Types of Pregnancy Tests
The only way to know for sure if you're pregnant or not is to take a pregnancy test. So, if you're having some early pregnancy symptoms (missed period, fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness…) and you think that you might be pregnant - take a test. It's important to know if you're pregnant or not (especially if you haven't planned for that to happen) since there are some things you should avoid during pregnancy. And if you're pregnant you should start taking folic acid and maybe some other vitamins or medications.
Types of Pregnancy Tests
There are two types of pregnancy tests - the one that uses a urine sample and the other one that uses a blood sample. Both tests work on the same principle - they detect the presence of hCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin). As soon as the embryo attaches to the uterine lining, the placenta starts with producing this hormone. Its value grows rapidly in the first few days of the pregnancy. So, if you get a positive result from a pregnancy test - it shows the presence of the hormone hCG in your system.
Urine Tests
Urine tests are very popular since they are cheap and easy to use (they can even be performed at home so you can keep your privacy). They give fast and almost 97% accurate result when done correctly.
There are different ways to perform a urine test. One way is to collect your urine in a cup and dip a stick into it or to put your urine into a special container with an eyedropper. And another option is to place a stick into your urine stream and to catch your urine in midstream. No matter which way you choose, you should always perform the test with your first morning urine since then the level of hCG hormone is the highest.
Even though some new home pregnancy tests are very sensitive, you should wait until the first day of your missed period, before taking a test. If you cannot wait that long, the earliest you can take a test would be 14 days from possible conception. But taking a test too early may give you an inaccurate result. So, if you've got a negative result and your period is still missing and pregnancy symptoms are still present - try taking another test or contact your doctor.
How long you'll have to wait for a result depends on the test's sensitivity. Different tests have different ways of reading the result - some tests change their color, on some a line or a symbol (a plus or a minus) will appear, and some new digital tests (offered by Clearblue) will even show you the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant", depending on the result.
Instructions are always provided with every home pregnancy test, so it's important for you to carefully read and follow them if you want to get an accurate result.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can detect pregnancy very soon (earlier than a urine pregnancy test), so you can take them even before you miss your period. Even though the test can be done about 7-12 days from possible conception, a negative result still doesn't mean that you're not pregnant. If you receive a negative result, you should wait for the first day of your missed period and then repeat the test.
But, this type of test can't be done in the privacy of your home. You'll have to go to the doctor, and the price will depend on the cost of doctor's visit and laboratory's fees, which makes this test more expensive than the urine pregnancy test. And you'll have to wait for a few hours to get the result.
Still, there is one more advantage of the blood pregnancy test - it measures the concentration of hCG hormone in your blood, which is useful information for your healthcare provider, especially if there are certain problems at the beginning of your pregnancy he'd like to track.
There are two types of blood tests - a quantitative and a qualitative. If you need to know the exact amount of hCG hormone in your blood - you'll take a quantitative test. And if you need to know whether you're pregnant or not - you'll take a qualitative test.
