Often, the biggest concern for mothers during pregnancy is whether their baby will be born prematurely. When this kind of doubt arises, your doctor may ask you to do a certain test. One such important test is the Fetal Fibronectin (FFN) test, or fFN for short. Let's talk about this in detail and very simply today.
What is fetal fibronectin (fFN)? What does it do?
Simply put, this fetal fibronectin is a type of protein . To be precise, it works like a "gum" . You know, the baby is in a bag of water, which we call the amniotic sac . This amniotic sac, that is, the fluid-filled bag around the baby, should be firmly attached to the wall of your uterus. This fetal fibronectin is a special protein that helps keep that amniotic sac "attached" to the uterus.
Normally, in the early weeks of pregnancy, a small amount of this fFN can be found in the vaginal discharge. However, between weeks 22 and 35, in a healthy pregnancy, it is rarely, if ever, found in the vaginal discharge. However, if the "glue" between the placenta and the uterus loosens, or if that connection breaks, this fFN protein starts to leak into the vagina. That's when it can become a problem.
What time is this fFN test done?
Most of the time, your doctor will only suggest this fFN test if you are showing signs of preterm labor . This means that the doctor thinks that your baby is likely to be born before 37 weeks. What are the signs of preterm labor?
- Uterine contractions , which means frequent tightening and pain in the abdomen.
- Stomach pain or cramps.
- A pain like a brain in the lower abdomen.
- Changes in vaginal discharge. For example, a bloody show or a mucus plug.
- Symptoms of cervical dilation, or dilation of the cervix .
- Feeling of pressure or pain in the lower abdomen.
- Premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM)
If you have these symptoms, your doctor will do this fFN test to see if there is fFN in your vaginal discharge. Because, as we discussed earlier, the presence of fFN in vaginal discharge before 35 weeks means that the embryo has not properly attached to the uterus. If so, it means that there is a high risk of having a baby within the next 7 to 14 days .
Sometimes, this test can be done for people who are at high risk of preterm labor (even if they don't have any symptoms). What are these risk factors?
- If you have had a previous childbirth.
- If you have had any surgery on the uterus or cervix.
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking and being underweight before pregnancy.
- If the cervix is short.
- If you get pregnant again soon after one pregnancy.
However, this fFN test is not generally recommended for pregnant women who are at low risk and have no symptoms.
At what weeks during pregnancy is this fFN test done?
This fFN test is usually done between 22 and 34 weeks of pregnancy . Because, even if the baby is born after 35 weeks, the chances of severe complications due to premature birth are very low. Therefore, this fFN test is not usually done after 35 weeks.
How should we prepare before the fFN test?
There are several things that can affect the accuracy of the results of this fFN test. Therefore, if your doctor recommends this fFN test, you should avoid the following:
- Do not use any lubricants, soaps, suppositories, or douches in the vaginal area for 24 hours before the test.
- It is not a good idea to have routine pelvic examinations or transvaginal ultrasounds done close to the test.
- Do not have sex for 24 hours before the test.
- Also, don't do anything that might affect the vagina, cervix, or uterus.
If you have moderate or heavy vaginal bleeding, your doctor will not perform this test, as that can also cause inaccurate results.
How is the fFN test done? Is it very simple?
Yes, it's very simple. Your doctor or nurse will insert a long, thin cotton swab into your vagina. This will collect a small sample of vaginal fluid from your cervix or the back of your vagina. The sample will then be sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of fFN. You won't feel any pain during this test, just a little discomfort.
How do you interpret the results of the fFN test? Positive? Negative?
The result of this fFN test can be Positive or Negative .
A negative result means:
>
* The fact that there was no fFN protein in your vaginal discharge.
* The risk of you having a premature baby within the next week or two is very low .
* However, if your symptoms persist, your doctor may want to do this fFN test again in a week or two.
A positive result means:
>
* The presence of the fFN protein in your vaginal discharge.
* There is a risk that you will have a premature baby within the next week or two.
* In this case, your doctor may take steps to prepare you for an early delivery. For example, they may give you a medication called corticosteroids to help the baby's lungs mature faster.
* Also, medications called tocolytics can be given to stop or reduce uterine contractions.
But it's important to remember this: A positive result doesn't necessarily mean you'll have an early baby. It just means there's a risk, so you need to be monitored more closely and get the necessary treatment.
Depending on your symptoms and condition, your doctor may also perform additional tests, such as an ultrasound.
What happens next if a positive fFN result comes in? What will the doctor do?
When you get a positive result, as mentioned earlier, it doesn't mean you'll have a baby within 7-14 days. But the risk is higher. So your doctor will start doing things like this to prepare for an early delivery:
- Administering corticosteroids: These are given to help the baby's lungs mature faster, which can help prevent problems like respiratory distress syndrome after birth.
- Prescribing Tocolytics: These are medications given to those with signs of preterm labor to reduce or stop uterine contractions.
- Antibiotics: These are given to prevent infection if you are diagnosed with a bacteria called Group B strep , or if your water breaks.
Can the fFN test give false positive results?
Yes, sometimes a false-positive result can occur. This can happen especially if you have used any type of vaginal lubricant, had sex, or had a vaginal exam within 24 hours of the test. That's why it's so important to prepare for the test, as your doctor says.
How accurate is this fFN test?
This is also a very important matter.
A positive result does not guarantee that you will have an early baby . In fact, many mothers who have a positive result go on to have a full-term baby. A positive result means that your doctor will need to monitor you closely .
However, a negative result is very accurate. If you get a negative result, you can be pretty sure that you will not have a baby within the next two weeks. This is the greatest value of this test. It can eliminate unnecessary fear.
How long does it take to know the results?
Since your sample is sent to a lab for analysis, it can take 24 to 48 hours to get the results. Therefore, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor before the test to find out when you can expect the results.
The most important things we need to remember (Take-Home Message)
Okay, so we've talked a lot about this fFN test. Here are a few things to remember in short:
- fFN is a "gum"-like protein that helps the fertilized egg stick to the uterus.
- If this is present in the vaginal discharge between weeks 22-34, it indicates a risk of preterm delivery.
- This test is done for those who have symptoms of preterm labor or are at high risk.
- A negative result means that the risk of conceiving in the next two weeks is very low. This is very accurate.
- A positive result means there is a risk, so more attention and treatment is needed if necessary. But it does not necessarily mean that you will have an early baby.
- It is very important to follow the doctor's instructions carefully before the test to ensure the accuracy of the results.
If you have symptoms that suggest you may be having a premature baby, or if your doctor thinks you are at risk, he or she may ask you to have the fFN test. This is a painless, simple test. The information you get from it can go a long way in protecting you and your baby. So don't be unnecessarily scared. Talk to your doctor about everything and follow his or her instructions.
` Fetal fibronectin, fFN test, pregnancy, preterm labor, uterine contractions, amniotic sac, cervix
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න