Is it possible to become pregnant without realizing it? Even if you take a pregnancy test and see a doctor, the answer is still yes. You may have read or heard horror stories about women who didn’t realize they were pregnant until they went into labor in the bathroom. If this happens, it’s a mysterious pregnancy, and it can happen more often than you believe.
An unexplained pregnancy is a condition that seems strange and is not discovered until labor begins. Here’s what you need to understand about a mysterious pregnancy, including what it is and how to confirm it.
What exactly is an unexplained pregnancy?
If a pregnant person does not know that she is pregnant, it is called a cryptic pregnancy (or stealth pregnancy). In some cases, women may not realize they are pregnant until labor begins.
Most women discover they are pregnant between 4 and 12 weeks. This is the case if you experience pregnancy-related symptoms or miss your periods. A positive pregnancy test result confirms that you are pregnant. When you mysteriously get pregnant, there’s nothing to suggest you’re pregnant. This may be the case if you are not experiencing pregnancy symptoms, think a virus is the cause, or if your pregnancy test result is inaccurate.
Also read: General health conditions during pregnancy
What is the cause behind occult pregnancy?
The main cause of secret pregnancy is hormones. Let’s explore some physiological explanations for why someone might get mysteriously pregnant.
If you are pregnant or have just given birth, your hormonal cycle may take some time to return to normal. During this period or while breastfeeding, ovulation may begin without you noticing, which can lead to an unexplained pregnancy. Similar to menopause, cryptic pregnancy can occur due to hormonal cycle abnormalities caused by perimenopause.
Even if you are not using contraception, people who have unprotected sex are at risk of becoming pregnant. If you continue to use contraception during pregnancy, you may not experience pregnancy symptoms and may develop a cryptic pregnancy.
Stress affects hormones, so high stress levels can interfere with common pregnancy symptoms. If you have low body fat, your hormones may be out of balance, and you may become pregnant without any symptoms. Cryptic pregnancy can also be caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which causes abnormal or prolonged hormonal cycles.
Although less common, certain psychiatric problems can also lead to latent pregnancy. This is known as “pregnancy refusal” and occurs when a woman is strongly convinced that she is not pregnant, even though tests have confirmed that she is pregnant.
Also read: LadiesAndBabies: Do’s and don’ts during pregnancy
Who is more susceptible to unexplained pregnancies?
Mysterious pregnancy can happen to anyone. You may be more vulnerable if:
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If you’ve just given birth: It may take many months for your period to start returning, and you may not ovulate while breastfeeding (if you’re breastfeeding at your breast). Because of this, some people may believe that they are protected from pregnancy. It is impossible to predict when you will first ovulate and become more fertile while breastfeeding.
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Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Unpredictable periods are a symptom of PCOS. They are used to skipping their periods, so if they skip their periods, they may not know they are pregnant.
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Use birth control: People who use birth control may mistakenly believe that they are immune to pregnancy. Even if you use it correctly, there is a small chance that it will malfunction.
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I am currently in perimenopause. Women in their 40s may think they are too old to get pregnant or may confuse signs of pregnancy with signs of menopause.
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Never been pregnant: If you’ve never been pregnant, you don’t really know what pregnancy feels like. Therefore, it may take more time to find out that you are pregnant.
Also read: Contraceptive pills: Is it right for you?
How is it possible for the test to be negative?
Hormonal imbalance is the main cause of hidden pregnancies, but which hormones go undetected? Low hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone levels are most likely the cause of a negative pregnancy test even during pregnancy (if you have the information you need, use the online hCG calculator (You can track your level).
Antibiotics, medications, and even fertility treatments can all affect hCG levels. Taking the test too soon after missing your period is another factor that can lead to misleading negative pregnancy test results. Many medical professionals recommend that she take the test again a week after she misses her period to double-check the results. Your urine will be more concentrated in the morning, so testing may give more accurate results.
Carefully follow the instructions on the pregnancy test package and wait for the recommended amount of time before examining your findings.
Why do ultrasounds miss pregnancy?
A fetus inside the uterus may be missed on ultrasound. Between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy, medical professionals usually use ultrasound imaging to detect pregnancy in the early stages of pregnancy. Before the seventh week of pregnancy, a heartbeat is rarely seen on ultrasound. Thereafter, transvaginal ultrasound has little trouble detecting the fetal heartbeat.
It is also important to know the time of conception. If your predicted last menstrual period is off by a few days or your ovulation cycle is erratic, this may or may not affect whether you can see a heartbeat on an early pregnancy ultrasound.
If your ultrasound scan does not show pregnancy, there are several possible explanations.
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The embryo did not implant in its normal location in the uterus.
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The shape and position of the uterus hides the embryo.
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Transvaginal ultrasound examination It is usually much more accurate than an abdominal ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy.
If an intrauterine pregnancy cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, blood tests to quantify hCG and repeat ultrasounds may be required to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
Also read: 6 symptoms of ovulation and how to monitor it
What are the symptoms of latent pregnancy?
Symptoms of normal pregnancy also occur in people with latent pregnancy. The main difference is that pregnant people don’t realize that pregnancy is the root cause of their symptoms. For example, a person may believe that they are tired because they need more sleep, or that they are sick because they are eating a certain type of food.
Other signs of a secret pregnancy include:
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My period was late: Missing menstrual cycles is usually a sign of pregnancy. However, this is not always the case. If your cycles are consistently irregular, you may not realize that your period is late due to pregnancy.
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Mild spotting: Some women experience mild spotting or light bleeding during early pregnancy that they mistake for their period.
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False negative pregnancy test result: This occurs when a woman is actually pregnant, but the test result shows she is not. Home pregnancy tests can give false results if not used properly. To be sure you are pregnant, it is best to consult a medical professional.
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Weight gain or bulge: Some women don’t realize they’ve gained weight during pregnancy, and some may blame certain foods for their bloated belly.
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Fetal movements: Most pregnant women do not feel the baby moving until about the second trimester.of placenta If it’s in the front, it’s in front of your stomach. As a result, it may be harder to feel the kick. This may be the reason why you do not realize that you are pregnant during a cryptic pregnancy.
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Not Noticing Pregnancy Symptoms: Young children and people with developmental disabilities may not notice typical pregnancy symptoms, such as late menstrual periods, breast sensitivity, and nausea.
Also read: From pregnancy to birth: A guide to stages of fetal development
conclusion
The reality is that you may be pregnant but not know it. Although rare, occult pregnancy sometimes occurs. In a latent pregnancy, you may go several months or the entire pregnancy without knowing you are pregnant.
Understanding the signs of pregnancy and getting a pregnancy test from a health care professional if you suspect you’re pregnant is the best thing you can do if you’re having sex. Frequent prenatal care is very important for the health and safety of you and your unborn child.
