what is the rh factor
Just as there are different major blood groups, such as type A and type B blood, there also is an Rh factor. The Rh factor is the type of protein found on the red blood cells. Most people have the Rh factor they are Rh positive. Others do not have the Rh factor they are Rh negative. When Does the Rh Factor Cause Problems? The Rh factor causes problems when an Rh-negative person’s blood comes in contact with Rh-positive blood. If this happens, the person with Rh-negative blood may become sensitized. This means he or she produces antibodies that fight the Rh factor as if it were a harmful substance. During pregnancy, the woman and fetus do not share blood systems. However, a small amount of blood from the fetus can cross the placenta into the woman’s system. When this happens, a small number of pregnant women with Rh-negative blood who carry an Rh-positive fetus will react as if they were allergic to the fetus. These Rh-negative women become sensitized and make antibodies that attack the
When a doctor describes your blood type, he’ll probably not only indicate its type — 0, A, B, or AB — but also if it’s “positive” or “negative.” This refers to your Rh factor. If your blood is positive, you have the Rh factor; if it’s negative, you don’t. A person with the Rh factor has certain substances, called antigens, in hi
