The Question Behind Everything Else
A late period. Changes you can’t explain. A calendar you keep recounting. Until you know whether you’re pregnant, it can be difficult to think about anything that comes next.
A pregnancy test gives you a place to start. The Cottage Women’s Care provides no-cost pregnancy testing in Bartlesville and through our Satellite Clinic serving Washington, Nowata, and Osage counties.
How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?
Pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone your body begins producing after a fertilized egg implants. As a pregnancy develops, hCG levels rise and can be detected in urine.
A positive result means hCG was detected. A negative result means the test did not detect enough hCG to indicate pregnancy at the time you tested.
While pregnancy tests are generally accurate when used correctly, timing matters. Testing too early is one of the most common reasons for receiving a negative result when you are actually pregnant.
When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?
For the most accurate result, it is generally best to test after you have missed your period. This gives hCG more time to build to a detectable level.
If you decide to test at home, keep these tips in mind:
- Follow the test instructions carefully.
- Avoid testing too early.
- Use your first morning urine when possible, since hCG is typically more concentrated at that time.
- If your result is negative but your period still doesn’t start, consider testing again after several days.
If your cycles are irregular or you aren’t sure when your period is supposed to begin, contact The Cottage. Our team can talk with you about your timing and the next step.
Can a Pregnancy Test Be Wrong?
False-negative results can happen, particularly when a test is taken too early or the urine is too diluted.
False-positive results are less common. However, certain circumstances, including a recent pregnancy loss or fertility drugs that contain hCG, can affect test results.
If you tested at home and aren’t confident in the result, or your period still hasn’t arrived, you can schedule a no-cost pregnancy test at The Cottage.
What Can’t a Pregnancy Test Tell Me?
A pregnancy test can tell you whether hCG was detected, but there are several things it cannot tell you.
A pregnancy test cannot determine how far along you are, or show where the pregnancy is located, or indicate whether heartbeat activity can be detected.
That is where an ultrasound can provide additional information.
If your pregnancy test at The Cottage is positive and you qualify for an ultrasound, the scan can help determine your estimated gestational age, whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus, and whether heartbeat activity can be detected.
What Happens After My Result?
If your test is negative but your period does not start, you may need to test again or speak with a healthcare provider about other possible causes.
If your test is positive, you don’t need to make every decision that day. Depending on your qualifications, an ultrasound may be the next step toward learning more about your pregnancy.
If you think you might be pregnant, start with the question you can answer today.
