What is a Miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. It’s also sometimes referred to as a spontaneous abortion. Miscarriage affects up to 20 percent of all pregnancies.
How Long Can You Test Positive For Pregnancy After a Miscarriage?
It can take weeks for a woman’s body to stop producing hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) after a miscarriage. hCG is what pregnancy tests detect and so a woman can test positive up to 6 weeks after a miscarriage, when levels have returned to normal.
Test results can vary depending on the type of test used, how soon after the miscarriage the test was taken and the amount of hCG present in the woman’s body at the time of testing. Most tests will show a negative result if a woman has had a miscarriage more than 2 weeks prior.
It’s important for women to understand that a positive test does not necessarily mean that a pregnancy is ongoing. It may just be a sign that the body is still going through the process of returning to normal following the miscarriage.
HCG Levels After a Miscarriage
HCG is produced by the placenta during pregnancy and its levels usually peak around the 10th week of pregnancy. These levels usually begin dropping once the miscarriage has occurred, and tests which look for hCG in the blood or urine will usually start to show a negative result after 2–3 weeks.
It can take a few more weeks for hCG levels to return to normal, which means that a woman may still test positive up to 6 weeks after a miscarriage.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test After a Miscarriage
Women can choose to take a pregnancy test any time after the loss of a pregnancy. However, most tests will not show a positive result until after implantation of a fertilized egg, which usually happens 6–10 days after successful fertilization.
Speak to Your Doctor
It is recommended that women speak to their doctor if they are unsure about the state of their pregnancy or are unclear about any of the signs or symptoms associated with miscarriage. The doctor will be able to answer any questions, provide advice, and help a woman understand the situation better.
“What are the signs of pregnancy after a miscarriage?”
Signs of pregnancy after a miscarriage can vary from person to person. Common signs of possible pregnancy after a miscarriage include fatigue, breast tenderness, nausea, bloating, and missed menstrual periods. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Welcome to my fertility blog. This is a space where I will be sharing my experiences as I navigate through the world of fertility treatments, as well as provide information and resources about fertility and pregnancy.
