Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests decoded.

If you miss your period, you may wonder if it is time to take one of those pregnancy tests. You've tracked menstrual cycles. You've got the timing down. You are feeling and recognizing the Early Signs Of Pregnancy. You've done it all, and now you are ready for some answers! Before you take the big step and go see your doctor, you may want to try an home pregnancy test, which can be purchased at most drug stores.

There are two types of pregnancy tests, one which tests a woman's blood and one which tests her urine. Health care providers can test for pregnancy through the woman's blood, while home pregnancy tests, which test urine, can be done without a doctor, in the privacy of the home. Both type of pregnancy tests detect a hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), that is present only when a woman is pregnant. If you test positive for hCG on home pregnancy tests, you must visit your doctor immediately. Your doctor will confirm the results of home pregnancy tests through a pelvic exam and a blood test.

The blood pregnancy tests that your doctor will administer include two kinds. One, the quantitative blood test, can detect trace amounts and gives an exact measurement of hCG present , and can determine pregnancy very quickly after conception. The qualitative blood test does not measure by exact amounts but simply answers the question of whether you are pregnant or not. Blood pregnancy tests from your doctor can determine pregnancy 8 days after ovulation, while urine pregnancy tests typically take about two weeks.

And be sure to check out our pages about Getting Pregnant, Best Time To Get Pregnant, How To Tell If You Are Pregnant, Pregnancy Symptoms, and Signs Of Pregnancy elsewhere on this site.