If the ultrasound does not show pregnancy. Can ultrasound not see pregnancy. Early pregnancy

When a desired pregnancy occurs, all expectant mothers want to reliably make sure that the fetal egg is attached to the wall of the uterus and the formation of the unborn baby is normal. Ultrasound is considered the most reliable and convenient way to confirm a positive pregnancy test.

Despite the fact that a high-precision test strip, readily available in the pharmacy network, shows the onset of pregnancy, and a qualified obstetrician-gynecologist is able to recognize the symptoms of a "pregnant uterus", only the final ultrasound data confirms the fact of gestation. That is why, in the case when a woman believes that she managed to get pregnant, and the fetal egg is not visible on the ultrasound, future parents are perplexed.

In connection with this phenomenon, they have a question - can the diagnostician not see the pregnancy on an ultrasound scan? In our article, we want to provide information on how long it is possible to confirm the completion of the conception process, when the ultrasound scanner will allow the doctor to see the embryo, and whether it is possible not to see the pregnancy on ultrasound.

How are expectant mothers examined?

If the pregnancy test turned out to be positive, this can be confirmed by ultrasound - the diagnosis is carried out in a commercial center or in a antenatal clinic. It is important to know that an important role in obtaining reliable survey results is played by equipment with a high level of resolution and functionality, as well as the qualifications of a specialist.

Up to 9 obstetric weeks, two methods are used to examine pregnant women:

  • Transabdominal - through the region of the anterior abdominal wall.
  • Transvaginal - using a transducer that is inserted into the vagina.

Up to 5 weeks, the formed fetal egg is very small - its size is only about two millimeters. It is transvaginal that is considered to be an effective method for diagnosing the embryonic period - its high-frequency sensor makes it possible to get as close as possible to the uterine cavity and transfer the smallest sizes of the organs under study to the monitor screen.

The technique of examining a future mother using high-frequency waves is non-invasive and absolutely harmless - it allows the doctor to safely observe the development of the fetus

For the entire period of gestation, a woman performs at least three ultrasound scans. The examination session is short-term, the doctor tries not to hold the sensor in one place for a long time, especially during the formation of the most important organs and systems of the unborn baby.

What is seen on an ultrasound?

The main purpose of ultrasound in the embryonic period is to confirm the onset of pregnancy, this issue is especially relevant in the case of in vitro fertilization. The doctor-diagnostician has several tasks:

  • Confirmation of fixation of the fetal egg in the uterus.
  • Exclusion of the presence of a neoplasm in the uterine cavity, which can "mask" as pregnancy.
  • Embryo viability assessment.
  • Exclusion of ectopic pregnancy.
  • Determination of the presence of a second fetus.
  • Study of the localization of the placenta and fetus.
  • Specification of gestational age.

In gynecological practice, there is one important point that all future mothers should know: the doctor measures the duration of the pregnancy period in obstetric weeks - from the first day of the last menstruation. That is why the difference between the real and obstetric term for conceiving a child is two weeks. In a woman of reproductive age with a normal menstrual cycle, recognition of pregnancy during transvaginal examination occurs no later than five weeks. If the cycle is irregular, it is difficult to determine the exact period for menstruation.

At what time is the embryo not visible on ultrasound?

Signs of a viable pregnancy are the following factors that the ultrasound scanner captures:

  • the presence of a distinguishable outline of the embryo in the egg;
  • listening to the fetal heartbeat;
  • fixation of the slightest movements of the embryo.

For each woman, the period of bearing a child proceeds individually and it is very difficult to say exactly how long it takes for the doctor to be able to examine the fetus in the form of a dot and hear the rhythm of his heart.

In obstetric practice, there are certain normative terms for conducting ultrasound diagnostics for pregnant women. This takes into account that transvaginal scanning allows you to study the ongoing changes before transabdominal. In order for our readers to evaluate the quality of these methods, we provide a comparative table.

The beginning of contractions of the heart muscle of the future baby falls on the period from 3 to 4 weeks and it is possible to catch it only with the help of a transducer (a special narrow vaginal sensor). It happens that the uzist doctor cannot see anything in the fetal egg and recommends coming for an examination in 7-14 days.

It is the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle of the embryo that will allow the doctor to clarify the gestational age:

  • at 5 obstetric weeks, the heart rate is up to 85 beats / min;
  • in 6 - from 102 to 126;
  • in 7 - from 127 to 149;
  • in 8 - from 150 to 172;
  • at 9 - 175.

If at 7 obstetric weeks no embryo parameters are observed in the fetal egg and the heart rhythm is not heard, a preliminary diagnosis of anembryony is made - the absence of an embryo in the fetal egg. However, in this case, the woman is also recommended to come for an additional ultrasound after another 7 days.

Embryo parameters

Normally, the fetal egg has an oval shape and a dark gray tint. To fully monitor the formation of the fetus on ultrasound, the following indicators are measured.

Many factors influence the clear visibility of the fetus on the monitor of the ultrasound machine, and if the embryo is not visible, do not panic - you should wait two weeks and repeat the study.


At the beginning of pregnancy, the embryo resembles the letter “C”, as it grows, the appearance changes - at 8 weeks you can already see both the head and the highlighted limbs

Why is the fetus not visible on ultrasound with a growing level of hCG?

The fetal membranes of the developing baby produce a special substance - human chorionic gonadotropin, indicating that the conception has taken place. In the first trimester, the amount of this protein-hormone in the circulating blood of a woman grows very quickly - in the first weeks, its concentration doubles every second day.

Monitoring the growth dynamics of hCG levels allows obstetrician-gynecologists to draw an accurate conclusion about the development of pregnancy.

If, when assessing the amount of this biologically active substance, an increase in its amount is observed, the doctor confirms with certainty the onset and successful development of pregnancy. Every woman wants to know about the onset of pregnancy early, but the accuracy of the ultrasound results in the second week of the delay in menstruation is very low - it is better to wait until the fifth week.

If, with positive hCG tests (in the case when the quantitative final data of the analyzes correspond to the estimated gestational age), pregnancy is not determined by ultrasound, then you need to come for an additional examination. An hCG level of more than 1800 mU / ml corresponds to the third week of pregnancy and, if an ultrasound scanner does not observe a fetal egg in the uterine cavity, the doctor assumes the development of an ectopic pregnancy.

The lack of growth in hCG levels (negative test) may indicate the fact that the development of the embryo does not occur - either it died, or the egg was not fertilized in this cycle.
Not all women know such a phenomenon as biochemical pregnancy or preclinical spontaneous miscarriage. In this case, conception occurs, the fetal egg is attached to the uterine wall, however, when the next period comes, the pregnancy is terminated.

Emphasis should also be placed on those situations where pregnancy is not visible on ultrasound, and the test is positive - monitoring the level of hCG is of particular importance, it is necessary to take a blood test several times, with an interval of several days. The final data of laboratory studies allow us to determine the compliance of the hormone concentration with the norm and its increase.


Practitioners advise future parents to try not to force events, an exception is possible only when it is necessary to confirm or deny the pregnancy as soon as possible

What to do if pregnancy is not detected during ultrasound scanning?

In the event of a situation where the uzist doctor cannot see the outlines of the embryo, and sometimes the fetal egg itself, you must try to remain calm and not succumb to false beliefs! This is possible in the absence of gestation or its period is very short to notice on the monitor. Without the presence of absolute evidence of an interrupted pregnancy, it is impossible to carry out curettage of the uterine cavity!

You should go to another clinic and re-examine - it is better to do this on expert-class equipment with high resolution. It is also necessary that an ultrasound be accompanied. You may need to go through the examination several times. Future parents should make every effort so that diagnostic errors do not cost the child's life!


Our life is rich in various amazing moments of both positive and negative connotations. But it’s true, what an unpleasant surprise covers a woman when a pregnancy test first pleased her by showing a positive result, and an ultrasound diagnostic doctor during the study upset her with a negative answer. Why is there such a discrepancy? After all, pregnancy is either there, or it is not at all.

Confirmation of pregnancy

There are four main methods for determining the "interesting position" of a woman. All of them are quite popular, reliable and accessible to everyone.

home test

A pregnancy test is a way to detect conception on the first day of a delay. The method is based on the determination of the concentration of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in biological material (urine). The simplest test is a strip with a special reagent, which, reacting with urine, appears as a second red indicator strip.


The execution of tests can be varied: strip test, tablet, inkjet and digital. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Which one to choose is up to the woman herself, based on financial ability and trust.

Laboratory blood test

This type of check is used extremely rarely, because you need to go through an unpleasant procedure for donating blood from a vein, and the cost of the analysis is not encouraging. The overwhelming majority of women prefer an easy-to-use test.

A laboratory study of blood serum allows you to determine pregnancy even before the delay, namely on the 6-8th day after fertilization.

Gynecological examination

An experienced gynecologist is able to determine pregnancy during the examination of the patient. For this, a bimanual examination is also carried out in the mirrors. Using a mirror, the doctor examines the cervix and walls. By manual examination, the doctor probes the uterus and appendages with both hands from the inside and outside. During pregnancy, the organs of the reproductive system change texture, shade and size.

Ultrasonography

Ultrasound is considered the most reliable way to determine pregnancy. To detect early conception, an intravaginal examination is considered the best. The transvaginal probe is inserted directly into the vagina and examines the uterus from the internal organs. Most often, ultrasound is performed after testing to confirm or refute the fact of conception, to exclude pathological processes and ectopic pregnancy.


Abdominal ultrasound (external) in the issue of early pregnancy detection is significantly inferior in terms of reliability of the result to the transvaginal method. The ultrasonic sensor is guided along the abdominal wall and examines the internal processes from the outside. External ultrasound is always combined with one of the above methods - a test or blood test.

At what time is ultrasound informative?

When using an external ultrasound, you can see the fetal bladder only with the onset of a heartbeat in the embryo - at 6-7 weeks from conception. At this time, the fruit can be compared in size to a grain of rice, and in shape it resembles an arc. That is, abdominal ultrasound is not able to confirm a positive test result, which is usually performed on the first day of delay - this is 2-3 weeks of pregnancy.

It is important for future mothers to know that in order to confirm a positive test result in the early stages, it is better to conduct an intravaginal ultrasound examination.


Its main feature is an internal examination of all pregnancy processes. With this method, conception can be recognized as early as 2-3 weeks, provided that the pregnancy proceeds normally and the fetal egg is implanted in the uterus in the right place. Transvaginal ultrasound is performed on an empty bladder so that there are no barriers to access the uterus.

It is worth noting that if a woman has a bend of the uterus or other structural features of the reproductive system, or the egg has penetrated into the lining layer along the back wall, then it may be difficult to determine pregnancy by ultrasound - the device will show that there is no fertilization.

One hundred percent trust ultrasound is not worth it. The result of the study mainly depends on the qualifications and experience of the doctor. There are frequent cases when the most common pregnancy was confused with uterine fibroids or they did not see at all on the monitor screen the outlines of a tiny, but already little man. To avoid such unpleasant incidents, doctors recommend undergoing an ultrasound procedure no earlier than 10 days from the day of the delay.

Ultrasound inaccuracies

Why doesn't an ultrasound confirm a positive test result? There are a number of specific reasons why a test result may not match the ultrasound findings. These include:

  1. Short fetal life. As mentioned above, a transvaginal ultrasound sensor is able to recognize pregnancy at 2–3 weeks of embryonic life, abdominal ultrasound at 6–7 weeks, and a highly sensitive expensive test will show the treasured two strips as early as 10 days after sexual contact. Hence the discrepancy in the results. In addition, not all medical institutions have modern equipment. In many clinics and hospitals, there are conventional abdominal ultrasound machines that are able to determine the fetal egg much later than the test does. If the test result is positive, then it is better to go to the doctor first, he will determine and confirm the presence of pregnancy no worse than an ultrasound.
  2. Ectopic pregnancy. This kind of development is not uncommon. The ectopic planting of the embryo (more often in the fallopian tube) is really determined by the test and is not visible on the monitor of the ultrasound machine. In such a situation, the further development of pregnancy is impossible. An unsuccessful conception is interrupted by a surgical method, in which the fetal egg is removed from the tube, sometimes even with it. If the operation is not carried out on time, there is a risk of rupture of the fallopian tube, up to death. To confirm the diagnosis, a diagnostic laparoscopy is performed, during which the doctor decides on the operation.
  3. Vesical mole (trophoblastic tumor).
    This disease is a product of conception, expressed by a violation of the formation of the embryo. Chorionic villi, growing into the endometrium, form fluid-filled blisters and grow throughout the fetal membrane (complete drift) or occupy some of its fragment (partial drift). In most cases, the disease manifests itself as a non-cancerous benign formation, and in a severe form it is characterized by malignancy. The manifestations of a mole are very similar to the signs of pregnancy - nausea, an increase in the size of the uterus, a delay, an increase in hCG. Also, when skidding, there may be bleeding and pain in the lower abdomen. The level of hCG in trophoblastic disease is more than 100 thousand mIU / ml.
  4. Test errors. It’s not worth sinning only on ultrasound, because the test can also be wrong, especially if it is of poor quality, expired or spoiled. Often, women themselves violate the rules prescribed in the instructions for the test and, as a result, get the wrong result. Those women who interpret the test not after a few minutes, as expected, but after a few hours are especially often subject to a deceptive result - the strip dries up and the reagent at the application site appears as a second barely visible line with a slight pink tint. To avoid mistakes and confusion with pregnancy, it is necessary to look carefully at the packaging when buying and follow the instructions.
  5. Diseases. Chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by the body only during pregnancy. This is true, but there is one disease in which this hormone also begins to be produced and increased - oncology. Even in men, this hormone grows if there are cancers in the body. A pregnancy test in his case will be positive, although there is no conception and, according to the laws of nature, it cannot be. To exclude this option from their thoughts, it is enough for women to contact a specialized doctor and undergo a gynecological examination, at which everything will become clear.

  6. Abortion. Within a few days after any interruption of the natural process of pregnancy, the test will show a positive result. Ultrasound in this case will definitely say - no.

Further tactics

How to proceed if the ultrasound does not show pregnancy? The ultrasound machine may well show that there is no conception when it is on the test. The most important thing is not to panic. Such incidents are quite natural, especially if the pregnancy is early and only yesterday the delay began.

The first thing to do after an unsatisfactory ultrasound response is to wait a few days, as mentioned above, and repeat the test and ultrasound diagnosis.

If, after 10 days, the ultrasound again determines that there is no conception, and the test stubbornly shows a “striped” result, then it is necessary to start a more detailed examination for the presence of diseases and pathologies. And only after confirming the diagnosis, which caused the hCG jump, make a decision to fix the problem. If the situation requires it, you need to check in several places, because now there are a lot of clinics, ultrasound machines and specialists. It is important to understand that in no case should you do a cleaning based on the guesses and assumptions of one doctor.


The female reproductive system is extremely sensitive. Any intervention is fraught with irreparable consequences. Check and recheck - this is the main motto of any confusing and incomprehensible situation that concerns pregnancy.

It turns out that our life can present absolutely any surprise. That is why we must believe in magic and hope for the best. Often, when it comes to diagnosing pregnancy, it is recommended not only to repeat the test, but also an ultrasound examination, which reveals the presence of a fetal egg and its place of attachment. But ultrasound can not always accurately determine pregnancy.

And there are many such cases! On the Internet, you can find a lot of stories about how at a period of 8, 11, and sometimes 13 weeks of pregnancy, a specialist could not recognize the presence of a fetus in the uterine cavity. And this is when the child's heart is already formed and functioning. Women talk about how easily they endured and revealed their children to the light. It is worth saying that many of them had to go through recommendations for abortion and removal of the fallopian tube, suspecting an ectopic pregnancy. It is sad to admit it, but precisely because of such mistakes, many children were not born.

Of course, a lot happens, the fetal egg may not reach the uterus or die. But, before coming to such a conclusion, it is worth checking everything! Why can't ultrasound detect pregnancy? The latest equipment can facilitate the diagnosis of pregnancy and its subsequent management. The commissioning of ultrasound machines has greatly facilitated the work of gynecologists and the lives of their patients. But, under human control, technology can give erroneous results.

Modern ultrasound diagnostics is the most reliable method for determining pregnancy. But that doesn't mean you can trust her 100%. The results of the study directly depend on how experienced and qualified the specialist conducts the study. It often happens that the fetus is mistaken for uterine fibroids, or even nothing is found at all, even if the size of the fetus corresponds to more than 4, and sometimes more than 8 weeks. Erroneous results can also be associated with the age of the equipment.

In this case, it is impossible to determine the presence of a fetal egg in the early stages. In fact, the period at which ultrasound diagnostics is performed plays a huge role. Experts say that earlier than after 10 days of delayed menstruation, going to an ultrasound scan is pointless. Too early a term may cause the test to not confirm pregnancy. In addition, the fetal egg may go unnoticed due to the special anatomical structure or shape of the woman's uterus. Here pregnancy is determined later.

What if the ultrasound did not detect pregnancy? Don't trust anyone! No matter how hard it is, don't beat yourself up. Because miracles happen. You can't be sure: is it a lack of pregnancy or a diagnostic error? Refuse cleaning, even if the doctor insists on an intrauterine or missed pregnancy. Remember, ultrasound diagnosis is not the only method for determining pregnancy and is far from the most accurate.

To be sure, it is worth conducting another 1-2 ultrasounds, and with different diagnosticians. The most reliable is transvaginal ultrasound during pregnancy. The most accurate method is the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) blood test, which is by far the most accurate. But, even here you can not be 100% sure. Laboratory assistants are people who, like us, sometimes make mistakes. Therefore, this analysis should be repeated twice.

Author of the publication: Alexey Kulagin 

When it comes to confirming pregnancy, most doctors say that you first need to do a test and one. And it would be nice if you did them at least every other day. But in order to be completely sure, you need to undergo an ultrasound scan that can show your pregnancy, the fetal egg and its location.

But there are times when the hope for an ultrasound does not justify itself. And it happens quite often all over the world. In such cases, the doctor who performs the entire ultrasound procedure at different times up to the thirteenth week of pregnancy cannot detect a fetal egg in the uterus. And this is despite the fact that the child already has a heartbeat.

Women who have been in such situations talk about the fact that doctors suspected an ectopic pregnancy and sent them for an abortion. But they still endured and gave birth to a completely healthy child.

Therefore, it is very unpleasant to say that due to the mistakes of doctors, more than one life may have been cut short. Of course, very often there are cases when the fetal egg does not reach the uterus or dies in the fallopian tubes on the way to it, but before making such a conclusion, it is necessary to undergo a full test to be completely convinced of this.

Why doesn't ultrasound show pregnancy?

Now there are many devices, thanks to which our life becomes much easier. For example, when the ultrasound machine was invented, it became much easier for both mothers and doctors. But despite this, even technology can make a mistake, especially when you consider that it is controlled by a person.

Although they say that ultrasound is the surest way to find out about pregnancy, but given the errors of this equipment, then it cannot be completely trusted. Indeed, to a greater extent, the results of an ultrasound will depend on how experienced the doctor who does it is. After all, world practice shows that there were doctors who mistook pregnancy for uterine myoma or did not see it at all, although the fetus was already a month or two old.

The reason for such situations may be old equipment. The first devices were not able to show pregnancy in the early stages. Indeed, even today, when there is much better equipment, doctors do not recommend undergoing this procedure if the delay in menstruation is less than 10 days.

Although it is possible to determine pregnancy on an ultrasound at an earlier date, it is precisely because of this that most cases happen when doctors do not find a fetal egg in the uterus. Also, pregnancy can not be seen when a woman has an individual structure of the uterus. In this case, pregnancy will be visible only in the later stages.

In any case, you do not need to set yourself up for the bad. After all, it is very easy to make a mistake in our life. If there is an assumption that the pregnancy is frozen or ectopic, then do not rush to go for an abortion. First you need to do at least a few ultrasounds from different doctors. But a more accurate way would be a blood test for hCG. Of course, he also does not give 100% certainty, because, oddly enough, people also work in the laboratory.

Therefore, it is worth double-checking everything, because sometimes the smallest mistake of a doctor can cost your child's life! Do not worry and make several trips to the doctors for an ultrasound. Pass all possible tests. And if the terrible diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is confirmed in all cases, only then can such serious steps be taken. Because there are cases when, due to a medical error, parents not only killed an unborn baby, but also lost the opportunity to have healthy children in the future.

Suspicions about a possible "interesting situation" may appear in a woman long before the delay of the next menstruation. Modern test strips can determine the content of the specific hCG hormone in the urine already on the first day of delay, and some even a few days before it. Whatever the result of the test, a woman wants to make sure that she is pregnant as soon as possible. About when the baby can be seen for the first time on an ultrasound will be discussed in this article.

Minimum terms for determination

After the conception has taken place, intensive processes begin inside the expectant mother, which she most often does not know about. On the very first day, the fertilized egg divides and moves along the fallopian tube, where the conception took place, into the uterine cavity. This journey lasts about four days. It is no longer a set of individual cells that descends into the uterus, but a blastocyte - a formation in the form of a ball. It is embedded in the lining of the uterus. This is implantation. This happens 6-7 days after fertilization, and sometimes a woman feels implantation by slight pulling sensations in the lower abdomen.

The earliest symptom of pregnancy is sometimes the so-called implantation bleeding - a few drops of bloody or sanious discharge at the time of the introduction of blastocytes into the endometrium. This does not mean that it is time to run for the test or sign up for an ultrasound.

Enter the first day of your last menstrual period

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The test strips react to the formation of the so-called pregnancy hormone - hCG, and it is just beginning, the hormone level is below the control level of the sensitivity of the test strips. And on ultrasound, a blastocyte cannot be seen - its size is only 0.2 mm.

How is an ultrasound done?

To determine pregnancy, two types of ultrasound examination are used - transvaginal and transabdominal. In the first case, the doctor examines the uterine cavity and its contents with a vaginal probe. In the second case, the examination is carried out with a sensor through the abdominal wall. For the most part, doctors prefer the first method when it comes to early pregnancy. Through the vagina it is much easier to see the embryo and its structure.

Ultrasound of the pelvic organs by the abdominal method is recommended to be performed with a full bladder, transvaginal - with an empty one, while it is better to take care in advance that the intestines are not swollen from gases. To do this, a few hours before going to the doctor, it is advisable for a woman to take Espumizan or Smecta.

It should be noted that pregnancy can be seen in a transvaginal way earlier than in a transabdominal way, for several days. So, a vaginal sensor and a good specialist in addition can tell a woman about her “interesting position” already on the 5th-6th day from the day of the delay, and scanning through the abdomen may not show pregnancy even on the 8th-10th day. The procedure is painless, harmless for a woman and a baby, it lasts no more than 5-7 minutes.

Deciphering the first ultrasound

At the very first ultrasound to determine pregnancy, the diagnostician will be able to detect an echogenic formation. This is the fertilized egg. Its dimensions will indicate the exact gestational age. Also, the doctor will determine the size of the yolk sac, the position of the fetal egg, the thickness of the endometrium, exclude inflammatory processes in it, as well as the presence of cysts, polyps and other unwanted formations. The dimensions of the fetal egg and the timing table are presented below.

Are mistakes possible?

The method of ultrasound diagnostics is considered one of the most accurate for determining pregnancy in the early stages, but you should not assume that its accuracy is 100%. In gynecology, the accuracy of this study is estimated at about 90%. In early pregnancy, the accuracy decreases to 75%. A doctor is first and foremost a person, not a machine with a program embedded in it. He has the right to make a mistake, especially if a woman has problems with the health of the reproductive system. So, the doctor can confuse uterine fibroids with pregnancy in the initial stages, if the woman had not previously been diagnosed with fibroids, and she found out about her presence only on ultrasound. A cyst or polyp can be confused with a fetal egg, since a cyst is also an echogenic formation.

If a woman had late ovulation, then pregnancy a week after the delay may not be detected at all by an ultrasound specialist, since the fetal egg later descended into the uterus and is not yet visualized. Naturally, the doctor will write in the conclusion that no signs of pregnancy were found, but after 7-10 days on a second study, he will be able to determine both the fetal egg and its structure. Only the dimensions will help to understand that ovulation was really late.

Common Questions

On the Internet, inexperienced pregnant women and those who still dream of an “interesting position” ask a lot of questions regarding the earliest diagnosis. The most common situations should be discussed in more detail.

Pregnancy test came back positive but ultrasound didn't

There may be several reasons for this. First of all, it should not be ruled out that the test turned out to be defective, this happens, and quite often, especially when it comes to inexpensive test strips that are sold on almost every corner. In the desire to see two cherished stripes, some ladies go too far, starting to look for "ghost" strips on the test strips. If they find it, they automatically begin to consider their test positive, although in reality there may not be a pregnancy.

If the test still did not deceive, then the reason for the negative conclusion of the ultrasound diagnostics doctor may be that the woman turned to the doctor too early, and the fetal egg is not yet visible. The device itself may be outdated, with low sensitivity and poor resolution. The reason for the absence of signs of pregnancy on ultrasound may be late ovulation, and the presence of an inflammatory process in the uterine cavity, and, of course, the insufficient qualifications of the doctor.

Pregnancy test came back negative but ultrasound came back positive

There may be enough reasons for such a situation. Firstly, the woman could have performed the test at home with an error, the test could have been defective or expired, and it is also possible that it was performed too early, when the level of the hCG hormone in the urine was still insufficient for the test to respond brightly to it. second stripe.

Ultrasound diagnosis in this case is rarely premature, since a woman, after a negative home test, is in no hurry to see a doctor, patiently waiting for the start of a late period. After one and a half to two weeks of delay, when the lady still goes to the doctor, the pregnancy on the ultrasound is already clearly visible. Therefore, the results of ultrasound should be considered more reliable than the results of a home test. In doubtful cases, you can donate blood for hCG to get even more accurate data.

How to calculate the gestational age by ultrasound?

To do this, you can use the table above. If a greater specification of the term is required, use a table of correspondence of the term to the nearest day to the average internal diameter of the fetal egg (SVD). The table of gestational age according to SVD is given below.

The value of the average inner diameter of the fetal egg

Gestational age