How do I know if I am pregnant? “Am I pregnant?” Is the question most women have when menstruation does not occur. Sometimes it is useful to know before the day of the expected menstruation. How do I know if I am pregnant? With a pregnancy test. A new test for use at home is […]
What is the beta-hCG Pregnancy Hormone by the Prof. of Clinical and Obstetrics and Gynecological University of Milan Enrico Ferrazzi It can be useful […]
The Menstrual cycle: how does it work By Dr Valentina Pontello Ob/Gyn Specialist On the first menstrual day a new reproductive cycle begins. The endometrium (the mucosa that surfaces the internal cavity of the uterus) exfoliates itself and prepares to grow again. In a 28 days cycle, the first 14 days are called “follicular phase”, […]
Is it useful to know early if you are pregnant? By Dr Valentina Pontello, Ob/Gyn Specialist. Yes, it is useful in many cases, I will explain further with some examples. Giulia has undertaken IVF. The doctor prescribed her a blood test for beta-hCG two weeks after embryo transfer, but she wants to know as soon […]
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Will I know if I am pregnant from a gynecological visit? By Dr Valentina Pontello, Ob/Gyn Specialist Will I know if I am pregnant from a gynecological visit? Not early. The increase in uterine volume is not detectable before the 6th-7th week of pregnancy (therefore at least 20-30 days after conception), and may be mistaken […]
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The symptoms of the first trimester of pregnancy By Dr Valentina Pontello, Ob/Gyn Specialist Having some symptoms of pregnancy is not diagnostic, as they are not specific and may vary between women. The most common symptoms of pregnancy in the first three months are described as follows: AMENORRHOEA The lack of the menstrual cycle is […]
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How does a pregnancy test work? By Dr Valentina Pontello, Ob/Gyn Specialist Pregnancy tests identify the hormone beta-hCG, produced by the trophoblast, i.e. the cellular mass around the embryo, which will become the placenta. Beta-hCG tells the mother she is pregnant: the corpus luteum (i.e. the ruptured follicle) will continue producing estrogen and progesterone until […]
When is a blood test for beta-hCG necessary? By Dr Valentina Pontello Ob/Gyn Specialist A laboratory blood test for beta-hCG is necessary when the doctor needs to check the quantitative level of the hormone. The value of beta-hCG is related to the gestational age and grows exponentially in the first weeks of pregnancy (when it […]
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