 |
| Do my prior pregnancies impact the one I'm planning to have? |
|
 |
| Yes. Obstetrical history is very important. If you have had a difficult time conceiving
in the past, the same factors may come into play (if your tubes were blocked and you
needed assisted reproductive technology like IVF, you will likely need it again,
if you have never had regular menstrual cycles and needed ovulatory assistance
in the past, you may need it again).
If you had an ectopic pregnancy in the past your risk of having another is much
higher (one in ten) and this is critical information for your doctor to
have. You will need to take a pregnancy test as soon as you suspect you
are pregnant, and once confirmed, you must alert your doctor right away
and blood levels of pregnancy hormone must be followed regularly, along with appropriate
sonography to confirm that the pregnancy is in the uterus.
An undiagnosed, untreated ectopic pregnancy can be a life threatening situation.
If you have had pregnancy losses in the past, testing and evaluation should
be carried out preconceptually and the pregnancy should be followed closely from its inception. |
|
Wendy Fried, M.D., FACOG, FACS,
is an OB/Gyn with Northern Obstetrics and Gynecology, PC in North Hills, New York |
|
|
|
