HFD Team A positive pregnancy test can spark a whirlwind of thought in a very short time.
People will generally start counting out weeks, considering dates of delivery, thinking about baby names, or quietly beginning to think about their future lifestyle, the minute they see a positive result on a home pregnancy test. So, after a positive test result, to suddenly experience bleeding a few days later and then see a negative test result on another home pregnancy test will be both confusing and upsetting.
A chemical pregnancy is an early pregnancy loss.
You may have searched online already and come across articles that define a chemical pregnancy as an early miscarriage. While this is medically factual, there usually remain a great number of people who are left wondering about the answers to those lingering questions after having had a chemical pregnancy.
Was the pregnancy real? Why did it happen? And how can something that happened so early on have such a strong emotional impact?
What Actually Happens During a Chemical Pregnancy?
A chemical pregnancy is an extremely early pregnancy loss, typically occurring before there is evidence of the pregnancy on ultrasound.
The initial steps of the pregnancy progress normally; a fertilized egg implants into the uterus, and production of hCG (the hormone measured on pregnancy tests) from the body begins.
This is one of the reasons a pregnancy test may show positive.
A chemical pregnancy is when there is a very early stoppage of growth, and your hormone levels drop shortly after this stage. Usually, when your levels drop, most women will experience bleeding; therefore, it can often be confused with a delayed or heavy menstrual cycle.
Due to how early this occurs, many women are completely unaware that they have gone through a chemical pregnancy unless they have tested earlier than their expected period.
Why It Can Feel More Emotional Than People Expect
Emotions do not conform to medical timelines. People can become confused when they experience grief over the end of something that did not last very long.
However, the experience described by some people is not an attachment to the length of time (number of weeks) they had a pregnancy. Still, rather, it is an attachment to the possibility of having that baby.
When someone sees a positive outcome, they frequently start to think differently almost instantaneously; they start to see a number of forthcoming minor plans, have established expectation levels, and are starting to create a mental dialogue about the future.
Then all of a sudden that feeling is gone.
It may be hard to summarize to other people, as some phrases, like “chemical pregnancy,” seem so sterile or transitional.
There is no right way to feel about it.
How Do Doctors Usually Confirm It?
An ultrasound isn’t usually used to diagnose a chemical pregnancy by doctors since it occurs early on in pregnancy.
Instead, they typically use the sequence of events associated with the pregnancy to make their diagnoses.
This may include:
- A positive pregnancy test followed by a negative result
- Bleeding soon after a missed period
- hCG levels that rise briefly and then decrease
Regularly scheduled visits to your doctor for testing and follow-up will vary depending upon your symptoms as well as your medical history.
Does a Chemical Pregnancy Affect Future Pregnancy?
Many people are concerned about this.
A single chemical pregnancy does not necessarily indicate a long-term infertility issue in most cases.
Loss during early pregnancy occurs frequently, and most women will have healthy pregnancies after losing their first pregnancy.
Doctors may suggest further assessment to find out if something else is contributing to the ongoing situation if the patient has had many lost pregnancies in early stages.
Rather than utilizing the concept of a chemical pregnancy to forecast future results, most practitioners would look at overall health and the history of past pregnancies to assess the potential for viability.
When Should You Speak With a Doctor?
While numerous chemical pregnancies end spontaneously, a doctor should be consulted when symptoms appear abnormal.
If you develop any of these signs or symptoms, you may want to reach out to your doctor for an evaluation.
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Repeated early pregnancy losses
- Questions about future pregnancy planning
Final Thoughts
A chemical pregnancy is typically defined medically in a concise manner, with the definition usually being shorter than the questions asked by an individual experiencing this event.
If we know what happened, this can help reduce confusion & allow people to go beyond with an expectation of what people can expect.
The main takeaway should be that anything that happens early in a patient’s care does not automatically make it less valuable.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide information only and should not replace any medical professional.
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