If you notice symptoms that could indicate pregnancy, such as fatigue, nausea, or a missed menstrual period, the best first step is to take a pregnancy test to determine if you are pregnant.
These tests work by detecting the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in your urine. hCG is produced after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, so there must be enough of this hormone for a pregnancy test to detect it.
Read this article for more information about taking a test to determine early pregnancy.
Choosing a Pregnancy Test
Do I Need a Blood or Urine Test to Know If I’m Pregnant?
Both tests detect hCG, but blood tests can detect the hormone sooner than urine tests. However, this requires a visit to the doctor’s office, and results may take longer than a urine test.
Could a Home Pregnancy Test Be Wrong?
While home pregnancy tests are highly accurate, expired or defective pregnancy tests can result in an inaccurate reading. A false positive can also happen when taking the test too early.
Taking a Pregnancy Test
How Soon After Sex Can I Take a Pregnancy Test?
While you may be eager to know whether you are pregnant, taking a pregnancy test immediately after sex won’t give you the most reliable results. When the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, the placenta forms and produces the hCG hormone.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, a pregnancy test is most reliable if you wait until a day or two after your missed period. Waiting a day or two gives your body enough time to produce detectable hCG levels for an accurate reading on your pregnancy test.
Should I Take More Than One Pregnancy Test?
Taking more than one pregnancy test helps eliminate any possible error with the first test. It’s also possible to get a false positive a few weeks after a miscarriage because of the high levels of hCG.
An ultrasound will confirm the pregnancy, also the age, viability, and location (this can rule out an ectopic pregnancy).
Where To Get a Pregnancy Test for Free
At Elevier Women’s Center, we provide no-cost medical-grade pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. Let us help you with this first step as you create a pregnancy plan that works for you.
You don’t have to do this alone. We are here to help support you. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!