Dr Steven R. Goldstein - The Benefits of Early Pregnancy Monitoring

 

 

Dr Steven R. Goldstein, an obgyn in NYC, works closely with pregnant patients or those considering a family in early pregnancy monitoring to make sure that all aspects of the pregnancy are covered and meeting established milestones.

One of the ways this is done is by analyzing the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) levels. A developing pregnancy will produce detectable hormone of pregnancy by eight days post conception. That means it is there and present prior to being late for one’s menses. Home pregnancy tests turn positive at around the time of the expected menses (approximately fourteen days after conception). The rate of rise of hCG in normal healthy pregnancies is extremely well established.

Thus, if there is any concern for the health of a pregnancy, measuring the hCG rate of rise at 48 hour intervals will tell us a great deal about the health of the pregnancy (although, it does not tell us anything about the pregnancy’s location). Usually the hCG level doubles at 48 hours. However, there is a minimum rate of rise of approximately 35-45% in early pregnancy depending on the starting value of testing. Early pregnancy monitoring is particularly helpful for those patients who have had a previous miscarriage or those prone to recurrent miscarriages.

As a leading obgyn in NYC, Dr Goldstein uses non-invasive transvaginal ultrasounds to monitor pregnancies. Serial observation with transvaginal ultrasound allows gynecologists following such pregnancies to be sure that they maintain the milestones that are very predictable and that are the best sign of embryonic well being. If a pregnancy were to fail, Dr. Goldstein is able to make such a diagnosis prior to spontaneous passage (miscarriage) and allow for an elective D&C (dilatation and curettage) so that miscarriage in the middle of the night, and emergency D&C is unnecessary.

Dr. Goldstein has published and lectures extensively on early pregnancy, both its detection by transvaginal ultrasound and how to diagnose pregnancy failure before miscarriage, as well as, diagnosing ectopic pregnancy early enough to be treated non-surgically with medication.

Dr Steven R. Goldstein, an  obgyn in NYC, Dis a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University School of Medicine, a former Director of Gynecologic Ultrasound at NYU Langone Medical Center, a pioneer in the field of gynecologic ultrasound and considered one of the nation's top doctors in gynecology.