If you have been sexually active and are experiencing any symptoms of pregnancy, it is recommended that you take one of the many different over the counter pregnancy tests. The American Pregnancy Association is available to help you in locating a pregnancy test location.

Check out these articles for related information:

• Symptoms of Pregnancy
• Understanding Ovulation
• Ovulation Calendar

Whether your potential pregnancy is planned or unplanned, you may have many questions regarding a positive pregnancy test. The good news is the majority of tests carry similar accuracy allowing you to choose between the type of test and the cost.

There are thousands of pregnancy centers across the country that offer to test. If you would like to leverage the free tests offered by one of these nonprofit centers, you can contact the APA at 1-800-672-2296.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Understanding Pregnancy Tests
• Pregnant Teen

The post Positive Pregnancy Test appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Male fertility tests

A semen analysis is the most common procedure when it comes to male fertility testing and seeking to determine if there is a male infertility factor. Sperm is collected into a specimen jar and presented to a lab technician who examines the sperm under a microscope in order to evaluate the count, shape, appearance, and mobility of the sperm.
While determining the sperm count, the technician will also be checking to see if the sperm concentration is above or below 20 million sperm cells per milliliter of ejaculation fluid.

A sperm count test is also available for home use. SpermCheck is a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association and they offer accurate, at-home fertility testing. Visit their website at SpermCheck.com.

If the sperm count is found to be low, the fertility specialist will probably test the blood testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin levels. There are a number of supplements available to help improve sperm parameters such as count, motility and morphology.

Urinalysis can be used to search for white blood cells–an indicator of possible infection. Urinalysis will also show the possible presence of sperm in the urine–an indicator of a possible problem with ejaculation known as retrograde ejaculation.

If the medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis of the male partner are normal, the focus of attention will shift to the female partner. Further male factor evaluation is unlikely to be necessary in most cases.

Other Male Fertility Tests

However, in some cases additional laboratory and sperm analysis tests might be recommended including any of the following tests:

• Sperm agglutination: A laboratory test involving the examination of sperm under a microscope to determine if the sperm are clumping together. Clumping prevents sperm from swimming through the cervical mucus.
• Sperm penetration assay: A laboratory test utilizing hamster eggs to evaluate a sperm’s capability of penetrating the egg. This test is rarely used.
• Hemizona assay: A laboratory test in which a non-usable human egg is cut in half. The purpose of the procedure is to see if the sperm are able to penetrate the outermost protective layer of the egg.
• Acrosome reaction: A laboratory test that helps determine if sperm heads are able to go through the chemical changes necessary to dissolve an egg’s tough outer shell.
• Hypo-osmotic swelling: A laboratory test that uses a special sugar and salt solution to evaluate the sperm’s tail and ability of the sperm to penetrate the egg. The tails of healthy sperm tend to swell in the solution in contrast with dead or abnormal sperm where the tails do not swell.
• Testicular biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed from the tubules in the testes and examined to determine how well sperm are being produced.
• Vasography: An x-ray exam is used to determine if there is blockage or leakage of sperm in the vas deferens.
• Ultrasonography: An exam used to locate damage or blockages in the male reproductive tract, including the prostate, seminal vesicles, and ejaculatory ducts.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Infertility 101: What You Need to Know First
• Male Infertility
• Female Infertility
• Infertility Medications

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. MayoClinic

https://mayoclinic.com

2. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

https://www.asrm.org

The post Male Fertility Testing appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

What do pregnancy blood tests look for?

A blood test is used to assess blood type (A, B, AB, and O), Rh factor (Rh positive or negative), glucose, iron, and hemoglobin levels. A blood test is also used to assess whether you are immune to rubella, to see if you have a sexually transmitted disease, or to see if you have a toxoplasmosis infection. A blood test is also part of the Triple Screen Test.

Blood tests can also be used to diagnose certain genetic diseases such as familial hypercholesterolemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, thalassemia, and Tay-Sachs disease.

What can blood test results tell me?

Blood Type: The blood test will diagnose your blood type. You will either be A, B, AB or O.
Rh Factor:The blood test will also reveal whether you are Rh negative or Rh positive. If you do not have the Rh antigen in your blood, then you are Rh negative.  If you do have it, then you are Rh positive. This test is important because problems may arise if the mother’s blood does not have the Rh factor and the baby’s blood does.

Glucose Levels: The blood test is used to measure the body’s ability to metabolize sugar and screen for gestational diabetes. If your glucose level is between 130 to 140 milligrams per deciliter of blood, then your healthcare provider will request a glucose tolerance test.

Iron Levels: The blood test will determine if you have iron deficiencies in your blood. Even if your blood is low in iron, it does not mean you are anemic, but it does make you more susceptible to anemia. If your levels are low, your healthcare provider may prescribe iron tablets or injections.

Hemoglobin Levels: The blood test will identify the level of hemoglobin, which is the oxygen-carrying power of your red blood cells. The expected level is between 12 to 14 grams. Treatment for anemia will be prescribed if your level falls below 10 grams.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A blood test is a diagnostic test used to determine whether you have syphilis, hepatitis B, or HIV.

Rubella (German measles): The results of the blood test will determine if you have antibodies for rubella and whether or not you are immune.

Toxoplasmosis: The results of the blood test will determine if you have the toxoplasmosis infection. Toxoplasmosis is harmless to you, but it may cross the placenta and cause harm to the baby.

What are the risks and side effects to the mother or baby?

Outside the discomfort of having blood drawn, a blood test poses no risks to the mother or developing fetus. This test is a routine part of your prenatal care.

Want to Know More?

• Rh Factor and Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Week 6

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. Nemours Foundation

https://www.kidshealth.org

2. William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 8.

The post Understanding Pregnancy Blood Tests appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Some Pros of Knowing Baby’s Sex Before Birth

It reduces stress: Knowing the scientific tools are available to them to find out, some women just can’t stand not knowing if they’re having a boy or girl. Stress during pregnancy can lead to high blood pressure and other harmful ailments. So if mama tends to get stressed about every little thing, finding out gender early can remove one important unknown and she’ll feel more in control.

Couples can prepare ahead of time: Nine months is a long time to be pregnant, so keeping busy helps the time fly by faster. When a couple know the baby’s gender, they can decorate the nursery ahead of time in colors other than neutral green or yellow. BONUS: They can also have the fun of throwing a gender-reveal party and getting more personalized baby-shower gifts.

You may feel a closer connection sooner: According to experts at Parents Magazine, finding out baby’s gender during pregnancy can help parents feel closer to their little one and may even help the baby seem more “real.”

If you want to know the sex of your baby early, ultrasound is helpful, but may not provide a reliable answer until 20 weeks or later. NIPT is another option, but is not always covered by insurance. Peekaboo is an at-home early gender detection DNA test endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association. This test detects baby’s sex with >99% accuracy as early as 6 weeks. You can learn more about this very-affordable test at PeekabooGenderTest.com.

Some Cons of Knowing Baby’s Sex Before Birth

The element of surprise is no longer a factor: Some couples don’t want to know ahead of time because they believe it’s more fun to wait till birth. They love the idea of surprising family and friends—and even themselves!

Dealing with disappointment: According to Lamaze International, if a mama or papa is “hoping” for a girl, but find out ahead of time that they’re most likely having a boy, this may lessen the excitement and anticipation they feel for the birth. Even if the couple is thrilled with the sex of their little one, family members or friends could express disappointment and that can be very stressful and downright annoying!

Too much blue or pink: Knowing (and spreading the news) about baby’s sex during pregnancy can result in way too many gender-specific gifts from well-meaning friends and family members—not to mention the parents will most likely get bombarded with ideas for baby names.

Again, there is no right or wrong when it comes to knowing baby’s sex before birth—it’s an entirely personal and private decision for a couple to make. As always, the most important things are a healthy pregnancy and healthy newborn.

Want to Know More?

Gender Prediction Tests: The Latest Science

Compiled using information from the following sources:

Lamaze International: https://www.lamaze.org/

March of Dimes: https://www.marchofdimes.org/

Parents Magazine: https://www.parents.com/

The post Knowing Baby’s Sex Before Birth: Some Pros and Cons of Gender Reveal appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

• Getting the nursery ready ahead of time and having the freedom of choosing a color besides yellow or green
• Enjoying the fun of planning and then throwing a gender reveal party
• Being able to start a list of possible baby names right away
• Relieving that nagging stress of wondering if it’s a boy or a girl

There are quite a few tests on the market that claim to be able to predict baby’s gender, but it’s important for parents to exercise caution—many of them just aren’t that reliable  (like urine tests, for example). You also want to be wary of boy or girl predictor myths that abound on the internet and have been making iffy predictions for centuries. Aunt Julie might swear that you’re having a girl since you’re carrying so high, or Cousin Lucy insists that a slower fetal heartbeat means you’re having a boy, but these are folk tales debunked by science. And no—you can’t rely on mother’s intuition either.

Luckily, remarkable strides have been made in gender-prediction testing, providing parents-to-be with highly-reliable, safe, and evidence-based methods.

Gender Prediction Testing

The “Old-Fashioned” Way

“Old-old”: Amniocentesis (Early 1970s)

Amniocentesis is an invasive test first introduced in the early 1970s. It is most often performed as a first-trimester screening test that looks for genetic conditions—typically performed at 15–20 weeks of pregnancy. Although a mother may choose to find out the gender of her baby when this test is performed, amnio is not done for gender determination only since the test carries a risk of miscarriage

 “Kind of old”: Ultrasound (Late 1970s)

Many expectant parents don’t know that—prior to the 14th week of pregnancy—most babies look similar. Early in the pregnancy, ultrasound isn’t typically an accurate method for determining if you’re carrying a boy or a girl. By 20 weeks, ultrasound is 100% accurate, unless baby is being shy and turning away from the imaging screen!

The Very Latest in Gender Prediction Testing

Beginning in 1997, genetic researchers began using cell-free circulating Y-chromosome DNA in the plasma of pregnant women for medical reasons. 20 years later, DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) began using this technology for non-medical purposes, offering optional gender determination to customers who did non-invasive prenatal paternity DNA testing. But what about expectant couples who don’t need a prenatal paternity test but simply want a reliable method to know their baby’s gender early in the pregnancy? Enter the ultrasound in 2020.

The Most Innovative Science to Date: The  Peekaboo

This groundbreaking home test improves the pregnancy journey by helping parents find out the gender of their baby just six weeks into pregnancy. Peekaboo leverages a highly-exacting scientific approach the very latest technology, and pinpoint precision to determine if you’re having a boy or girl.

Simple, Safe, and Accurate Gender Testing at Home

With a small blood sample, now you can determine if pink or blue is in your future with 99.5% accuracy! During sample analysis, DDC scientists look for the presence of the Y chromosome to determine if the baby is a boy or a girl. It’s the most accurate test on the market today. So out with the old and in with the new—today’s parents can leverage the power of DNA science to find out their little one’s sex right from the comfort of home. It’s a new day for pregnant parents!

Want to Know More?

• Gender Reveal Party Ideas

The post Gender Prediction Tests: The Latest Science appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Gender-reveal parties are all the rage—and no wonder! One of the most exciting parts of being expectant parents is finding out if you’re having a boy or a girl. So why not come up with a fun way to announce the big news to family and friends, right? Unfortunately, as the gender-reveal craze grew, so did the pressure to up the ante and go bigger and fancier with the parties In fact, in September of 2020, a pyrotechnic device used at such a party accidentally started a huge wildfire in California. Yikes! You can go simpler—much simpler—and still make it fun. Here are 5 simple gender-reveal party ideas anyone can pull off.

 1. Balloon in a Box

This is charming, sweet, inexpensive (yay!), and oh so easy. Have fun decorating a giant box and then fill it with helium-filled mylar and or latex balloons in pink or blue. You can do it yourself, but—if you really want to go as simple and trouble-free as possible—there are lots of party stores and online retailers who offer ready-made gender reveal balloon boxes.

2. Cheers!

Once all your guests have arrived, it’s time to serve them something to drink. Toast your upcoming bundle of joy with either pink lemonade or regular lemonade with a dash of blue food coloring. Does it get any simpler than this? Bottoms up!

3. Tee it Up

If you like things that explode, you can have loads of colorful fun at your gender reveal party without burning down the house or breaking the bank with expensive fireworks. How about an exploding golf ball? A quick internet search will find a whole lot of options for you. When the golf ball is hit, it bursts with either pink or blue powder. Fun! (Photo credit: Party Time)

4. Let Big Brother or Sister Do the Honors

If you have an older child, why not make them feel special too and give them a memory that will last a lifetime? When it’s time to reveal baby’s gender, have the child parade through the party wearing a white t-shirt decorated with their handprints in either pink or blue. Or mom can change into a t-shirt pre-decorated with her child’s handprints or even footprints.

5. Break Out the Cake

It’s the mother (so to speak) of all gender-reveal party ideas, and it’s forever popular because it’s so simple and yummy! When you cut into that sugary goodness, the color of the cake tells the story. You can either make it at home or—better yet—put your feet up and have a bakery make it for you.

Have Fun!

So you’ve found out your baby’s gender and you’re ready to reveal it to your little world. Gender reveal party ideas don’t have to be fancy, complicated, or expensive. They just don’t. It’s important to keep your eye on what’s most important: the love and support of family and friends and the future arrival of a precious new member of your clan.

(Don’t know your baby’s gender yet? Check out our recommended at-home Peekaboo gender reveal DNA test to find out if you’re having a boy or girl as early as 6 weeks.)

Want to Know More?

• Gender Prediction Test

The post Gender Reveal Party Ideas appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

At-home semen analysis kits are available to help encourage male fertility testing.  The option of at-home kits allows men to be more comfortable with testing in the privacy of their own home.

Fertility Testing for Women

The first step in diagnosing female fertility is a comprehensive appointment with your fertility physician. During this appointment, your medical history and lifestyle will be discussed extensively. Topics such as birth control use, menstrual and pregnancy history, current and past sexual practices, medications used, surgical history, other health issues and what your lifestyle is like as well as your work/living environment will all be discussed.

A thorough physical exam will also be done. Areas such as your thyroid, breasts, and hair growth will be looked at. A pelvic exam is also an important part of female fertility testing, along with a pap smear.

After this first appointment, your physician may want to proceed with some initial testing. This initial testing will evaluate things such as if ovulation is occurring, when it should be occurring, ovarian function, and uterine function during the ovulation process.

Ideally, you will have already begun tracking your ovulation through fertility awareness or a fertility monitor. This will provide your reproductive specialists with valuable information about your ovulation. Usually one of the first questions regarding female fertility is whether you are ovulating or not.

Ovulation evaluation may be broken down into types:

• Ovulation testing— to confirm if ovulation is occurring by looking through your temperature charts, using ovulation predictor kits and blood tests and ultrasound.
• Ovarian function tests–These tests are looking to see how the hormones are functioning and working during your ovulation cycle. Tests include the Day 3 FSH (measuring follicle stimulating hormone), Day 3 Estradiol (measuring estrogen), ultrasound (to confirm ovulation occurred) and blood tests to determine the levels of inhibin B.
• Luteal Phase testing– Testing will evaluate progesterone levels, more extensive hormone testing, and possibly an endometrial biopsy ( see below for more info on this procedure.)
• Hormone tests: Most all of this testing will revolve around thorough hormone tests.

These hormone tests include the following:

• Luteinizing Hormone
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone
• Estradiol
• Progesterone
• Prolactin
• Free T3
• Total Testosterone
• Free Testosterone
• DHEAS
• Androstenedione

The following tests are also commonly used in the first evaluated cycle:

• Cervical mucus tests: This involves a post-coital test (PCT) which determines if the sperm is able to penetrate and survive in the cervical mucus. It also involves bacterial screening.
• Ultrasound tests: This is used to assess the thickness of the lining of the uterus (endometrium), to monitor follicle development and to check the condition of the uterus and ovaries. An ultrasound may be conducted two to three days later to confirm that an egg has been released.

If both the semen analysis and the above testing return normal results, there is also additional testing that your fertility specialists may recommend.
These tests include any of the following:

• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): This is an x-ray of your uterus and fallopian tubes. A dye is injected through the cervix into the uterus and fallopian tubes. The dye enables the radiologist to see if there is a blockage or some other problem.
• Hysteroscopy: This is a procedure that may be used if the HSG indicates the possible presence of abnormalities. The hysteroscope is inserted through the cervix into the uterus, which allows your fertility specialist to see any abnormalities, growths, or scarring in the uterus.  The hysteroscope allows the physician to take pictures which can be used for future reference.
• Laparoscopy: This is a procedure done under general anesthesia, that involves the use of a narrow fiber-optic telescope
  under. The laparoscope is inserted into a woman’s abdomen to provide a view of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. If any abnormalities such as endometriosis, scar tissue or other adhesions are found, they can be removed by a laser. It is important to confirm that you are not pregnant before this test is performed.
• Endometrial biopsy: This is a procedure that involves scraping a small amount of tissue from the endometrium just prior to menstruation.  This procedure is performed to determine if the lining is thick enough for a fertilized egg to implant in and grow. It is important to confirm that you are not pregnant before this test is performed.

These tests are not mandatory and your fertility specialists will know which tests to recommend in your situation.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

More informative articles:

• Infertility 101: What You Need to Know First
• Female infertility
• Infertility Medications
• Ovulation: Frequently Asked Questions

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

https://www.resolve.org

2. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

https://www.asrm.org

The post Fertility Test for Women appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

How does a test tell if you are pregnant or not?

A pregnancy test detects the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your blood or in your urine. hCG is produced in the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first few days of pregnancy.

How long do I have to wait before I take a test?

Most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a home pregnancy test. A missed period is usually one of the first signs of pregnancy. This is usually around two weeks after conception.
However, some tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier. Concentrations of hCG are reported in milliInternational Units (mIU) or an amount equal to 1/1000th of an IU per milliliter. A pregnancy test with a sensitivity of 20 IU/L is more sensitive than one with 50 IU/L.

A blood test administered by your doctor is more sensitive than the early home tests and can be taken between 7 and 12 days after you conceive.  However, it is possible that these tests can be done too early and show a false negative result.  If you receive a negative result and still do not start your period, another test should be done.

How accurate are home tests?

Home tests are very accurate (around 97%) when used correctly. Some kits come with two tests because mistakes do happen. If you take a test too early, you may get a false negative (when the test says you are not pregnant but you are).
Your body needs time for the hormone to rise to a high enough level to be detected in a test. If the test comes back negative but you still think you could be pregnant, wait a few days and test again.

False positives (when the test says you’re pregnant but you’re not) are possible but rare. A positive pregnancy test is a pretty good indication that you are pregnant.

Do you want to get pregnant?

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

Want to Know More?

• Things to Know About Ovulation
• Track Your Ovulation
• Are You Trying to Get Pregnant
• Preconception for Women
• Signs of Ovulation

The post Taking a Pregnancy Test appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.