When you miss the time you expect your period to come, it can be the time to take a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test checks the amount of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) present in the body. There are two types of pregnancy tests.
Urine Pregnancy Tests
A urine pregnancy test is a test that can be taken from home to determine if you are pregnant. You can buy these at any store, including the dollar store. They all work equally well at detecting pregnancy. It is recommended to take a pregnancy test first thing in the morning to detect pregnancy as early as possible.
It is imperative that you follow the directions on the pregnancy test instructions. Most pregnancy tests take 3–5 minutes to result. You should check the results in the recommended time. If you let a pregnancy test sit, they will all eventually turn positive because they sat too long. You should interpret the results in the recommended time and throw the test away.
Blood Pregnancy Tests
A blood pregnancy test checks for the HCG in the bloodstream. There is one blood test called a qualitative HCG that will tell you positive or negative. There is another blood test called a quantitative HCG that gives you a value for the amount of pregnancy hormone level in the bloodstream. These can detect HCG in very small amounts in the blood.
When to Test
It is recommended to wait for a missed period before taking a pregnancy test if you have regular periods. Sometimes testing too soon can miss an early pregnancy.
Pregnancy Testing in Greensboro and Across North Carolina
If you think you may be pregnant, Haven Health provides pregnancy testing and follow-up care in Greensboro, North Carolina and by telehealth across the state.
Many patients have questions about when to test, how to read results, and what steps to take next. Haven Health helps you understand your results and guides you through your next steps.
Patients from Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Kernersville, and surrounding Guilford County communities visit Haven Health for compassionate reproductive care.
If you live anywhere in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, or anywhere in NC, you can meet with a provider virtually to discuss your results and have any necessary blood work completed at a lab near you.
Haven Health provides patient-centered, evidence-based reproductive care both in person and online across North Carolina.