PREGNANCY

"Millions of women are asserting their right to voluntary motherhood.

They are determined to decide for themselves whether they shall become mothers, under what conditions and when.

This is the fundamental revolt...

About the Test

contributed by Charlea Massion

For thousands of years humans have been curious about the early detection of pregnancy. Four thousand years ago the ancient Egyptians discovered that the urine of pregnant women hastened the germination of grain seeds and used this as a pregnancy test. Today this effect of estrogen on plant seed germination is well established.

Why is the early detection of pregnancy especially important today? Changes in social thought and medical technology have increased the options and information for the pregnant woman; and early, accurate pregnancy tests allow her to explore these. With amniocentesis (method to obtain fetal cells from amniotic fluid) and cell culture, the fetus can be tested for Tay-Sachs disease, Downs Syndrome and other genetic abnormalities. A woman who knows that her fetus will be at risk for these genetic diseases should know about pregnancy as early as possible so amniocentesis may be performed if she wishes. Also, new medical procedures and drugs present increased risks to the pregnant woman, especially during certain early periods of pregnancy-extensive x-rays, hormone treatments, any drugs including birth control pills, can damage the fetus. Therefore, if a woman is considering certain medical tests or drugs, and if she might be pregnant, she and her physicians should know. Importantly also, if pregnancy is unacceptable but does occur, early pregnancy testing allows abortion at an earlier, safer time for the woman.

The ideal pregnancy test would detect the production and secretion of a substance unique to a pregnant woman, i.e., something produced by the placenta or embryo which never would be found in the body fluids of a non-pregnant woman. No completely ideal substance has been discovered, but two nearly fit the description: human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and human chorionic somatotropin (HCS). Both are hormones secreted by the placenta. Unfortunately, HCS is detectable only in advanced pregnancy and not useful for early tests. However, the placenta begins to produce HCG in small amounts by the tenth day. HCG peaks about the tenth week after the last menstrual period (LMP), but usually is present in detectable quantities about four to six weeks after the LMP.

Most of the reliable quick tests (the two-hour "tube test" or the two-minute "slide test") use an immunological method to detect HCG. Here's

It is for women

how the test is done:

I. A sample of the woman's urine is mixed with an antibody to HCG (anti-HCG).

2. A particle (either latex or sheep red blood cells)sensitized to HCG is added.

If HCG is present in the urine sample (if the woman is pregnant and her placenta is producing HCG in detectable amounts), it will bind to the anti-HCG in Step I, and no unbound or "free" anti-HCG will be left to combine with the par ticle sensitized to HCG in Step 2. On the other hand, if no HCG is in the urine, the anti-HCG will be unbound or "free" to combine with the sensitized particle in Step 2; in this case "agglutination" will occur which can be seen as tiny grains or clumps by whoever performs the test. In other words:

If the test is positive:

1. Agglutination has not occurred because dedetectable HCG is present in the urine,

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2. The woman probably is pregnant the test is right about 95 to 98% of the time. 3. The test might be wrong (a "false positive" and if the woman does not show any other signs or symptoms of pregnancy, another test should be performed and an examination may be done.

If the test is negative:

I. Agglutination has occurred because HCG is not present in detectable amounts.

2. The woman is not pregnant OR she is at a very early stage of pregnancy and not enough HCG is present to be detected.

3. Occasionally the woman is pregnant and is producing detectable amounts of HCG, but the test fails (a "false negative"). If she shows other signs and symptoms of pregnancy, the test should be repeated and an exam may be done.

During a pelvic examination, by bimanual pal. pation, the examiner can feel the size and position of the uterus and usually can detect a "pregnant uterus" about six to eight weeks after the last missed period.

Home kits for performing pregnancy tests are marketed in Canada and Germany; several types were available here, but used a less reliable method and were removed from sale. Until (and if) such kits are here, be sure that you ask for complete explanation of the test results and if it should be repeated and/or an examination should be done.

the key to the temple of liberty.

Margaret Sanger

page 7/What She Wants/February, 1975