If you are a woman of childbearing age who needs emergency medical care, you may be given an emergency pregnancy test. The results of an emergency pregnancy test may help doctors diagnose your condition properly or determine what kinds of medications and treatments are best for you. Pregnancy tests are quick and easy to administer.
Types
There are several different ways to test for pregnancy in an emergency setting. A doctor can request a urine pregnancy test, especially if a urine sample is being tested for other reasons. A doctor can also request a serum or blood pregnancy test or request an ultrasound examination and/or perform a physical examination. Serum tests, ultrasounds and physical exams can help determine whether or not a woman is pregnant as well as tell how far along she is.
Results
An emergency pregnancy test will either be positive or negative. If an early pregnancy is suspected, your doctor may order a serum pregnancy test or perform an ultrasound examination for a more definitive diagnosis. False negative pregnancy test results may occur if a woman is pregnant but her hormone levels are very low. False positive pregnancy test results are rare. If an emergency pregnancy test is positive but pregnancy is not suspected, your doctor will order additional tests to rule out serious conditions such as certain cancers that might be responsible for false positive results.
Significance
There are certain medications that are not safe to take if you are pregnant, so if your doctor believes one of these medications is the best treatment for you, he will first request an emergency pregnancy test before prescribing or administering such a medication. Abdominal pain in any woman of childbearing age could indicate an ectopic pregnancy, a serious medical emergency; an emergency pregnancy test can help rule out ectopic pregnancy. An emergency pregnancy test can also help determine the cause of nausea and vomiting.
Prophylaxis
Doctors typically order emergency pregnancy tests for women who have been sexually assaulted or who may have been exposed to HIV, such as medical personnel who suffer an accidental needle stick. Emergency pregnancy test results can affect the choice of prophylactic medications used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. In the case of assault, an emergency pregnancy test may be administered before emergency contraception is prescribed. In the case of sexual assault, another pregnancy test should be taken about six weeks after the attack.
Considerations
During the early weeks of pregnancy, crucial fetal development takes place. If you are a woman of childbearing age, be sure to tell all of your care providers before you receive any testing or treatment if there is a possibility you might be pregnant. Your care providers will work with you to ensure a healthy start for your baby and will likely request an immediate pregnancy test.
