Confirming Pregnancy
August 10th, 2010
A pregnancy test lets a woman know, one way or another, if she is pregnant. If you experience symptoms such as nausea, breast tenderness, a missed period and fatigue, pregnancy testing can help confirm your condition. Pregnancy tests are designed to test if a woman’s urine or blood contains a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). It is produced right after a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus.
A pregnant woman’s levels of hCG continue to rise fast and doubles every two to three days. Two main kinds of pregnancy tests are available:
- Urine tests can be done at home or in a doctor’s office. Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) can already be used one week after a missed period. They are private and convenient.
- Blood tests are done at a doctor’s clinic. They can detect pregnancy earlier than an HPT but the results take longer to be released.