Pregnancy Testing in Laredo, TX
Do you think you might be pregnant? You’ll want to find out for sure with a reliable pregnancy test as soon as possible. The earlier you confirm your pregnancy, the sooner you can start taking steps to properly care for yourself and your baby.
The first noticeable sign of pregnancy is usually a missed menstrual period. You may also experience unexplained fatigue, breast tenderness, nausea, frequent urination, and cramps.
How Does Pregnancy Testing Work?
Pregnancy testing measures the level of the hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine or bloodstream. Approximately six days after you conceive, your body will begin producing hCG in amounts that double approximately every two to three days.
There are two types of pregnancy testing: a urine test, which you can buy over the counter and perform yourself at home, and a blood test, which you can receive in a doctor’s office. A home pregnancy test is quick, easy, and private, but there is a margin of error. You may get a false reading if you take the test too soon, do not carefully follow the instructions, or use a kit that has expired.
When Should You Take a Pregnancy Test?
You may be able to rely on the results of a home pregnancy test taken on or after the first day of your missed menstrual period, but the test is more likely to be accurate the longer you wait to take it. Many experts suggest that the best time to take a home pregnancy test is one week after your first missed period. Also, it’s a good idea to take the test right after you wake up in the morning, when your urine is very concentrated and the level of hCG, if present, will likely be higher.
A blood test can detect smaller amounts of HCG and can confirm or rule out pregnancy earlier than a urine test—possibly even before you miss a menstrual period. Because pregnancy blood tests are highly accurate, they are often used to confirm the results of a home pregnancy test.
If you’ve taken a home pregnancy test and would like to confirm your result, come to VitalMed Urgent Care in Laredo, TX, for a discreet and convenient blood test, which we can process in our on-site lab. For more information, contact us today.
