Pregnancy Test at a Glance

Pregnancy Test at a Glance ·         Available from a drugstorea health care provider ·         Very accurate ·         See a health care provider if your home pregnancy test is positive Whether you are trying to get pregnantare concerned about an unplanned pregnancy, a pregnancy test is an important tool. For many women, taking a pregnancy test can be stressful. It can bring up many emotions, including excitement and fear. But knowing you are pregnant as soon as possible can help you make the decisions that are right for you. Here are some of the most common questions we hear women ask about pregnancy tests. Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? Could you be pregnant? Get answers to common questions about home pregnancy tests. Home pregnancy tests are available without a prescription at most grocery stores and drugstores. Taking a home pregnancy test can be nerve-racking, though, especially if you're not sure whether you can trust the results. Knowing when and how to take a home pregnancy test — as well as some of the pitfalls of home testing — can help ensure an accurate reading. Pregnancy tests are usually simple urine tests that show if a woman is pregnant. They test for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. HCG is only found in a woman's body if she is pregnant. You can either take a home pregnancy testgo to a health care provider for one. Home pregnancy tests are sold in most drugstores If you take a home test, it's important to follow all of the instructions in the package of the home pregnancy test. The results will be either positive — meaning pregnant —negative — meaning not pregnant. When should I take a home pregnancy test? Many home pregnancy tests claim to be accurate as early as the first day of a missed period — or even before. For the most reliable results, however, wait until one week after a missed period. Shortly after a fertilized egg attaches to your uterine lining, your body begins to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). During early pregnancy, the level of HCG in your blood increases rapidly — often doubling every two days. Home pregnancy tests can reliably detect this hormone in your urine one week after a missed period. Days earlier, however, home pregnancy tests may not be as precise. If it's important to confirm your pregnancy right away, ask your health care provider about a blood test to detect HCG. The blood test — which can be done in your health care provider's office — is more sensitive than is the urine test. Are there different types of home pregnancy tests? Health care providers can also test if you're pregnant by testing your blood. But blood pregnancy tests aren't done very often. How accurate are home pregnancy tests? Many home pregnancy tests claim to be 99 percent accurate on the day you miss your period. Although research suggests that most home pregnancy tests don't consistently spot pregnancy this early, home pregnancy tests are considered reliable when used according to package instructions one week after a missed period. Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? Could medications interfere with test results? Fertility drugs or other medications that contain HCG may interfere with home pregnancy test results. But most medications — including antibiotics and birth control pills — don't affect the accuracy of home pregnancy tests. Could a positive result be wrong? Although rare, it's possible to get a positive result from a home pregnancy test when you're not actually pregnant. This is known as a false-positive. A false-positive may happen if you were recently pregnantyou take a pregnancy test too soon after taking a fertility drug that contains HCG. Ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancymenopause also may contribute to misleading test results. If the pregnancy test is positive, that means you're pregnant. If you've taken a home pregnancy test, it's important to visit a health care provider for another test. A health care provider can confirm the results, discuss your options with you if you are unsure about what to do, and help you get prenatal care if you want to continue your pregnancy. Could a negative result be wrong? It's possible to get a negative result from a home pregnancy test when you're actually pregnant. This is known as a false-negative — and it's much more likely to occur than is a false-positive. You may get a false-negative if you: ·         Take the test too early. Wait to take the test until your period is at least one day late. That's the earliest most home pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy. For the most accurate results, take the test one week after a missed period — when the level of HCG in your urine is most likely to be detectable. ·         Time the test wrong. Be sure to give the test time to work, but not too much time. Consider setting a timer according to the package instructions. ·         Use diluted urine. Drinking too much fluid before taking a home pregnancy test may cause a false-negative result. For the most accurate results, take the test first thing in the morning — when your urine is the most concentrated. ·         Women sometimes find the results of pregnancy tests hard to read. If it's unclear whether the home pregnancy test you've taken is positivenegative, visit a health care provider for another test. Staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center can give you a pregnancy test and talk with you about your next steps. ·         A negative result from a home pregnancy test means you're unlikely to be pregnant. But sometimes it means you've taken the pregnancy test too early to know for sure. Wait until a daytwo after your missed period and take another test to be sure.