If you think you might be pregnant, you probably want an answer as soon as possible. Home pregnancy tests are widely available, but many women wonder how they work and whether they can trust the results.
Knowing what a pregnancy test measures and when it is most accurate can help you avoid unnecessary confusion and stress.
Birthright of West Chester offers lab-quality pregnancy testing and a place to ask all of your questions. Schedule a free appointment today to find the answers you need.
Pregnancy Tests Detect a Specific Hormone
Pregnancy tests work by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone your body begins producing after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus.
Implantation usually happens several days after ovulation, so hCG is not present immediately after conception. Once implantation occurs, hCG levels begin to rise and continue to increase during early pregnancy.
Because of this process, testing too early may produce a negative result even if you are pregnant.
Urine Tests and Blood Tests
Most pregnancy tests, including those used at home, measure hCG in urine. When taken at the right time and according to the instructions, these tests are highly accurate.
Blood tests, which healthcare providers order, measure the amount of hCG in the bloodstream and can detect smaller amounts of the hormone. They’re generally reserved for situations where additional medical information or oversight is needed.
For most women, a urine pregnancy test is the first step.
When Should You Test?
According to the Mayo Clinic, an accurate time to take a pregnancy test is a day or two after the first day of a missed period. Using your first morning urine may also improve accuracy because hCG is typically more concentrated.
If your result is negative but your period still hasn’t started after several days to a week, take another test. Ovulation doesn’t always happen exactly when expected, and that can affect when hCG becomes detectable.
A Positive Test Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
A pregnancy test confirms that hCG is present, but it cannot tell you:
- How far along you are
- Whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus
- Whether the pregnancy is developing and has a heartbeat
An ultrasound can provide those answers and give you a clearer understanding of your pregnancy. We can connect you to ultrasound services following a positive pregnancy test with us.
Birthright of West Chester is here to help. Schedule your free and confidential appointment today. Call us at (610) 436-0773.