Pregnancy Tests: Everything You Need To Know Before Taking One
Pregnancy tests are really a woman’s worst fear. Whether you have your fingers crossed for negative or are super excited and hopeful for positive, it is a quite stressful experience. As we all know, the most effective birth control method is abstinence. However, that is not quite, uhm, fulfilling, right? Right. Well, the next best things and the least expensive ones to try are contraceptive pills and condoms. The thing about these birth control methods is that they’re 99% effective and sometimes they can fail. For people who are not planning to start a family, this is quite some bad news. However, if you think you’re pregnant, then the best thing to do is take a pregnancy test to see if you really are or are not.
Here is everything you need to know about pregnancy tests.
How do pregnancy tests work?
Pregnancy tests are devices that detect changes in our hormones. According to WebMD, when we get pregnant, of course, our body goes through a lot of changes. However, there are only a few of them detectable at the very beginning of the pregnancy. And they are something that our eyes cannot see. That’s where pregnancy tests come in handy. Since they can detect small changes in our hormones, they are quite accurate. There is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin that a woman’s body produces only when pregnant.
So, when you take a pregnancy test, what the test is looking out for is to see whether this hormone is present or not in your urine. You might have heard of the saying, ‘peeing on a stick’. When this hormone is not present, then the pregnancy test will show only one line or a minus, or it will say Not Pregnant, depending on the pregnancy test. However, when this hormone is being produced by our body, then we will see two lines, a plus or it will say Pregnant.
How accurate are pregnancy tests?
Well, this one is a little tricky. The accuracy of the tests relies on two things. The first one being the time when you take the test. There is such a thing as ‘too soon‘ for a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test will be less reliable if it is done immediately or a few days after unprotected sex or the birth control malfunction. Also, a pregnancy test is less accurate if it has already expired or is near its expiration date. So, when you go to the pharmacy to fetch one, make sure you check the date of it.
When should you take one?
Since the most reliable sign that you might be pregnant is a missed period, the best time to take pregnancy tests is a few days after your cycle was supposed to start. Now this one is a little tricky. Some women keep track of their periods and know exactly when it is supposed to start. However, some don’t and for them, it is more difficult to determine the exact time. If you don’t feel like waiting until you miss your period, try taking a pregnancy test two weeks after you have had unprotected sex. That’s because your body will take some time to produce the hCG hormone.
Meanwhile, there are other symptoms you can look out for. The whole implantation process can be a little painful sometimes. You might feel like you’re about to get your period since you have cramps. Another symptom is breast tenderness. Your breasts become a little fuller as well as more tender. That is because your body is preparing itself for baby growth. If you’re pregnant, you might begin to feel different. You feel nauseous, a sense of fatigue and might experience frequent urination.
With all that said and done, you know your self better. If you detect any changes in your whole body, you can go ahead and take a test. When in doubt, don’t stress out, just go ahead and take a test.
What if it is positive?
Okay, so you peed on the stick, and now it shows two red lines, a plus or it says Pregnant. If that’s what you wanted, congratulations! The best thing to do now is finding an obstetrician whom you trust. They will follow your pregnancy very closely and make sure that you and your baby are doing fine.
If that is not what you expected, then you shouldn’t freak out and panic. I know it’s scary finding out that you’re pregnant, but stressing out will not help you. Instead, talk to a doctor about possible options. Don’t go to the doctor alone, take a family member with you or a dear close friend. You got this!
What if it is negative?
Now if the test shows only one line, then it is negative and it means you’re not pregnant. This can be a good news but it can also be a bad news. For people who are trying to get pregnant, seeing that the test is negative is quite a devastating experience. However, it is of most vital importance not to stress out about it. Stress messes up everything in our system, and that means our reproductive system as well. It is also important not to lose hope and try again next time you’re ovulating. Keep track of your periods to see exactly when you’re ovulating for higher chances to get pregnant.
If what you wanted was a negative pregnancy test, congratulations! No baby this time. You can now breathe in deeply and exhale freely. However, pregnancy scares can cause a lot of stress, so in order to avoid them, please be careful with the birth control methods that you and your partner use.
How to avoid unwanted pregnancy?
A healthy relationship requires a healthy sex life with your partner. But that comes with a lot of risks. Before you engage yourself in sexual activities it is best to consult a doctor for birth control methods. They might prescribe contraceptive pills, talk about their benefits and drawbacks, the side effects, etc. The doctor will talk to you about the effectiveness of condoms and how to properly use them. Condoms are a very good option because they won’t change anything in your hormonal system and can also prevent you against different infections.
However, the doctor will discuss several options with you and help you choose the one that suits you best.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained are strictly for informational purposes only. The Content is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please ALWAYS seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.
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