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Expert Q&A

	By Traci Kurtzer Obstetrician and Gynecologist

Two months ago when I missed my period, I got several positive HPTs. However, the lab found my blood test to be "unreadable." Four days after my first positive HPT, I started to bleed (like a slightly heavy but normal period). I went in for an examination. The doctor said that we may have fertilized an egg, but it didn't implant or that this was the start of a normal pregnancy. They did a quantitative test that day, which came back positive. The doctor requested that I have another one three days later. I did, and it came back negative.

I'm looking for another opinion as to what may have happened? Does this mean that both my husband and I are fertile? Does the fact that the egg was unable to implant in my uterus mean that I have a problem? Should we worry that this will happen again?

It sounds to me like you had a very early pregnancy that miscarried. The fact that you had a positive quantitative HCG (the pregnancy hormone) test suggests that you indeed fertilized an egg. Either the pregnancy was not healthy and stopped developing normally, or it couldn't implant into the uterus.

This scenario is actually not uncommon. Many women have spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) so early – within two to three weeks after conception – that they don't even know they are pregnant. They may just think their period came a little late, and that's why it was slightly heavier.

If this is your first miscarriage, then you likely don't need to worry. However, it would make sense, if you haven't done it already, to visit your doctor for a "preconceptual visit" so he or she can review your medical and gynecologic history and offer screening tests before you get pregnant the next time. This way, if you do have a condition that could increase your risk of miscarriage, you can work to correct it now.

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