Effectiveness of Pregnancy Tests

Missing your period could be the first sign that you are pregnant. To be sure, take a home pregnancy test. These tests measure the amount of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine. Your health care provider may later conduct a blood test that will measure the amount of hCG in the blood in order to determine if a woman is pregnant.

  1. Types

    • There are two types of pregnancy tests that are available, home pregnancy tests and blood tests. Home pregnancy tests can be purchased at any drug or grocery store. Blood tests can only be performed through your health care provider.

    Time Frame

    • Home pregnancy tests can give a pregnancy result as early as five days prior to your missed period. A blood test is able to test levels of hCG in the blood six to eight days after ovulation.

    Considerations

    • With any home pregnancy test, the results may be affected by several factors such as drinking too much water prior to testing, not using the first morning urine, testing too early or miscalculating when you ovulated.

    Warning

    • When using any home pregnancy test, each test may have a different level of hCG sensitivity. The lower the sensitivity of the test, the more likely it is to detect pregnancy prior to a missed period. Consult the directions that came with the test for more information.

    Misconceptions

    • It is possible to get a false negative result from a home pregnancy test. If you have not gotten your period within a month of taking a test, it is best to take another one and notify your health care provider.

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