If you’ve had unprotected sex and you don’t have your period yet, you’re probably worried that you might be pregnant. However, testing too soon can result in a false negative because it takes a bit for the pregnancy hormone to be detected. Different kinds of pregnancy tests can be taken earlier and be more accurate, some as early as 10 days after unprotected sex. Check the label on your pregnancy test and follow their instructions on when to take it. Using your first morning urine can help a pregnancy test read more accurately because your urine is more concentrated.
What Will I Feel Like If I’m Pregnant?
Early pregnancy can feel a lot like PMS with bloating, cramps, moodiness, headaches, breast tenderness, etc. You might even mistake pregnancy symptoms for what you think is part of your monthly cycle.
Other symptoms will vary from woman to woman, but will likely include abnormal amounts of fatigue, frequent urination, food aversions, and a more sensitive sense of smell.
How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
About a week after the egg has been fertilized, it travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus where it implants itself. At this stage of the pregnancy, small amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone, begin to appear in your blood and urine. The hCG levels double every 2-3 days.
Urine pregnancy tests include a reactive strip which will detect this hormone. Blood tests, which are usually only available at your doctor’s office, will also detect lower levels of hCG than the urine tests can. Blood tests can also detect if it’s an ectopic pregnancy, meaning it is located outside of the uterus.
Confirming Your Pregnancy
At Aim Women’s Center, we offer lab-quality pregnancy tests at no cost. If medically appropriate, an ultrasound can be offered. Ultrasounds can help determine how far along you are, can help determine if the pregnancy is in the uterus, and can help determine if the pregnancy is viable.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a pregnancy test or a consultation to discuss all your different options and local resources in a confidential, pressure-free environment. We are here to help you through this process!