Missed your periods or noticed any other signs of pregnancy? Pregnancy tests are a quick and easy way to confirm whether you’re pregnant or not. They work by checking the level of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) hormone in your body.
But how soon can you take a pregnancy test? You can take a pregnancy test anytime after you miss your period. The sooner you know the results, the better you can prepare for what’s coming next. Meanwhile, keep in mind that pregnancy tests work best only when done correctly and at the right time. Some tests are able to detect the pregnancy hormone a few days before a missed period, while some find it as early as 10 days after unprotected sex. However, if you’re someone dealing with the problem of irregular periods, your best take is to take a pregnancy after three weeks of sex.
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How to test for pregnancy?
You can test for pregnancy using the pregnancy test kit, which is easily available at any local pharmacy or drugstore. These are usually inexpensive and provide you with quick and accurate results. Besides, you can also visit any nearby healthcare centre to get a pregnancy test done. Here, you can either go for a blood test or urine test to test for pregnancy. Although blood tests are comparatively more expensive than urine tests, they provide you with more accurate and detailed results.
Pregnancy tests result
Home pregnancy tests are claimed to be 99% accurate if done correctly. While you can certainly rely on a positive test result, a negative one can be hard to go with. If you get a negative test result and still think you’re pregnant, you can wait and try again after a few days. However, ensure to consult a doctor if you get a negative result after your second attempt, but your periods are delayed.
Meanwhile, also be aware of false-positive pregnancy test results where you get a positive result from a home pregnancy test even when you’re not actually pregnant. Hence, it is best advised to visit your doctor as they can help confirm your pregnancy and assist you with the next steps.
Sign you should go for a pregnancy test
You may experience several signs indicating an early pregnancy. Although you cannot completely rely on them, they’re enough to prompt you to take a pregnancy test. Some of the common early pregnancy symptoms are:
● A missed period
One of the most common and clear signs of pregnancy is a missed period. If your periods are delayed, and you think you might be pregnant, it’s best to take a pregnancy tests for confirmed results.
● Fatigue
Do you feel constantly tired throughout the day? This can be yet another sign of pregnancy. Pregnancy fatigue is something that every mom-to-be experiences, especially during the second trimester.
● Sore breasts
During pregnancy, your breasts look swollen and become tender to touch. The nipples also enlarge and appear darker than usual. These symptoms are a result of the increased level of progesterone and estrogen hormones in your body.