Think you might be pregnant? Pregnancy testing is the only way to know for sure.

Whether you’re experiencing pregnancy symptoms or feeling worried after unprotected sex, pregnancy testing is a simple way to confirm whether you’re pregnant.

Read on to learn more about how pregnancy testing works. Or, if you’re looking for no-cost pregnancy testing, contact us to schedule a confidential appointment. Our medical-grade pregnancy testing and the results are administered by a nurse. Afterward, you’ll be given the space to ask questions.

How Does Pregnancy Testing Work?

At the moment you become pregnant, a special hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is present in your body. Pregnancy testing works by detecting hCG, either through a blood or urine sample.

HCG levels are low at first but rise quickly. Blood pregnancy testing can detect hCG levels earlier than urine pregnancy testing. While blood pregnancy testing is more accurate earlier on in pregnancy, it’s also more invasive because it requires you to go into a medical office and have your blood drawn.

Urine pregnancy testing is more accessible. You can find pregnancy tests in most drug stores. However, it’s not as sensitive as blood pregnancy testing and has a larger margin for user error.

When Should I Take A Pregnancy Test?

At-home pregnancy testing uses urine, and most tests claim to be 99% accurate if taken correctly. This means waiting until the first day of your last period and following the testing instructions included in the test.

If your periods are irregular, or you aren’t sure when to expect your period, knowing when to test can be difficult. If you test too early, you run the risk of receiving a false negative result. This happens when you’re pregnant but hCG levels are still too low for the pregnancy test to detect.

What If My Pregnancy Test Comes Back Positive?

If you’ve taken an at-home pregnancy test and it’s come back positive, the next step is to follow up with medical-grade pregnancy testing and an ultrasound—we offer both at no cost to you because we care about your health.

If your pregnancy testing comes back positive at our office, you may be offered a limited ultrasound. This is a critical step to confirming your pregnancy and ensuring that you’re healthy.

Whether you’ve already taken a pregnancy test at home or are looking for free follow-up pregnancy testing, contact our office today to schedule your no-cost, confidential appointment. You’re not alone in this. We’re here for you.