Article Text
Summary
Slightly elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can be a normal finding in postmenopausal women. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman with a history of abnormal uterine bleeding who presented with a concern for pregnancy after developing nausea and vomiting a few weeks after unprotected intercourse. Although pregnancy was extremely unlikely, hCG was obtained in order to reassure the patient since she reported that her mother conceived at the age of 60. Serum hCG was positive, prompting concern for malignancy versus pregnancy. Stable serum hCG levels, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone and negative transvaginal ultrasound ruled out both malignancy and pregnancy. Positive serum pregnancy test and hCG elevation was attributed to normal postmenopausal state.
- Menopause (including HRT)
- Pregnancy
- General practice / family medicine
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Footnotes
Contributors Both authors are contributors to this manuscript. MMB was a resident in continuity clinic and TB was the attending faculty. TB is the guarantor of the work. MMB wrote the draft of the paper and TB provided mentorship and guidance. Both authors participated in the literature search and in the care of the patient.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.