Causes Of Missed Period And Negative Pregnancy Test

********   Note: This Blog Post First Published on Just Health And Lifestyle  *********

As a lady doctor, I am often asked about a woman’s “private” issues, particularly reasons for a missed period and negative pregnancy test. At times, the lack of knowledge on show from many woman is quite frustrating for me. But you take things like these as a matter of routine and continue to inform as best you can.

Yesterday a distant relative came to visit us at lunch. As I was busy in the kitchen, she quietly approached and asked me about her missed period and negative pregnancy test. I was awestruck as I had no idea that she was going to ask me this in the kitchen. She kept eagerly waiting for my response. I had the feeling that at her age (45+) there is less chances of conception but at the same time I didn’t want to break her heart. She seemed quite hopeful. I simply reassured her, and told her to confirmation from a gynecologist to be sure.

Now I understand, that missed period and negative pregnancy test can be a very nervous situation for women. This rings true for those who want to conceive and also for those who don’t want to. It can ignite a halo of apprehensions and fears like

“I must be pregnant, there is something wrong with the test strips”

“The emotional stress I am undergoing is the culprit for this delay”

Let’s take a periscopic look at the situation and delve deeper into the causes of a missed period and negative pregnancy test.

Causes of Missed Period And Negative Pregnancy Test

When you are not Pregnant

When you are not pregnant but still have late period, a missed period and negative pregnancy test, it could be due to the following reasons:

1.      Irregular Cycles

Many woman don’t have the regular monthly cycles leading to delays which is normal pattern for them.

2.      Stress

Anxiety is also responsible for delaying the onset of period. The uterine wall will shed down late due to thickness of the endometrium.

Regular exercise and healthy diet can cure it.

3.      Weight

Over and underweight females can also suffer from the menstruation irregularities due to hormonal imbalance.

4.      Vigorous exercise

Vigorous exercise causing stress on the reproductive system may prevent the period altogether.

5.      Medicines

Birth control medicines and implants, Antidepressants, Chemotherapy drugs all cause cycle irregularity leading to miss periods.

6.       Premenopause

The rise in FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) as you reach a certain age can cause delay and irregularities in your cycle.

7.      Breast Feeding Mother

Breast feeding mothers may experience late periods or no periods at all due to the increase of prolactin in their bodies.

8.      Thyroid Disorder

Both Hypo and Hyper thyroid patients suffer from periods which are not only irregular but with an altered flow (Heavy and Light)

9.      Uterine Abnormalities

Polyps, cysts, fibroids all contribute to the physical cause of late periods in women suffering from those diseases.

10.  PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition which affects the egg producing ability of the ovaries due to hormonal imbalance. It can lead to a missed period and negative pregnancy test too.

You can learn more about PCOS here

When you are Pregnant

If you are of a reproductive age who is sexually active and experiencing pregnancy symptoms like nausea, altered sense of smell, tender nipples but had a missed period and negative pregnancy test, it is most probably due to a wrong pregnancy test i.e False –ve.

What is False Negative?

False negative is when you are experiencing pregnancy signs and symptoms but the test literally negates any conception. The causes of false negatives are:

1.      The test strip has lower sensitivity

Some tests are more sensitive to hCG (pregnancy hormone) levels compared to others. If it comes negative initially, it is suggested to repeat the test in few days.

2.      Urine is not of correct composition

The urine sample which was tested is either too dilute due to increased water intake. Or the test was done at the wrong time of the day.

It is highly recommended that you use early morning pee as it contains the highest concentration of hCG.

3.      The improper use of Testing kit

The instructions on the testing kit leaflet may have not been followed properly leading to a false negative. Once again, it is best to retest in a few days.



There are many reasons for the late periods. Most irregular periods causes are not at all dangerous and can be easily treated. The best thing to do is to visit your gynecologist if the issue persists.

10 Easy Tips for the Healthy Tummy

In this age of global anxiety and stress, taking proper meals has never been a priority, making everybody falling a victim of the stomach bugs in their lifetime which is quite annoying and troublesome. This is mostly due to our own dietary upsets or bizarre eating habits.
 If we follow a regular eating schedule and a few restrictions in our diet, we can live with the healthy tummy in our life. Here are my 10 simple Tips for living with the Healthy Tummy,follow and enjoy the life.

• Never take a shower after the meal. Try to do breakfast after the bath.
• Avoid taken steaming food as it will cause undue burden on the stomach.
• Try to avoid drinking water with the meal. Quench your thirst by drinking at least half an hour before or after the meal.
• Don’t talk a lot while chewing and never do a quarrel.
• Drink milk sip by sip and never take a large gulp.
• Always Clean \ gargle your mouth after eating, it will disinfect the mouth.

• Try to take a nap for 10 to 15 minutes after the lunch. Never start working after the meal and never sleep with your belly down after eating.
• Try to take dinner at 8-9 pm. Delaying taking meal (dinner) hinders the absorption of food leading to constipation.
• If you are suffering from bloating, avoid meal for a next time but fruits and vegetables can be taken.
• Avoid taking cold drinks, chilled water and other cold beverages with meal. It will solidify the fat content in the meal affecting the wall of stomach causing uclers etc

Eating less and walk more is the golden rule for a healthy and happy life.
Eat healthy and Stay Healthy.

Golden Oldie: Heart Touching Quotes

As I was scrolling through an old book of Quotes, I found many heart touching quotes which are as useful today as they were when they were for the first time.

The heart of a fool is in his mouth but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.

You may delay, the Time may not

 Teach our child to hold his tongue, he will learn fast enough to speak.

An egg today is better than a Hen tomorrow

Nothing but money is sweeter than honey

Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly.

 None preaches better than ant, and she says nothing.

 Don’t throw stones on neighbors, if your own windows are glasses.

A false friend and a shadow, attend only while the sun rises.

The worst wheel of the car makes the most noise.

Time is a herb that cures all diseases.

Eat to please thyself but dress to please others.

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

Eat few suppers, and you will need few medicines.

Beware of little expanses, a small leak will sink a great ship.

·          

Although these are some of the quotes,you can put it to your facebook, pinterest, and as a skype punch line , so that they can become your brain tattoo and influence and guide you in the long run.

MIND MAP BOOST FOR YOUR BLOG

***************   Note: This Blog Post First Published on ByNajmah  ****************

What? Mind maps

Oh my God, Is there another wacky term in the Tech World?
Absolutely not!
This is not something to make u crazy in this Social Media (rat) race, neither it is related to Mind Sciences.
So boiling it down simply, it is the awesome combination of Ideas and Circles.
According to the Mind Map guru, Tony Buzan
“It is a thinking tool that reflects what goes on the brain”
But the Wikipedia says
“A mind map is a Diagram used to represent Words, Ideas, Tasks or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word and idea”

In this era of visually oriented social media, like Pinterest, Instagram and Flicker, the mind map is much more relevant than the old fashioned linear way of writing.

USES OF MIND MAP:

Let’s Mind map about it.

To enhance your creativity, practice the Mind maps by adding colors, pics, images, it will embrace both the left logical and the right creative hemis of your brain. How it helps in creating the blog post? Lets read

For Blog post:

As it is a great tool for scattered thinking, writing down all your random thoughts on the mind map clears your mind, helping you stress out, making you more productive. It is the way to ignite your mind around the dedicated topic, catching all your flying thoughts and transferring in a proper channel. 

What all you have to do is draw a circle, jot down the topic in it. Now start making link roads from the circle. Don’t think, don’t stop, just let your hand flow as the spokes around the circle. You will be amazed how the branches related to the main topic coming out of it. After the while you have the whole tree ready for you. Once you feel completed the task. Take a pillow and rest for a while and grab a glass of water. On the next look you have all the basic ingredients ready for your blog post.

Now After Writing the Blog post:

You have written the perfect blog post but to engage your readers and make them more interactive, now visually support it by making a mind map. This Mind map is different from the one you created before writing the post as it is more refined and focus more on readers demand. As we know visuals are the good reason for social sharing, you can share it at various social scenes.

SOME TECHNICAL POINTS: 

When you have decided to include a mind map into your post, there are some points you should consider.  

1. X Mind and Mind Maple are well designed, easy to use, free programs that you can use to get started.

2. If you want to get the colorful mind map, use Nova Mind, it has multiple colors. Colors can also be added manually using programs formatting options

3. Try to make mind map more vertically compact, this will help your readers view the first para and the Mind Map appear the first full screen

4. Don’t forget to label your Mind Map with name email address

5. Don’t make your Mind map too heavy dumping all the minute details, only pin down the important one.

MARKETING THE BLOGPOST:

Now after you have done all the right things, but have no idea where to post it for publishing every time you have it. Every day some new sites popping up and asking for submitting the blog. What you can do the best is simply create the Mind map with all the social networks and all the important sites. Once you have made this you are at peace every time you are done with the blog post.

So now you got it, a mind map is as simple as a pie, a Kindergarten Kid can also draw it by just making the circle and lines. It provides the fuel to kick start the firing of neurons. It guides you to the way where you are unable to find your way.

Now go on and discover the unexpected connection.

Side effect of the marriage..... A funny experience.

 Aww! It was such an incident which keeps amusing me till now.

Actually it was the visit of my beloved friend who happened to be in my town for the honeymoon sort of thing plus visiting the kin.

Now you must be wondering what is funny about it?. Actually they are labeled as the most stunning couple of the year so everyone including yours truly is also impressed by their looks and almost dying to host them. After pressing too much they nearly agreed to show up the next day, but to our disappointment, they were unable to make but promised for the next Friday. As they were in the A list, we obliged despite my hubby’s business engagement that day.

 As I happened to be the only one to look after the arrangements from the Groceries to the Cooking, the Dining table arrangements to the Washrooms cleaning, my Adrenaline starts rising. It was a very busy week bringing everything to the perfection but every time a new problem pops up and reminding me of my human.

At last the grand finale (the day of the feast) arrived and nothing was short of perfection as I had put my heart and soul into it.

The guests when arrived as usual in full bloom. The smartness and the attire of the couple was killing. Soon the wife accompanied me to the lounge and began pouring her travel adventures but I was unable to track what she is muttering as I was mesmerized by her gorgeous looks, making me visit down the memory lane regarding my looks in the initial years of marriage. I only came back when her husband called her to leave.

Oh my god! How can I forgot the dinner?

Now I hurry up to arrange the whole lot of dishes which I prepared out of sheer love. But not to my amazement, they just took a bit of everything which is the truly the secret of their Smartness and Sleekness. After a brief chit chat they insisted to leave without meeting my hubby.

Late night when my hubby showed up, I immediately opened the Pandora box of the whole meet up insisting on the couples impressive looks making him realize that he missed a great deal.

The days gone by and I become engaged with the kids and all changing into a distant memory.
A couple of days back when I happened to visit the local arena, a women in a well fitted gown give me a tight hug leaving me in an awe who she was? When she disclosed her identity I was about to faint. She was the same young lady whom I invited for the dinner a year ago as a newlywed. She has not only changed but to my astonishment has completely turned into an aunti sort of thing... I felt ashamed that I was unable to recognize her but gladly she doesn’t mind.

My husband was constantly laughing during the whole journey back home as he was also mocked by my picture of that couple and the reality. I keep insisting him that she was totally different a year before but he was not believing me. Truly speaking, I must be in the same lane if I haven’t met the couple a year ago.

This is the most common side effect of the marriage. As soon as the Honeymoon period is over, all those smart attires have been locked in the wardrobe replaced by the baggy loose comfy dresses hiding the excessive fat pockets. Why women so negligent of themselves needs another post......

This funny experience makes me quote that a lady finger transformed into a potato with only a contract called Marriage.
Can anyone of you relate the same?

MY MOTIVATIONAL MODEL

***************   Note: This Blog Post First Published on Dhillondeeds Blog   ****************

When I asked a question to myself,

What motivates me?

What is my motivational model?

A picture start to reel on the screen of my mind like Flash Cards!

Is it a heart touching Quote?

Is it my visit to the Holy lands of Makkah & Medina?

Is it my blogging adventures & the gorgeous people I came across on the blogging platform?

Or

Any experience?

                

Yes! I got it!  The last one hit me hard and created ripples in my mind. It is those tragic events of my life which transformed me and bring out a more humbled and more adapting human being from a stubborn chap.

As a post-graduation student of medicine, I had all work and no play schedule with alternating night duties. I was completely immersed in the worldly pleasures and was flying high on the seventh sky. I was just concentrating to give my best then suddenly my elder kid was diagnosed with an untreatable ailment. This news left me in great shock and thrown me in the sea of despair and agony. Everything appears to be taunting. Then by Almighty’s grace I came across with the person who helped me to reach the harbors of Gratitude and Inspiration. She is my young tajweed teacher who is the motivational role model for me. She is a patient of Chronic Kidney Failure and has to undergo dialysis (blood changed by a machine) twice a week. Still she dedicated her life, her energies to serve the word of Allah.

 She restore my connection to the Quran which is the Ultimate remedy for the hearts.

            “By the remembrance of Allah, the hearts are assured”    Surah AR Raad 28

Taking her Quran classes strengthen my faith on Allah (swt) that whatever He Chooses for us is His way to bring closer to Him. I have developed an attitude for gratitude and keep myself on the high note by the following motivational boosters.

          “On Him I relied and He is the lord of the great Throne” Surah Tawbah 129

1. Waking Up Early:

Early rising habit has great bounties & found to boost the productivity multiple times.

According to the Prophet(swt)

“Allah has made early hours blessed for my Ummah” (Ahmed)

There is a lot of Baraka( a form of blessings) which allows many small tasks to be done with little effort and time.

2. Reciting the Quran:

Daily recitation of the Quran gives me the sense of relief as I endeavor to listen what Allah (swt) has to say. This flourishes my spiritual being.

3. Two Rakah Salah:

Offering the two Rakah Salah for the affiat with special insistence and dua that whatever I will do will to please Allah (swt)

“Seek help through Sabr and Salat” (Quran 2:45)

4. Daily Goals List:

Jotting down the daily goals and be sure of my priorities of the day allows me to execute them point by point. Accomplishing daily tasks promotes extra ordinary levels of confidence and worth upon myself.

5. Optimistic surroundings:

I try to be among the people who have the positive approach of life. If I am unable to find them, I prefer Children over the other kind. Children are the most innocent, passion filled people on Earth. With their unending flow of energy, they also charged you to the full.

By doing these Daily small Acts of greatness, I feel that I have been transformed to a much better person having no regrets what has happened to me.

   “Mankind has never achieved success but thru suffering”

Dear readers I have just shared these tips with you so that any of you if ever have been through these circumstances don’t feel alone. These adversities and setbacks are His way to bring closer to Him. Leave them to Allah and truly He is the best of planners.

                  Hurdles are not stop signs, they are guidelines.

10 Things for Moms if your kid has fever

Do you remember when a month passed and your kid has remain fever free? How often you visited the doctor in a month ?

As the weather transition is taking place, cold and flu season is upon us to test our kids immunity. As a mother when my kid is knock down with fever I often used to call my mother in the first instance (before calling a doctor) for her time tested advice. Her instant reply:
"What! Again she has fever?"
As she must be tired of listening to my similar questions, but amazingly she gives me some superb relevant tips which prevent the situation from getting worse along with lot of duas (supplications).

There are some of the few tips which I want to share with you:

1. Hydration 

High fever usually sucks the child's body fluids leading to dehydration.First of all increase the fluid intake, there are a lot of choices available other than simple plain water. It could be in the form of soups, green tea, juices etc. They all replenish the water loss and also soothens the mucos lining of the throat providing comfort to the kid.

2. Keep Close 

This is the one and the only point which my mother used to emphasize every time. As the kid is quite irritable at that moment and usually asks for things which he\ she never ever given an eye for, the need of the time is to remain calm and shower him with more hugs, and encouraging kisses as it works wonders in the path of healing. Reassure you kid time and again.Massaging the sclap and combing her hair with your fingers are also relieving.

3. Read

As no kid want to lay straight on the bed, make it fun by reading one of the favorite book he\ she always want to listen. In my case I often pick up the book with some interesting and funny facts and enjoyed to read it aloud with her.

4. Sleep 

Rest is essential as it prompts the process the healing,as the kid has lost his appetite and sleep as well. We should assist to make the nap time as comfortable as possible. Don't forget to let the fresh air in(not cold) to ventilate the room.

5. Spiritual Healing:

Spiritual ways of healing are very effective and tested in various ailments. Whether its a Sadqa (chaity) or Dum ( recitation of words followed by blowing on the afflicted individual) of  Al Fatiha or any dua from the heart.. Develop a connection to the Almighty and you will be astonished to see the results.

6. Nebulize / Steam:

If the child has fever due to nasal blockage\ congestion as it is common in this season, nebulizing with the simple plain water (normal saline to be accurate) works wonders in reliving the symptoms if done consistently. But the real problem is to make the kid sit and have the mask on for at least 10 minutes which is also a test for parents.

7. Dress Up:

Dressing in layers are quite effective in managing the temperature tantrums. Make the kid feel good by attiring in a simple, breathable, light weight clothes as it boost the sense of well being.

8. Soft Bland Diet:

Avoid greasy and spicy food as it will irritate the throat causing the bout of cough eventually leading to vomiting. Soft bland diet like plain curry, pudding, suji kheer(milk dessert), oats are easy to be gulped without much effort.

9. Medicine

Seek the support of the doctor anytime when you have concerns and follow the advice strictly as the fever in children is no fun.Once the cause is treated, the temperature itself returns to normal.

10. Sponging

A lukewarm bath or wash cloth may temporary cool the child but avoid the chilled water sponging as it may cause shivering ultimately raising the temperature.

Newborns and infants should be taken special care. They should be evaluated by the pediatrician as soon as possible.

Reassure your kid often as mother's lap is the safest place on earth.