Test to Determine Viability of Pregnancy

A joint study conducted by British and Dutch researchers reveals that conducting a simple test of the progesterone hormone levels in women who experience abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding could determine whether the pregnancy was viable or not. Doctors currently rely on ultrasound tests to ascertain whether the pregnancy in women, who experiences abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding in the first trimester, is viable or not. However the results are inconclusive in nearly third of the cases.

According to the study, published in the British Medical Journal, low levels of progesterone hormone could indicate that the pregnancy was not viable. The researchers said that the test was more accurate when used in conjunction with transvaginal ultrasound.

“The test should be complemented by another test to increase its diagnostic accuracy. This test is highly accurate when complemented by ultrasound and could be added to the existing algorithms for the evaluation of women with pain or bleeding in early pregnancy as it can accelerate diagnosis”, the researchers wrote in their report.

Source-Medindia