In earlier times, when a woman is suspected to be pregnant, she often needs to have a doctor, a midwife, or a medical practitioner check on her if she is with child. Nowadays, a woman can check if she is pregnant by simply performing a home pregnancy test.
A modern pregnancy test determines if a woman is pregnant or not. These tests look to markers like urine and blood samples to determine pregnancy. The test determines a hormone called hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin, the pregnancy hormone. This particular hormone is made when the fertilized eggs adheres to the uterus.
There are two kinds of pregnancy tests: the blood test and the urine test. The urine test determines the hCG hormone. This test can be performed with a home pregnancy test (HPT) or at the doctor’s office. The blood test, which also determines hCG, must be done at the doctor’s office. Nowadays, women use the HPT, which are private, inexpensive, and very easy to use. If the HPT results come out negative, there is no need for you to go to the doctor. Therefore, there is no need to pay extra charges. There are also two kinds of blood tests: the quantitative and the qualitative. The quantitative test accurately measures the amount of hCG in the blood. The qualitative blood test determines if hCG is present in the blood or not.
There are a lot of HPTs out in the market and are sold at most pharmacies over-the-counter. The choice is entirely yours. Most HPTs work the same way. Common instructions call for the user to dip the stick into the urine. Other HPTs call for collecting urine and then dipping the stick in it. After that, the woman should wait for a few minutes. One a few minutes have elapsed, the user must check the “result window.” A woman is pregnant if a plus symbol or line appears. Whether faint or bold, a line means you are pregnant. There are also new digital tests that flash the words “not pregnant” or “pregnant.”
A lot of HPTs claim 99 percent accuracy on the first day of the missed period. However, research shows that most HPTs do not readily detect pregnancy that early. When these HPTs do, results are so faint, they are often misunderstood. Perhaps, if you wait for a week after the missed period, most HPTs give a more accurate answer. If you want to know results earlier, just check with your doctor.
Most HPTs have a “control indicator” in the result window, with the symbol or line showing if the test is working properly. If no control indicator appears, then the test is not properly working. The bottom line is you should not always rely on the results of an HPT.
If an HPT shows a positive result, you should consult with your doctor immediately. The doctor can employ a more sensitive test with a pelvic exam to really determine that you are pregnant. Remember, that the foundation for a healthy pregnancy begins with the right visit to the doctor. Your doctor will guide you for the next nine months, ensuring a healthy pregnancy.
