How women determine if they are pregnant
Gynecological experts introduce: The period between 1-12 weeks of a woman's pregnancy is referred to as early pregnancy (shortened as EP). Determining whether there is early pregnancy is important for several reasons. First, it allows measures to be taken early to protect the growth and development of the fetus. Second, if pregnancy is not desired, an abortion can be performed earlier, reducing the pain for the woman. Third, it helps detect ectopic pregnancies early to prevent accidents.
Generally, by the time women realize they are pregnant, more than a month has already passed. So how can women determine if they are pregnant?
Gynecologists introduce: After becoming pregnant, a series of physiological changes occur in the body. Women can judge if they are pregnant by observing these bodily changes.
The changes during early pregnancy include approximately the following aspects:
[1] Missed period
A missed period is the earliest and most important "signal" of early pregnancy. Any married woman of childbearing age with a regular menstrual cycle who experiences a delay of over 3-7 days should consider the possibility of pregnancy and seek medical examination to confirm the cause.
Most women may experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, sleepiness, increased saliva secretion, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting around the 6th week of pregnancy. Vomiting usually occurs in the morning or on an empty stomach. Some pregnant women have a particular craving for sour and cold foods. These symptoms are called early pregnancy reactions and generally disappear around the 12th week of pregnancy. A few women experience more severe early pregnancy reactions that last longer.
[2] Changes in the breasts
After becoming pregnant, under the combined stimulation of estrogen and progesterone, from the 8th week onwards, the breasts gradually enlarge, and the nipples and areolas become darker. There may also be dark brown nodules around the nipples, and after the 12th week, a small amount of clear milk-like fluid may be secreted.
[3] Increased frequency of urination
After the 8th week of pregnancy, there may be an increase in the frequency of urination due to the enlarged uterus pressing and stimulating the bladder. After the 12th week of pregnancy, as the uterus moves out of the pelvis, the pressure on the bladder decreases, and the frequent urination symptoms ease.
[4] Changes in basal body temperature
Women who measure their basal body temperature can detect early pregnancy. Normally, a woman’s basal body temperature shows a biphasic curve—lower before ovulation and higher afterward. If menstruation does not come on schedule, and the elevated temperature remains constant for over 18 days without decreasing, this indicates possible pregnancy.
Experts remind: Environmental changes and emotional stress can cause amenorrhea or delayed menstruation in women. Young women and those in menopause often experience irregular periods, so a missed period does not necessarily mean pregnancy; breastfeeding women may conceive even if their menstruation hasn't returned; changes in appetite, nausea, and vomiting could also be caused by gastric diseases; increased frequency of urination might result from urinary tract infections. Therefore, married women experiencing these changes only indicate the possibility of early pregnancy but do not confirm it. It is necessary to go to the hospital for HCG urine tests, blood tests, ultrasounds, etc., to accurately determine if they are pregnant.
For women who do not wish to have children temporarily for various reasons, once pregnancy is confirmed, appropriate artificial abortion procedures should be immediately undertaken.
Recommended treatment: MIDEN cervical-preserving painless abortion
MIDEN cervical-preserving painless abortion uses microtubes made from nanomaterials through high-tech precision manufacturing. With a diameter of only 3 millimeters, they can enter the uterine cavity without dilation, avoiding unnecessary damage to the cervix caused by traditional metal tubes. The flexible and gentle microtubes can bend to reach the corners of the uterine cavity, minimizing the risk of uterine perforation and endometrial injury. This significantly shortens the surgery time, usually completing the procedure within 10-15 minutes.
This article is excerpted from the official website of Changchun Gynecology Hospital. Original address: http://www.tjfk999.com/wutongrenliu//201103222187.html For more information about gynecological diseases, please visit the official website of Changchun Gynecology Hospital.