When you suspect you might be pregnant, waiting for an answer can feel unbearable. Testing too soon, though, can produce a result that doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in your body. Schedule a free, confidential appointment at Avenues Clinic in Frankfort to get an accurate result from a lab-quality test.
How Pregnancy Tests Work
Pregnancy tests detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone your body produces after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. Implantation typically happens six to ten days after conception, and hCG levels rise steadily from there. Testing before those levels have built up enough often returns a false negative, even if you are pregnant.
When to Test
For women with regular cycles, the Mayo Clinic recommends waiting at least one to two days after a missed period. By that point, hCG has typically risen enough to produce a reliable result. Testing a day or two earlier increases the chance of a false negative, which can mean repeating the process.
A few other things that affect accuracy:
- Irregular cycles. If you’re unsure when your period was due, the FDA recommends waiting one to two weeks after you think you may have conceived before testing.
- Time of day. Morning urine is the most concentrated. Testing first thing tends to give the clearest result.
- Negative results. A negative test before your missed period isn’t definitive. If your period doesn’t arrive, test again in a few days.
Get a Free Test at Avenues Clinic
Avenues Clinic provides no-cost, confidential pregnancy testing using lab-quality urine tests, with results available at your appointment. If the test is positive, a free limited ultrasound is available to confirm gestational age, pregnancy location, and viability.
Schedule your free, confidential appointment today. Call (502) 695-0500. Open Monday through Thursday, 10am to 5pm.