How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
Are you wondering if you’re pregnant? Taking a pregnancy test is where you should begin. At Robbinsdale Women’s Center, we offer lab-quality, urine pregnancy testing at no cost to you. Don’t waste your time or money on over-the-counter tests when you can get accurate pregnancy testing with us. Contact us today.
A late period is usually the first sign of pregnancy, but a change in your menstrual cycle can be caused by other medical issues. Stress, a hormone imbalance, increased exercise, and certain medications can all affect your cycle.
Are you experiencing any of these other symptoms?
When a woman gets pregnant, the fertilized egg attaches to her uterine lining which is called implantation. If you aren’t pregnant, that lining sheds off and becomes your monthly period.
The placenta (which provides nutrients for your pregnancy) forms and produces the hormone hCG. The hCG hormone builds rapidly, doubling every two to three days, and enters your urine.
Pregnancy tests use your urine to determine if you’re pregnant. If the test detects hCG, you will get a positive result on the test. At Robbinsdale Women’s Center, our tests are 99% accurate.
The longer you wait after your missed period, the more accurate the results will be. Your body needs time to register enough of the hCG hormone.
Your monthly cycle helps determine when to take a pregnancy test. If your period is regular (every 28-30 days), you can take the test a day or two after your missed period. If your period constantly starts and stops at different times every month, it’s better to wait until five or six days past the possible start date.
If being pregnant wasn’t in your plans right now, you need more information to determine your next steps. After a positive pregnancy test at Robbinsdale, we’ll administer an ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy is viable (growing with a detectable heartbeat) and determine how far along you are. To protect your health, you’ll also want to make sure your pregnancy is located in the correct place.
Our pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and options consultations are completely confidential and always available to you at no cost. Even if you’ve taken an at-home test, confirm your results with one of ours.
If your pregnancy test is positive, we can chat about your current situation, your future plans, and the many options available to you. Don’t travel this road alone. We’re your best first steps and here to help you. Contact us today and let’s start this journey together.