Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Home Pregnancy Test Came Positive. Could Not Detect Anything In Ultrasound. Why?
Question: My last period was on 09.14.13; took a home pregnancy test 10.14.13 and it was positive. Went to Dr 10.19.13 and she said she couldn't find the baby or anything in my ultrasound. Took another hpt and it was positive again. Waiting to take a blood test to confirm pregnancy, but I'm worried, she said I might have conceived later in my cycle ski it's too early to detect or I'm not pregnant. What's wrong??
Brief Answer:
Blood test for pregnancy, scan after 2 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
The possibilities in your case are :
- Usually transabdominal ultrasound can show the intrauterine pregnancy after 5 completed weeks.
So possibly because of that your doctor might not seen any gestational sac.
- Sometimes urine pregnancy test kit can give false positive results.
But as both the times the results were positive, this possibility is less.
So, you can go for blood test for pregnancy as you are thinking.
If the test comes positive, go for repeat scan after 2 weeks.
Possibly by that time ultrasound can pickup the gestational sac and embryo.
Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer followup queries. If you are satisfied with the answer, please give your review at the end of the discussion.
Take care.
Blood test for pregnancy, scan after 2 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
The possibilities in your case are :
- Usually transabdominal ultrasound can show the intrauterine pregnancy after 5 completed weeks.
So possibly because of that your doctor might not seen any gestational sac.
- Sometimes urine pregnancy test kit can give false positive results.
But as both the times the results were positive, this possibility is less.
So, you can go for blood test for pregnancy as you are thinking.
If the test comes positive, go for repeat scan after 2 weeks.
Possibly by that time ultrasound can pickup the gestational sac and embryo.
Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer followup queries. If you are satisfied with the answer, please give your review at the end of the discussion.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
She also did a transvaginal ultrasound and couldn't locate the sac. So the possibility is that I'm just too early in the pregnancy? In worried something is wrong, like a miscarriage. I'm posting I'm pregnant, I have all the symptoms and the two positive test, but I wanted to know what are the other possibilities why the ultrasound is not seeing the embryo?
Brief Answer:
Wrong dates, delay in implantation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The possible causes for absence of gestational sac in ultrasound are :
- Wrong dates.
-Delay in implantation. Sometimes ovulation may get delayed in the menstrual cycle, leading to delayed implantation.
- False positive urine pregnancy test
In such cases, I suggest blood hCG levels (for pregnancy) and repeat ultrasound scan after 2 weeks.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need clarification.
Take care.
Wrong dates, delay in implantation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The possible causes for absence of gestational sac in ultrasound are :
- Wrong dates.
-Delay in implantation. Sometimes ovulation may get delayed in the menstrual cycle, leading to delayed implantation.
- False positive urine pregnancy test
In such cases, I suggest blood hCG levels (for pregnancy) and repeat ultrasound scan after 2 weeks.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need clarification.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
