Another option involves placing a stick into your urine stream and catching your urine in midstream. Tests vary in how long you have to wait to get a result. You will be looking for a change in color, a line, or a symbol like a plus or minus. You can get our recommended midstream urine tests online.
All tests come with instructions, and it is important that you follow these instructions to get an accurate reading. View a video demonstration of how a pregnancy test works. Most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a urine pregnancy test.
This is usually about two weeks after conception. However, some tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier. However, if done incorrectly or taken too early, the result can be inaccurate. If you get a negative result and still have symptoms of pregnancy missed period, nausea , breast tenderness, and fatigue , wait a week and take another test or contact your doctor so you can have a blood test done. There are two types of blood tests.
A quantitative blood test measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood, and a qualitative hCG blood test gives a simple yes or no answer to whether you are pregnant or not.
A positive result from a home pregnancy test shows the presence of the hormone hCG in your system. This is a sign that you have become pregnant. A negative result can mean that you are not pregnant, you took the test too early, or you took the test wrong.
Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity how soon they can detect the hormone hCG , and you may not have given your body enough time to produce enough hCG hormones that will show up on the test. Also, if you let a test sit for too long after the instructions on the box tell you , the test is invalid. It is best to follow the instructions and wait until you have missed a period before taking the test.
Most pregnancy tests come with two in a box, and it is a good idea to take both. In this article, we describe the types of pregnancy test, how to use them, and what the results mean.
Whether a person has one in a clinic or at home, these tests check levels of the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin hCG. This hormone starts circulating once a fertilized egg has attached to the wall of the uterus wall, which usually happens 6 days after fertilization.
Levels of hCG change throughout pregnancy. A urine test can typically detect hCG 12—15 days after ovulation. Home pregnancy tests are available over the counter, and they are typically inexpensive. If a person uses them correctly, they give accurate results. These tests usually give results within 5 minutes , though the timing of different tests may vary.
A standard home pregnancy test has a strip that changes color or displays a symbol, such as a plus or minus sign, to indicate the result. Some can even indicate how far along the pregnancy is. Various pregnancy tests are available for purchase online. A person may opt for this to avoid some of the handling errors that can happen with home tests. Otherwise, the level of accuracy is the same as with home testing. Waiting times for clinical results vary.
Some facilities provide results immediately, while others may take up to a week. These are less common than urine tests, but they can give results earlier in a pregnancy. There are two types. A qualitative hCG blood test checks whether the hormone is present in a blood sample.
Anyone who can become pregnant and suspects that they are should take a test. This might be an especially good idea for people who have recently had sex without a barrier method of protection, such as a condom. Learn more about the early signs of pregnancy here. Depending on the test, this involves giving either a urine or blood sample. Healthcare professionals may test this immediately or send it to a laboratory for testing. The lab usually takes a day or two to return the results.
Home pregnancy tests are simple to use, but it is crucial to follow the instructions carefully. In general, they involve:. It is often best to take a pregnancy test 1—2 weeks after the first missed period. A person may want to wait a bit and test again if they suspect pregnancy but receive a negative result at first.
Page last reviewed: 1 October Next review due: 1 October Home Pregnancy Trying for a baby Back to Trying for a baby. Doing a pregnancy test. When you can do a pregnancy test You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period.
Where you can get a pregnancy test You can also buy pregnancy testing kits from pharmacists and some supermarkets. The following places provide free pregnancy tests: community contraceptive clinics — find sexual health services near you sexual health clinics some young people's services — call the national sexual health helpline on for details Brook centres — for unders You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP.
How does a pregnancy test work? Pregnancy test results Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly. The result may not be reliable if you: do not follow the instructions properly take the test too early Some medicines can also affect the results. Continuing with the pregnancy If you're pregnant and want to continue with the pregnancy, contact your GP or a midwife to start your antenatal care.
If you're not sure you want to be pregnant If you're not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are: continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby having an abortion continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information — from the age of 13 — from the following: a community sexual health clinic the MSI Reproductive Choices website the FPA: pregnant and don't know what to do leaflet All these services — including community contraceptive clinics — are confidential.
Video: is the pregnancy test accurate? In this video, a midwife explains when you can take a pregnancy test and how to do it properly.
Media last reviewed: 5 February Media review due: 5 February
0コメント