If you are experiencing common pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, or a missed period, the first step you’ll want to take is to confirm whether you are pregnant with a test.
Read this article to understand how pregnancy tests work and how to determine the best time to take the test.
Choosing a Pregnancy TestÂ
Do I Need a Blood or Urine Test to Know If I’m Pregnant?Â
Both tests are designed to 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.
Urine tests are pregnancy tests available at local pharmacies or drugstores.
Could a Home Pregnancy Test Be Wrong?
While they are generally highly accurate, one study indicates that up to 5% of pregnancy tests can be misleading. While it may be a negative result, you could, in fact, still be pregnant.
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.Â
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, a pregnancy test is most reliable if you wait until a day or two after your missed period. This 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, so it’s a good idea also to get an ultrasound to verify the pregnancy’s viability.
Suppose you’ve already taken a positive pregnancy test. In that case, we can also refer you for a no-cost ultrasound. An ultrasound can help you determine the pregnancy’s age and location (this can alert you to the health complications of an ectopic pregnancy).
Where To Get a Pregnancy Test for Free
At pregnancycoptionsmiami.org,, we provide confidential and no-cost pregnancy services, such as 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, so contact us today to schedule your appointment!