Nowadays we don’t have to wait to visit a midwife or a doctor to find out whether we are pregnant or not; we can find out in the comfort of our own homes by using home pregnancy tests.
What it is
Home pregnancy tests are urine tests that have either a positive or negative outcome – positive means you are pregnant, negative means you are not. These tests are available over the counter from your pharmacy or sometimes even the local supermarket.
They are almost always accurate and are able to test for pregnancy within a day or two after your normal period is due; roughly about 14 days after conception.
How it works
Home pregnancy tests are very similar to the test your doctor would do at his or her rooms to test your urine for pregnancy. The tests check the urine for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the hormone produced by the developing placenta. The concentration of HCG is highest in the first urine passed in the morning.
Although home pregnancy tests are almost always accurate, they are not as precise as laboratory tests. Sometimes a pregnant woman’s body will produce low levels of HCG even though the woman is pregnant, resulting in a false negative. Any woman who suspects that she is pregnant but has a false home test, should wait a week or so and do another home test, or visit her GP to have the more precise blood test that can measure HCG levels as early as one week after conception.
It’s positive. What now?
If the test is positive, or you have other signs of pregnancy such as a missed period, breast tenderness, moodiness, tiredness and nausea, you must visit your GP for a physical examination and/or tests to confirm the pregnancy. He or she may also refer you to an obstetrician.
Sources
Cooke, K. Up the Duff – the real guide to pregnancy. Penguin Australia
Palmer, J. 2012. Pregnancy for Dummies. Wiley Publishing Australia