A Cryptic Pregnancy is a pregnancy where there is little or no detectable hCG in the mothers system, due to a hormonal imbalance in the mother. The fetus may go undetected by mother and doctors, until delivery. Some of these women do not know that they are indeed pregnant and some of them are aware. The women who do know, have a difficult time getting confirmation of the pregnancy due to negative, hCG tests including home pregnancy tests and hCG blood tests. Characteristics of a cryptic pregnancy are; negative urine and blood pregnancy test, continued periods, typical pregnancy symptoms, and at times, negative ultrasounds. Even with these issues, the woman continues to experience pregnancy symptoms including the sensation of fetal movement. Cryptic pregnancies are typically carried between 2 and 5 years due to slow growth of the fetus, caused by low hCG, due to the hormonal imbalance.

What Causes a Cryptic Pregnancy?

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

-Peri-menopause, which can begin as early as age 30, and go undetected.

-They have recently been pregnant, and their hormones have not gone back to normal before getting pregnant again.

-They are still breastfeeding and their hormones are not back to normal, before getting pregnant again.

-They have a very low body fat %, causing a hormonal imbalance, like in female athletes.

-They have recently used or are currently using a birth control method such as the "Norplant", "Deprovera" Injection or the "Mirena Coil", that continually releases hormones into the body.

So don't give up ladies.