{"id":70951,"date":"2020-04-24T00:13:03","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T06:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/?p=138"},"modified":"2022-06-10T07:55:59","modified_gmt":"2022-06-10T13:55:59","slug":"taking-a-pregnancy-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/getting-pregnant\/taking-a-pregnancy-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking a Pregnancy Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking a pregnancy test<\/a> can be filled with excitement for some people, whereas\u00a0for others it may be a little intimidating. Before you take a pregnancy\u00a0test, you might check to see if you are experiencing any pregnancy\u00a0symptoms.\u00a0<\/a>A missed menstrual cycle<\/a> is the most common symptom leading a woman to\u00a0take a pregnancy test.<\/p>\n

How does a test tell if you are pregnant or not?<\/h2>\n

A pregnancy test detects the presence of a hormone called human\u00a0chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)<\/a> in your blood or in your urine. hCG is\u00a0produced in the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the\u00a0uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first few\u00a0days of pregnancy.<\/p>\n

How long do I have to wait before I take a test?<\/h3>\n

Most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed\u00a0period before taking a home pregnancy test. A missed period is usually one\u00a0of the first signs\u00a0of pregnancy<\/a>. This is usually around two weeks after conception.
\nHowever,\u00a0some tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier. Concentrations\u00a0of hCG are reported in milliInternational Units (mIU) or an amount equal to\u00a01\/1000th of an IU per milliliter. A pregnancy test with a sensitivity of\u00a020 IU\/L is more sensitive than one with 50 IU\/L.<\/p>\n

A blood test<\/a> administered by your doctor is more sensitive than\u00a0the early home tests and can be taken between 7 and 12 days\u00a0after you conceive<\/strong>.\u00a0 However, it is possible that these tests can be done\u00a0too early and show a false negative result.\u00a0 If you receive a negative\u00a0result and still do not start your period, another test should\u00a0be\u00a0done.<\/p>\n

How accurate are home tests?<\/h3>\n

Home tests are very accurate (around 97%<\/strong>) when used correctly. Some\u00a0kits come with two tests because mistakes do happen. If you take a test too early, you may get a false negative (when the test says you are not pregnant but you are).
\nYour body needs time for the hormone to rise to a high enough level to be detected in a test. If the test comes back negative but you still think you could be pregnant, wait a few days and test again.<\/p>\n

False positives (when the test says you’re pregnant but you’re not) are possible but rare. A positive pregnancy test is a pretty good indication that you are pregnant.<\/p>\n

Do you want to get pregnant?<\/h3>\n

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide<\/strong><\/a> provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.<\/p>\n

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Want to Know More?<\/h4>\n