Have you had unprotected sex? Are you experiencing early pregnancy symptoms? If so, you might have questions about pregnancy testing.

When faced with the chance of an unexpected pregnancy, some women rush to take a pregnancy test to confirm as quickly as possible, while others put it off as long as they can and try not to think about it. Both of these reactions are understandable, but when it comes to pregnancy testing, timing is everything. 

How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?

Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. Except for rare conditions, hCG is only present in a woman’s body when pregnant.  

The pregnancy begins producing hCG once it implants, and the levels continue to rise as the pregnancy grows. 

When Should You Test?

It would be best if you waited until the day after your missed period before you test for pregnancy. If you are pregnant, this will allow the hCG to build to a detectable level in your urine.

Some women have irregular periods or don’t track their periods. If you fall into one of these categories, it can make it challenging to know when to expect your period. In that case, you will want to test for pregnancy three weeks after you had sex.

Though testing before this window might be tempting, testing too early can cause you to receive a false negative.

Are At-Home Tests Accurate?

Most brands of home pregnancy tests have accurate results when the test is administered correctly. If you are going to test at home, make sure to follow the included instructions.

If you test negative, but don’t get your period, test again in a week.

If you test positive, schedule a confidential appointment at the Crossroads Care Clinic for free confirmation of pregnancy through a repeat test and an ultrasound.

Take Advantage of Free Testing

The Crossroads Care Clinic provides free, accurate pregnancy testing administered by professionals free of charge. 

Contact us and visit the center to confirm your pregnancy with a highly sensitive pregnancy test and an ultrasound at no cost to you.