What is a Pregnancy Test?
A pregnancy test is a test that can determine if you're pregnant by examining a specific hormone in a sample of your urine (pee) or blood. hCG stands for Human chorionic gonadotropin is the name of the hormone. High hCG levels indicate pregnancy. hCG levels rise rapidly in the first ten weeks after a fertilized egg adheres to the uterine wall.
Different Types of Pregnancy Tests
Urine Pregnancy Tests
- These are the most common home pregnancy testing methods, available over the counter without a prescription.
- They are most accurate when taken a week or two after a missed period. If taken too soon, the test might not detect enough hCG to show a positive result
- Follow these instructions provided with your test kit. Typically, you either place a test stick in your urine stream or dip it into a cup of collected urine. Results are visible within minutes.
Blood Pregnancy Tests
Conducted in hospitals or labs, blood tests are more sensitive and can even small amounts of hCG.
- They can confirm pregnancy before a missed period, but they are less commonly used than urine tests because they are costlier and take longer to provide results.
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What is its purpose?
A pregnancy test is used to determine whether you are pregnant or not.
When to take a pregnancy test?
You may take this test when you have pregnancy symptoms and doubt whether you are pregnant or not. Pregnancy symptoms differ from person to person. Missing menstruation is the most prevalent indicator of early pregnancy. Other frequent early pregnancy symptoms include:
For accurate results:
- Take a urine test with your first-morning urine, which has higher hCG levels.
- Avoid drinking excessive fluids beforehand, as this may dilute your urine and affect the test's sensitivity.
What happens during a pregnancy test?
In Home pregnancy tests
Home pregnancy tests are simple to do. A home pregnancy test kit is available without a prescription. The kits contain test sticks or strips that react to the presence of hCG in your urine. The processes for doing a test differ depending on the brand; therefore, it's critical to follow the directions that come with your test. For the majority of test kits, you have to follow the following steps:
- Insert the test stick or strip into the urine stream.
- Fill a cup halfway with pee and dip the test stick or strip into it.
You will get your results on the test stick or strip after a particular amount of minutes. Further additional information will be specified in the instructions. In general, to obtain the most reliable results from any home pregnancy test, you should:
- Double-check the expiring date before using the test.
- Test your early morning pee. Morning pee often contains more hCG than urine collected later in the day.
- Make use of a timer. If you predict the timing, your findings may be wrong.
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In pregnancy blood tests
Blood tests will be performed at the hospital or a laboratory. A tiny needle will be used by a healthcare expert to draw blood from a vein in your arm. Following the insertion of the needle, a small quantity of blood will be collected in a test tube or vial. When the needle goes in or out, you may feel a slight sting. This procedure is normally completed in less than 5 minutes. The sample will be sent to the laboratory for testing.
How to prepare for the test?
If you're taking a urine test, avoid drinking a lot of liquids before you give your sample. This may dilute the hCG in your urine, causing it to fail the test. Otherwise, no specific preparations are required for a pregnancy test that uses urine or blood.
Is there any risk in the test?
There are no known risks associated with getting a urine test.
During a blood test you may experience some discomfort or bruising where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms will go away soon.
Interpreting Results
Positive Pregnancy Test
- A pregnancy test positive result indicates that hCG is present, confirming pregnancy.
- Schedule an appointment visit with your doctor to confirm the results and begin prenatal care.
Negative Pregnancy Test
- A negative pregnancy test means no hCG was detected. However, testing too early might give a false negative.
- If you suspect pregnancy despite a negative result, wait a few days and retest or consult your doctor.
Important Factors about Pregnancy Tests?
The majority of pregnancy tests simply determine whether you have hCG in your urine or not. Certain pregnancy tests, however, also assess how much hCG you have. These tests are known as quantitative hCG testing, and they are often performed on blood samples.
The level of hCG in your body can provide significant information to your provider about your pregnancy and the health of your unborn baby. Quantitative hCG testing can help in knowing:
- The age of the fetus in the early pregnancy stage.
- Whether there is a high chance of miscarriage and keeping track of your pregnancy.
- Check for the following issues:
- Ectopic pregnancy : It occurs when a fertilized egg attempts to develop outside of the uterus. When an egg is in the incorrect position, it cannot develop into a baby. It must be removed to prevent organ damage. This is potentially a medical emergency.
- A uterine tumor : A uterine tumor (hydatidiform mole) is an abnormal development of tissue in the uterus. It is caused by a fertilized egg that has so severe genetic defects that it cannot develop into a baby. The growth has the potential to develop into cancer and must be removed.
- Unborn infant abnormalities : Unborn infant abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, other chromosomal issues, and some birth disorders (hCG testing is usually part of a group of prenatal screening tests called a "triple" or "quadruple" screen test.)
These illnesses include ovarian or uterine cancer, as well as other conditions that can cause a rise in hCG levels.
