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Pregnancy Testing
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Before taking a pregnancy test, you might check if you are experiencing any pregnancy symptoms. Taking a pregnancy test can be very exciting, while for some people it may be a little intimidating.
A missed menstrual cycle is the most common symptom leading a woman to take a pregnancy test.
A pregnancy test detects the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your blood or in your urine. HCG is produced in the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first few days of pregnancy.
Most doctors’ recommendations are waiting until the first day a missed period before taking a home pregnancy test. This is usually around two weeks after conception. However, some tests are more sensitive (and more expensive) than others and can be taken earlier. Concentrations of HCG are reported in milliInternational Units (mIU) or amounts equal to 1/1000th of an IU per milliliter. A pregnancy test with a sensitivity of 20 IU/L is more sensitive than one with 50 IU/L.
A blood test administered by your doctor is more sensitive than the early home tests and can be taken between seven and twelve days after you conceive.
A Home Tests is also very accurate (around 97%) when used correctly. Some kits come with two tests if mistakes happen.
A home pregnancy test is simple to do and can give you an accurate answer in 2 to 5 minutes.
Improved technology has made the urine home pregnancy test about as accurate as blood tests--99 percent under perfect conditions--although in actual use it may be less than that.
Using a woman's urine, a home pregnancy test detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced only during pregnancy. The tests contain monoclonal antibodies, which are molecules coated with a substance that bonds to the pregnancy hormone. If the hormone is present, a colored stripe, dot, or other symbol appears in the test windows. The tests also contain "control" windows to indicate whether the device has functioned properly.
Although the makers of today's tests say their products can detect hCG as soon as the very day a missed period was supposed to begin, they also advise taking the test again a few days later to confirm the result. If the result is positive, see a doctor as soon as possible.
However if you take a test too early, you may get a false negative (when the test says you are not pregnant but you are). Your 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 try again.
False positives (when the test says you're pregnant but you're not) are possible too, but rare. A positive pregnancy test is a pretty good indication that you are pregnant.
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