It has been more than a month from your last period and your typical menstrual cycle symptoms have not shown up– no signs of your period in sight. The first thing that comes to mind is- am I pregnant now?  Next step is to rush to your local drugstore. Before you grab the first home pregnancy test, take a moment to consider what types of pregnancy tests are available to you and how precise they can be.

Home Pregnancy Tests

Home pregnancy tests are the old school way to check if you are pregnant or not. The tests come with the directions and are very simple to follow.  There are many options to choose from when considering home pregnancy tests.

  • Pee on a stick, pregnancy tests:

The most common and old school way would be to get “pee on a stick”, home pregnancy tests. As self-explanatory as it sounds to just pee on the stick, make sure to first read and follow the directions on the box accordingly. Usually, the test shows a pink dye or a blue dye along with a symbol that represents the test being positive or negative.

  • Pee-in-a-cup, pregnancy tests:

Once you have peed in the cup, place the stick inside the cup and wait for a few minutes. If a section of the stick changes the color, it means the test is positive.

  • Digital pregnancy tests:

To make the already simple test result readings less confusing, digital pregnancy tests give the direct reading of “pregnant” or “not pregnant”.

 

Clinical Pregnancy Tests

If the above options seem uncertain to you, you do have some other options and can go to the professionals. This will mean a visit to the doctor’s office.

Clinical urine test

You need to make an appointment to visit your gynecologist and get a urine test done. This may not differ from the home pregnancy test that you can purchase at the drugstore, however, a clinical administrator can insure accuracy in the result.

Blood test

Not only do the blood tests give an accurate and precise result, the test results come in earlier than the urine tests.

Pregnancy blood tests are divided into two types:

  • Qualitative hCG blood test: the test shows if the body is producing any hCG which provides the simple answer whether you are or not pregnant.
  • Quantitative hCG blood test: the amount of hCG present in the blood is measured.

 

Just how accurate are these tests?

If used properly, home pregnancy tests assert a 97% to 99% chance of being accurate. It is usually recommended to use the kit in the morning, since the urine is more concentrated. Clinical urine tests work the same way as home pregnancy tests and offer the same chances of providing accurate results.

There is always a chance that home pregnancy tests and urine tests give false alarms. You should take your test twice as a confirmation. The best way for the most accurate results would be to go to your gynecologist or an approved administrator like Gateway Women’s Care.  We would be happy to serve you.

Gateway Women’s Care provides free, nurse administered lab-quality urine pregnancy tests.  We are here to help you navigate any pregnancy situation and support you in your next steps.

 

Call for your free, lab-quality pregnancy test today  

919.833.0096 – Raleigh  

919.251.9444 – Durham