The death of a fetus in a public park restroom has shed light on the plight of teens who insist they were unaware of their pregnancy.

Dr. Tod Aeby, an obstetrician-gynecologist with the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine, said he hears of several such incidents a year, and they often involve teenagers.

“;It does happen,”; Aeby said. “;We don't know if they're just in denial or really don't know they're pregnant.”;

A 19-year-old woman complained of having cramps and went to the restroom at Kapolei Regional Park just before 9 p.m. Monday, police said.

The fetus was pronounced dead at 9:50 p.m., authorities said.

Honolulu police Detective Ted Coons said the incident has been classified as an unattended death, and no foul play is suspected.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office was conducting an autopsy yesterday to determine the gestational age of the fetus and cause of death. The results are pending.

It was unclear whether the fetus was alive outside the womb.

The woman, listed in serious condition when taken to a hospital, later appeared in good condition, police said.

Sharon Sirling, perinatal program manager for the state Department of Health, said women who are unaware they are pregnant until giving birth are sometimes large and unable to detect the movement of the fetus and have never given birth previously.

Some teens hide the condition from their parents, she said.

Women who have no money and medical insurance sometimes do not take pregnancy tests and are unaware that there are free state medical services, Sirling said.

Aeby said being unaware of a pregnancy can put the woman and baby at risk.

He said prenatal screening could detect serious conditions if, for example, the woman has diabetes, which could make her and the baby sick, or if she develops pre-eclampsia, a condition that includes high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and possible seizures and a stroke.