Are you wondering if you’re pregnant? Some pregnancy symptoms are similar to the start of your period. Other symptoms like nausea and fatigue could mean you have the flu. Your next best step is to get free pregnancy testing at The Open Door.
How Does A Pregnancy Test Work?
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body begins to produce a specific hormone known as hCG when the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. During early pregnancy, the hCG concentration increases rapidly — doubling every two to three days. A positive pregnancy test means hCG has been detected.
Is An At-Home Test Reliable?
Yes, in most cases an over-the-counter pregnancy test is reliable. However, because women are usually anxious about knowing the results, they either take the home test too soon or don’t follow the directions carefully. The longer you wait, the more accurate your results will be.
Plus, a woman’s monthly cycle can change. Even if your periods are fairly regular, the timing of ovulation can be different every month. In addition, the fertilized egg can implant at a different time making the level of hCG too low to be detected by the pregnancy test.
It’s always best to get a second opinion whenever you take an at-home test to verify the results were correct.
What’s My Next Step?
If you’re wondering if you’re pregnant or need to confirm an at-home pregnancy test result, we provide free pregnancy testing. Schedule your free and confidential appointment today. If your test is positive, we’ll schedule you for a free confidential ultrasound.
Sources:
“Home Pregnancy Tests: Can You Trust the Results?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 Dec. 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/home-pregnancy-tests/art-20047940.