Pregnancy Tests

Home pregnancy tests and blood tests

"Please say hello to Dr. Berger - we owe it all to him. I wanted to tell you I had a positive pregnancy test and my beta today is 59. I should be 13 days past ovulation. I am on tubal reversal baby #3! Thanks so much!". Read More

There are two categories of pregnancy tests - urine tests and blood tests. Both detect the presence of the pregnancy hormone HCG. (HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.) This hormone is produced after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and it rises rapidly after implantation. Urine pregnancy tests usually detect HCG by 14 to 16 days after ovulation. Blood pregnancy tests are more sensitive and can detect HCG within 10 to 12 days after ovulation.

Urine Pregnancy Tests:

Urine pregnancy tests are easy to use at home. The various urine tests available vary in in their sensitivity and therefore how early they will detect a pregnancy. It is important to follow the instructions for an accurate test result.

Question: When should I perform a home pregnancy (urine) test?

Answer: Wait until your menstrual period is late before performing a urine pregnancy test.

Question: How accurate are urine tests?

Answer: Urine tests or home pregnancy tests are approximately 97% accurate when performed according to the instructions. However, if not done correctly or performed too early, the results may be inaccurate.

Home pregnancy test. Question: What should I do if I get a negative result?

Answer: If you get a negative test result and still have pregnancy signs or symptoms (such as a missed period and breast tenderness), repeat the test in a few days or contact your doctor to have a blood test done.

Blood Pregnancy Tests:

There are two types of blood pregnancy tests. A qualitative hCG assay gives a simple positive or negative result, while a quantitative assay measures the amount of hCG in the blood.

Advantages of blood pregnancy tests:

can detect a pregnancy earlier than a urine test
can measure the concentration of hCG hormone in your blood (to monitor the health of the early pregnancy)

Disadvantages of blood pregnancy tests:

more expensive than a urine test
take longer to get result
must be performed in a doctor's office or laboratory

Other Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Tests

Question: If I get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, does that mean I am pregnant?

Answer: A positive result from a home pregnancy test shows the presence of the hormone hCG in your system. Unless you have had a recent injection of HCG (such as is sometimes given to treat ovulation disorders) this is a diagnostic of pregnancy.

"A test won't show ++ till a couple of days after implantation, and implantation can occur I think 7-9 dpo?? So that would mean the absolute earliest you could get a ++ would be 9-11 dpo. I know there are exceptions to every rule, and I personally never got a ++ till after AF was late. Good luck to you! - An extract from message board that asks when to test?

Question: If I get a negative result on a home pregnancy test, does that mean I am not pregnant?

Answer: A negative result can mean that (1) you are not pregnant; (2) the test was performed too early in your cycle; or (3) the test was not performed accurately. If a pregnancy test is performed too soon after ovulation, there may not yet be enough HCG to be detected by the test. Also, if a urine test is not read at the time specified in the instructions, the test result may be invalid.

Question: What if I use more than one home pregnancy test and get different answers?

Answer: If you get conflicting results using more than one pregnancy test, a blood test is recommended.

This article was written in collaboration between the American Pregnancy Association and Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Pregnancy Information

Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms - in collaboration with the American Pregnancy Association.
Pregnancy Tests - detect the presence of the hormone human chronic gonadotropin (hCG).
Calculate your pregnancy due date - from ovulation or last menstrual period.
Pregnancy Report Form - Send this when you have a positive pregnancy test.
Early Pregnancy Monitoring - Why tubal reversal patients require this!
Weekly TR Pregnancy Report - Forum on the Tubal Reversal Message Board.
Pregnancy Announcements - weekly updates from Dr. Berger's tubal reversal patients.

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