If you have reason to believe you’re pregnant, you should consider taking a pregnancy test or seeing a medical provider. Knowledge is power, and knowing if you’re pregnant or not will help you decide what path you should take and if you need to consider not only your health, but that of your baby.

How does a pregnancy test work?

Once an egg is fertilized and the placenta implants into the uterine wall, a pregnant woman’s body begins to produce a hormone called hCG. Pregnancy tests function by detecting hCG in either blood or urine. Today, most tests administered are urine tests.

Are at home pregnancy tests accurate?

It is possible to get a false-negative or false-positive result from an at-home pregnancy test.  Many things can impact the test results – including medical conditions, medications or even the time of day the test was administered. The Mayo Clinic suggests that you wait seven days after your missed period before doing a pregnancy test. This will yield the most accurate results. They also suggest that you do the test after a long period of sleep (8 hours is ideal). This allows for more concentrated urine.

Is a medical pregnancy test different than an at-home test?

While both tests look to detect hCG in a woman’s system, tests administered by a medical professional tend to be more accurate. This is because medical professionals will be able to better control the factors that could produce a false-negative or false-positive result. In addition to this, most medical professionals will confirm a positive test result with an ultrasound, which can detect an ectopic pregnancy.

What should I do if I have a negative result from an at-home test, but still think I’m pregnant?

If your at-home test result was negative but you still believe that you are pregnant, you should seek out a pregnancy test by a medical professional.

Where can I get a pregnancy test?

Pregnancy centers typically offer medical pregnancy testing without cost and follow up obstetrical ultrasounds. Your doctor may also offer such testing as do obstetricians and gynecologists.

If you need help finding a pregnancy test, you’re welcome to call or text The Law Office of Madonna Finney at (850)308-1836 and we can help you locate a provider in your area. You can also message us on Facebook. If you’re already facing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, we can also provide confidential, no-cost options counseling.