Do Pregnancy Tests Work? 

A single line. 

The pregnancy test appeared negative, but Ashley still wasn’t convinced. She just had a gut feeling that her recent bout of nausea was an indicator that she was pregnant, even though her period was only a few days late.  

Should she trust the test and assume she was wrong? Assume she really wasn’t pregnant?

Or maybe try again?

If you can relate to Ashley, and wonder how reliable pregnancy tests are, you have come to the right place. Here is everything you need to know.

How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?

There are two types of tests, both of which are looking to detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Usually hCG will be present as early as 10 days after fertilization, though it may be in such a small amount that certain tests won’t be able to detect it. 

1. Urine Pregnancy Test

A urine pregnancy test is usually a stick that comes in a package that can be bought at any drug store and taken home. You will open one stick and pee on it, then wait a couple of minutes for results. These are the most common type of pregnancy tests since they are affordable and easily accessible.

2. Blood Pregnancy Test

This type of test is only taken at a healthcare provider’s office or lab. These are known to be more effective and can detect pregnancy before you even miss a period.

Can a Pregnancy Test be Wrong?

It is very rare to get a false positive since the hormone hCG can only be found in women who are pregnant. However, it is possible to have a false positive if you have had a previous miscarriage or abortion. You also may have a false positive if you are taking infertility treatments that have hCG in them.

It is also possible to have a negative test. Here are a couple of reasons why:

• The instructions may have not been followed correctly when taking the test. (ex: expiration date, control line present, etc.)
• If your urine is too diluted because you just chugged a bunch of water. Mayo Clinic suggests taking the test first thing in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
• You did not wait long enough for the test to finish its results.
• You took the test too early. 

Where Can You Confirm Your Pregnancy?

If you think you might be pregnant, we can offer free medical-grade urine pregnancy testing at our clinic. If your test is positive, we can also offer a free ultrasound if you qualify based on a few questions with the nurse, which will help you determine how far along you are. 

We will also be able to help answer any questions you may have about pregnancy, and talk to you about your options. 

You don’t have to keep wondering about your health. Call us today.