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Am I Pregnant? Here Are Three Ways to Tell

Reviewed by Edward Jones, MD

“Am I pregnant?” Women need to know the answer to this question right away. Having a baby is one of the most monumental events that can happen to a woman, so she needs to plan. The strain of not knowing if you are pregnant can lead to incredible stress as “Am I pregnant? Am I pregnant?” keeps repeating through your head like the hook to a bad pop song.

The first thing you need to do is relax and be honest with yourself. You are not alone. Ask yourself these questions: When was the last time you had sex? When was the last time you had your period? Are you sure? Have you been writing down the first day of your menstrual flow? Can I confide my fears to anyone? Now, here are four ways to answer the question, “Am I pregnant?”

Go to the Doctor

This may seem drastic, but the doctor or gynecologist is the best person to talk to if you are wondering, “Am I pregnant?” The doctor can arrange for specific laboratory tests of your urine to check for the hormones a woman emits when she is pregnant. Home pregnancy tests can also check for this hormone, but they are not as accurate as a laboratory test.

A doctor or gynecologist is also bound by law not to discuss your case with anyone else – including your parents, your boss or your partner. Doctors and gynecologists are very familiar with the earliest signs of pregnancy and know the right questions to ask. The doctor may also want you to take a blood test in order to check for other possible reasons for your symptoms, if you’re having any. Get the tests, because they could state that you have an illness which needs treatment.

Home Pregnancy Tests

Home pregnancy tests can be purchased over the counter in most pharmacies and supermarkets. Use the test the first thing the next morning, when your urine is most concentrated. You have to stick the test stick into your urine stream. The tests check for the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadtropin or hCG. Part of the stick changes color if the hormone is detected.

The advantage of a home pregnancy test are that no needs to know that you are taking one. The disadvantage is that the first test is often messed up as you figure out how to place something in your urine stream while you are urinating. Try to purchase two tests in case you drop the first test into the toilet. Home tests are not as accurate as lab tests.

Implantation Bleeding

Although being late for a period or skipping a period entirely usually clues a woman that she is pregnant, many women experience implantation bleeding that occurs before they are due for their next periods. This bleeding is similar to a period, but the flow is lighter and ends days sooner than usual. Instead of being red, the blood is pink or even brown. Some women will even just produce spots of blood rather than a continual drip or stream.

Tags:signs of pregnancy blood test pregnancy test

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