Understanding Negative Pregnancy Test & Potential Cysts During Pregnancy

Question
I have not had a period since the early part of August. I went to the doctor for an a pregnancy test and a Beta. The pregnancy test came back negative, but the doctor sent me to get a sonogram because as he put it my Beta results levels were common with cyst. He also told me that if my period did not come on in the next two weeks come back for another pregnancy test. What does all of this mean? I also remember having cyst when I was pregnant with my son and he said that they would go away.

P.S. My doctor is on vacation so I don't have the sonogram results yet.

Answer
Dear Krissy,

The increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone can sometimes cause a cyst, or cysts, to form during a pregnancy which often dissipate when levels of those hormones come back down to non-pregnant levels. However, cysts can also form independent of a pregnancy.

Unfortunately, your doctor has taken vacation at a rather inconvenient time for you. But you will need to wait and see what the results are to know for sure what your situation is - whether any cysts are altering your menstrual cycles or if you may have conceived.

I know this hasn't helped you much, but it's the best I can do without any definitive test results. :-(  I know it is difficult to be patient. I wish you well!

Brenda