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Many women discover they are pregnant after a positive home pregnancy test . Urine tests check for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is produced by the placenta. The newest home tests can detect pregnancy six to nine days a...
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During a physical examination, a health care provider studies a patient's body to determine the presence or absence of physical problems. A typical physical examination includes: Inspection (looking at the body; Palpation (feeling the body with hands; Auscultation (listening to sounds; Percussion (producing sounds.
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This type of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test measures the specific level of HCG in the urine. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. See also: HCG in blood serum - qualitative; HCG in blood serum - quantitative; Pregnancy test.
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Pregnancy is detected by measuring the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in serum or urine. Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by the placenta that supports the corpus luteum after fertilization of the ovum. Production of hCG begins at the time of implantation, and hCG can usually be detected in serum and urine within 10 days after fertilization. The level of hCG in serum and urine is usually above 25 mIU/mL, the cutoff for a positive pregnancy test, before the next expected period. Therefore, pregnancy can be detected reliably within two to three days following the first missed menses using a qualitative hCG test. In addition to diagnosis of pregnancy, the test is used in emergency departments to rule out pregnancy in circumstances in which x ray and other procedures are contraindicated by pregnancy. The test is also used to rule out pregnancy in females with acute abdominal pain that suggests the possibility of ectopic pregnancy (i.e., pregnancy outside the uterus). Quantitative measurements of hCG are used as an aid to the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and trophoblastic tumors. Serial measurements may be used to monitor treatment and recurrence of tumors that secrete hCG. Measurement of hCG is also part of the triple marker screening procedure performed on maternal serum between weeks 15 to 20 to assess the fetal risk of Down syndrome .
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The most common test of pregnancy involves the detection of a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a sample of blood or urine.
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Transvaginal ultrasound is a type of pelvic ultrasound. It is used to look at a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix, and vagina. Transvaginal means across or through the vagina. See also: Pregnancy ultrasound
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A transvaginal ultrasound, also called transvaginal sonogram (TVS), is an ultrasound that uses an internal probe, or transducer, that enters the vaginal cavity. Either a radiology technician or physician performs the test, and a radiologist interprets the results.
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Transvaginal ultrasound uses a special probe that is placed directly into the vagina. This gives a clearer picture of the uterus, ovaries, and other pelvic organs. This test can be used to assess symptoms such as pain and to check for problems. In pregnant women, it is used to check the fetus.
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Pelvic ultrasound is a procedure where harmless, high-frequency sound waves are projected into the abdomen. These waves reflect off of the internal structures and create shadowy black and white pictures on a display screen.
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A pelvic examination is a routine procedure used to assess the well being of the female patients' lower genito-urinary tract. This is done as part of a usual health screening and prevention tool, and is an element of the total health care for the female patient. During a pelvic exam, cells from the cervix are scraped on a spatula and are tested for abnormalacies. (Illustration by Argosy Inc. )
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A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to see how a fetus is developing in the womb. It is also used to check the female pelvic organs during pregnancy.
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Prenatal ultrasound is a procedure performed during pregnancy to obtain images of the fetus.
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During ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves pass through your body and your baby. You can’t hear the sound waves, but the ultrasound equipment can.
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Doppler UltrasoundDoppler ultrasound uses harmless sound waves to create a picture of your blood flow. This test can detect narrow or blocked arteries and blood clots in the veins.Before Your TestThe test takes30–60minutes.
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Antenatal testing describes procedures performed during pregnancy to detect health problems in the growing fetus; establish characteristics such as fetal age, sex, or weight; or diagnose any material conditions that may affect fetal development.
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Antenatal testing includes any diagnostic procedures performed before the birth of a baby.
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Pelvic ultrasound is a procedure in which high-frequency sound waves create images of the pelvic organs. The sound waves are projected into the pelvis, and measure how they reflect—or echo—back from the different tissues.
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An ultrasound unit is a noninvasive medical device used to produce images of body tissues and organs from differential reflections of ultrasonic sound waves. The technique of diagnostic imaging performed by ultrasound units is called ultrasonography. Ultrasonic waves are sound waves of a higher frequency than the human ear can detect. The frequency of a sound wave is the number of times per second that it cycles, and the number of cycles is measured in hertz (Hz). For example, one kilohertz (kHz) is one thousand cycles per second. Human hearing can detect sound in the range between 20 hertz to about 20 kilohertz (20kHz), or 20,000 cycles per second. Ultrasound images are generally produced using sound waves in the range between 1.6 to 10 million megahertz (MHz). Body tissues of different density reflect, or echo, sound waves differently, allowing the sonographer to distinguish between the structures.
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Pelvic ultrasound is a procedure in which high-frequency sound waves are used to create images of the pelvic organs by projecting the sound waves into the pelvis and measuring how the sound waves reflect, or echo, back from the different tissues.
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A quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test measures the specific level of HCG in the blood. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. See also: HCG urine test; HCG blood test - qualitative.
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Detailed information on second trimester prenatal screening, including alpha-fetoprotein AFP screening, hCG human chorionic gonadtoropin hormone, estriol, and inhibin
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