Think you may be pregnant after experiencing a late period? You may be holding your breath, waiting to figure out what’s next.
Your next best step is to take a pregnancy test. In this blog, we share how to go about pregnancy testing, when to take a test, and more. You are not alone.
Start with Pregnancy Testing
Pregnancy testing indicates if you’re pregnant by determining the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your body. The most common type of pregnancy test is a urine pregnancy test.
Be sure to follow up your test results with a lab-quality pregnancy test at our center to confirm your results. We can help you review pregnancy information and next steps.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
Timing is everything when it comes to taking a pregnancy test. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should take a pregnancy test at least one day after a missed period to get the most accurate results. It gives your body enough time to produce the right amount of hCG hormone to be accurately detected in a test.
After receiving a negative result, wait until after your missed period to take another test. It could be that the hormone hCG (what pregnancy tests detect) has not risen to detectable levels yet, and you need to wait a little longer.
What About Irregular Periods?
If you experience irregular periods, it can be confusing to know when to take a pregnancy test.
The FDA shares that most pregnancy tests can detect the pregnancy hormone, hCG, in urine 12-15 days after ovulation for women with 28-day cycles. For accurate results with irregular periods, wait 36 days after your last menstrual period or four weeks after you had sex to take a pregnancy test.
What if I Get a Positive Result?
If you receive a positive lab-quality pregnancy test result, your next step is an ultrasound to confirm vital pregnancy details. This step helps determine what pregnancy options are available to you. We offer free limited ultrasounds if you receive a positive result during a pregnancy testing appointment with us.
Schedule a free and confidential pregnancy testing appointment today to start getting answers. We are here to walk with you.