Pregnancy Tests
When you’re trying to conceive, waiting to learn if you are pregnant can be a nerve-wracking, anxious time. To help ease your anticipation, pregnancy tests are a great way to find out the answer to the all-important question: “Am I pregnant?”
Today, in addition to tests offered by a doctor’s office, health care center or hospital, there are many home pregnancy tests on the market that offer results that are nearly as accurate as the professionally administered tests.
If you’re considering a pregnancy test, the following guidelines will help you determine if a home test is right for you, or if you should head to your doctor’s office to confirm your pregnancy.
Home pregnancy tests
These ubiquitous tests can yield results which are 99 percent accurate, according to their manufacturers, rates that are about the same as urine tests offered by doctor’s offices and hospitals.
Most home pregnancy tests include a strip, or wand containing a specially coated strip, on which a drop of urine is placed. In some cases, you may be asked to urinate directly onto the strip or wand, and in others, you may be asked to use a dropper to place the urine on the strip. The strips’ special chemical coating is designed to react when a human called hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is present. HCG is a hormone made by the developing embryo soon after conception occurs, and by the placenta during alter stages of pregnancy. The hormone is also responsible for causing breast tenderness and nausea that may occur during the earliest stages of pregnancy.
In most cases, hCG is not released until about seven to 10 days after conception occurs. Pregnancy tests taken before 10 days may return a false negative, meaning that you are pregnant even though the test indicates you are not. Today, there are some early-detection tests that may offer results sooner; but for best results, women should wait until their period is seven to 10 days late before taking a home pregnancy test. Because some tests are more sensitive than others, if a test yields negative results, health care experts advise waiting a few more days and then repeating the test. If the results are still negative and your period still has not begun, it’s generally a good idea to see your health care provider to be tested, and to ensure there are not other health issues causing your period to be delayed. For instance, if the fertilized egg attaches to the fallopian tube instead of the uterus, a condition known as ecotopic or tubal pregnancy, very low levels of hCG may be detectable. Always see your health care provider if the results are unclear.
Many couples prefer home pregnancy tests because they can be administered quickly and privately, at home, work, vacation, or anywhere there is a bathroom. Results usually only require a few minutes to appear.
For best results when using a home pregnancy test:
· Test yourself first thing in the morning, when hCG levels are highest; otherwise, try to avoid urinating for four hours prior to your test.
· Don’t try to speed urination by drinking large amounts of water or other liquids, as this may dilute the levels of hCG in your urine.
· If you are taking birth control medication or other fertility medication, be aware that these drugs may affect results.
· Read the directions accompanying your test and follow them exactly; also be aware that directions can vary between test manufacturers.
You can find home pregnancy tests in drug stores, supermarkets, and other stores, and most cost only a few dollars.
Blood tests
Once relied on as the industry standard for optimum accuracy, developments and advancements in urine tests to detect pregnancy have made blood tests less common than they once were. Blood tests are more expensive than urine tests, and today their results are generally not much more accurate than many urine tests. As a result, they are often reserved for women undergoing treatment for infertility or when a problem is suspected, such as when a urine test yields negative results despite a very late period.
Overall, blood tests are generally more sensitive than urine pregnancy tests and can detect even very small levels of hCG in the bloodstream. Additionally, blood tests can determine the presence of hCG earlier in the pregnancy than can urine tests.
During the blood test for pregnancy, your health care provider or technician will take a vial of blood from your arm and a lab will analyze it for the presence of hCG. Most results are available the same day.
Because hCG levels vary predictably during the course of a normal pregnancy, your health care provider may take several tests throughout your pregnancy to firmly establish a due date and ensure the fetus is developing correctly. Blood test can also help determine if a woman is carrying twins. Aberrations in hCG levels may indicate a problem with the pregnancy.