Pregnancy tests - home kits and blood testing

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Pregnancy tests work by identifying a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only present when a woman is pregnant. Once you suspect that you may be pregnant the only real way to find out is to take a test. There are two main types of pregnancy testing - blood, or urine which can be done with a home kit.

Both types of test search for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) a hormone that is produced by the developing placenta shortly after fertilization. The further you are into your pregnancy the higher the levels of HCG. Blood tests can pick up the presence of the hormone much earlier than a urine test - as early as six to eight days after ovulation. Although some of the newer urine tests are quite sensitive to low levels of HCG, most only show accurate results after two weeks of pregnancy.

Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) are urine tests and have the advantage of low costs and ultimate privacy. However, they can have misleading results and you may want to see a doctor for a blood test if you are unsure or suspect you are pregnant despite a negative result on a home pregnancy test. If you test positive on a HPT you should see your doctor for confirmation immediately.

Doctors perform two types of blood tests: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative blood tests (beta HCG tests) measure the exact level of HCG in the blood. The test is extremely sensitive and therefore highly accurate. Qualitative blood tests are less accurate and if you are very early on in your pregnancy, when HCG levels are still low, you may get a false negative result.

Although most common drugs will have no direct effect on the result of pregnancy tests, medicines that contain HCG could produce a false positive result. Infertility and obesity are often treated with HCG; if you've had an HCG shot as part of your treatment you'll need to wait at least two weeks for an accurate pregnancy test result. Ask your doctor for a quantitative blood test and a pelvic exam to confirm the diagnosis.

If you are unsure of your results for any reason, speak to your doctor. Discovering you are pregnant is the first step in a ten-month process, knowing as early as possible will allow you to prepare your body and mind for that life-changing event.

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