When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?

If you have a missed period and have had intercourse recently, then your mind is probably racing with the thoughts of “What if I’m pregnant?” 

While you will likely want to test as soon as possible, it’s best to wait a week after your missed period for the most accurate results. This way, you can give your body time to develop hCG levels.

How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?

After the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine lining, small amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone found only in pregnant women, begin to appear in your blood and urine. This is the hormone that pregnancy tests are designed to identify what makes a test positive or negative. 

How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests?

Depending on the type of test that you’re using, pregnancy tests can be up to 99% accurate, given that you follow the instructions correctly. However, the reason that you recommend waiting a few days after your period is to give your body time to produce hCG at detectable levels. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that your ovulation can vary from month to month and affect your calculations of a missed period,especially if your periods are irregular.

What Are My Options If I’m Pregnant?

If you confirm your pregnancy, there are three options that are presented: adoption, parenthood, or abortion. However, the first step a medical provider will want to do is to confirm that you are indeed pregnant with a pregnancy test.

Here at WMRCSN, we offer free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, so you can verify that you are pregnant as well as gauge what stage of pregnancy you are in while eliminating health complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy.

While you’re here, you can speak to our knowledgeable and compassionate staff about what options are available to women dealing with unexpected pregnancies, and they can answer questions and provide resources. We are here to support you in any way that we can!