doctor’s office.
- Published in Pregnancy Testing
Pregnant? You Need These Basic Lab Tests
As soon as you become pregnant, your health becomes even more important than it was before. In order to help your baby grow and develop without any complications, it’s essential that you monitor your health.
You can expect many doctor’s visits, tests, and examinations as your doctors work to evaluate your wellness and identify any potential complications. The following lab tests are standard for all pregnant women throughout the first, second, and third trimesters. Here’s what you can expect.
Anemia Testing
Anemia is a common blood disorder that occurs frequently during pregnancy. Without enough iron in the body, hemoglobin levels in red blood cells decrease, and oxygen cannot be efficiently transported through the body. Pregnancy increases the risk of becoming anemic, so this prenatal test is a quick and important to identify whether you need to take a daily iron supplement. You will need more iron than usual to support red blood cells as your baby and the placenta grow! (more…)
- Published in Pregnancy Testing
How to Choose the Right Prenatal Vitamins During Pregnancy
As soon as you become pregnant, you need to begin nourishing your body in a way that also supports the growth and development of your baby. One of the best ways to do this is by finding a high quality prenatal vitamin, but it’s hard to identify the best choice in the sea of options at most stores. These tips will help you cut out the confusion and make a wise choice.
Check For the Most Important Ingredients
Don’t even think about purchasing a prenatal vitamin that does not include folate. Also known as vitamin B9, folate prevents neural tube defects and Spina Bifida. Unfortunately, most prenatal vitamins try to cut costs by using folic acid instead of folate. (more…)
- Published in Pregnancy Testing
