It can be nerve-wracking worrying about an unexpected pregnancy, especially if you’re trying to identify the signs and symptoms. The first step toward clarity is confirming your pregnancy through a test and understanding what comes next.
If you think you might be pregnant, this is the only way to know for certain. You’ll also want to follow up with an ultrasound. Knowing how pregnancy tests work and the best time to take one can help you get accurate results, allowing you to make informed decisions about your next steps.
How Pregnancy Testing Work
When pregnancy occurs, your body begins producing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Pregnancy tests detect this hormone in your urine or blood. Since hCG levels start low and increase rapidly, the timing of the test is crucial. Testing too early might result in a false negative, where you’re pregnant, but the hCG levels are still too low to be detected.
Best Time to Take a Pregnancy Test
Most at-home pregnancy tests claim high accuracy if taken a day after your period is due. However, if you’re unsure of your cycle, it’s best to estimate when your period was expected and test around that time. If you receive a negative result but still think you might be pregnant, wait a few days and test again. For the most accurate result, take the test in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
Get Free Pregnancy Testing
If you believe there’s a possibility you could be pregnant, starting with a pregnancy test is your first step. Even if you’ve already taken an at-home test, we recommend following up with our lab-quality pregnancy testing. If your test is positive, an ultrasound can confirm the pregnancy and estimate how far along you are.
Facing uncertainty about pregnancy can be stressful, but support is available. Reach out to schedule a free, confidential appointment to explore your options and get the answers you need.
