Pregnancy Tests
If you are experiencing any of the common signs of early pregnancy, such as tender breasts, bloating, or nausea, or if your period is late, you may want to take a home pregnancy test. These tests check your urine for the presence of human Chorionic Gonadotrophon (or hCG), the pregnancy hormone.
You can take a test to see if you're expecting a baby about a week after your period was due. If you don't know which day you could normally expect your period to start, wait about 19 days after your last unprotected sex. Home pregnancy tests are available at your local drugstore, or you can order one online.
Pregnancy tests work because your hormone balance changes when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. The egg normally implants about 6 days after conception, but it sometimes happens later. The hCG hormone will continue to rise the longer you're pregnant, and this makes later tests more accurate. If you get a negative result from your home tests, but you still have a missing period and you still feel symptoms of pregnancy, you will want to re-test in another day or two.
You can get a false negative result if you take the test too soon, or if you naturally ovulate later in your cycle than normal. You should not get a false positive result (which says you're pregnant when you're not) unless you are taking a medication that contains hCG. Fertility treatments sometimes contain this hormone.
If you get a positive test result, or if you think you're pregnant but the test says you're not, see your doctor. Your doctor will test your blood for the pregnancy hormone, instead of your urine. This test is more accurate than the home test, and your doctor will also do a pelvic examination to make sure. If you would rather not visit your family doctor, your local Planned Parenthood will be able to give you a pregnancy test, and any counseling you may need if the results are positive.
©2006 Jonni Good
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