If you’ve recently had unprotected sex, nothing is more nerve-wracking than waiting to see if your period starts. Whether your monthly cycle comes like clockwork or you never know from month to month when it will start, a late period often indicates pregnancy.
Your first step is to take a pregnancy test. You can purchase a test at your local drugstore today. Schedule an appointment to get more pregnancy education.
How Soon Can I Take a Test?
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body begins producing a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Eventually, the hCG hormone builds in her body and enters her urine and bloodstream.
Most healthcare providers use urine pregnancy tests. Experts recommend taking the test after the first day of your missed period. If you know your period is late, now is the time to take a test.
Are Home Pregnancy Tests Reliable?
You can get accurate results from home pregnancy tests, but following the directions carefully is essential. Here are the recommended steps to get accurate results:
- Check the expiration date.
- Read the directions thoroughly before starting.
- Wait until at least the first day after your missed period. The longer you wait, the more accurate the results.
- Take the test in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
- Check the results after the suggested amount of time.
- Retest again to confirm the results.
Is it Possible the Test is Wrong?
Getting a false-negative result on a test is possible. A false negative means the test does not show you’re pregnant when you are. That’s why it is recommended that you follow the above steps precisely.
A false-positive result is rare but can happen. A false positive means the test indicates you are pregnant when you aren’t. This result can occur when you have an early miscarriage. Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage.
Because hCG takes a while to leave a woman’s body, the pregnancy test could detect it, but you are no longer pregnant.
Let Pee Dee PRC Help You
Our team is here to help you confidently take your next steps. We are ready to listen, and you can be assured that everything will remain strictly confidential.
Contact us for a free appointment. We’re here to help without judgment or pressure, and we look forward to hearing from you.