Early pregnancy tests help you determine the likelihood if you have conceived. Many at-home pregnancy tests purport that it's possible for you to determine if you've conceived as early as the first day of a missed period. However, Mayo Clinic experts advise that you wait a little longer before taking an early pregnancy test at home to ensure you get the most accurate, reliable results.
Early Symptoms
Some women experience early signs of pregnancy before they even notice a missed period, says the Mayo Clinic. Two weeks after conception has occurred, you may notice classic signs and symptoms of pregnancy, which may include tender breasts, morning sickness, fatigue, dizziness or fainting, mood swings and craving for certain foods--as well as aversion to certain food types. The Mayo Clinic states that these symptoms aren't necessarily associated with pregnancy; in some cases, these could signal the arrival of your menstrual period. But if you suspect you may be pregnant, it might pay to have a home test on hand.
Pregnancy Tests: How They Work
A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) appears in your blood and urine as soon as 10 days after you conceive. The National Institutes of Health states that pregnancy can be confirmed either though blood testing--which is performed at a clinic or laboratory---or through determining if HCG is present in your urine. The latter method of testing is employed in early pregnancy home tests, which simply determine if HCG is present in your urine without ascertaining the exact amount. Blood tests are more comprehensive and determine not only if HCG is present, but the exact amount.
Home Pregnancy Testing
Numerous brands of early pregnancy tests are available for purchase, but Mayo Clinic experts state they all work similarly. The majority of tests include a dipstick, which is either held under the flow of urine or placed in a container of urine. After a specified number of minutes, the small window on the dipstick handle changes color, displays a "+" or "-" sign or a pattern of lines, or indicate "pregnant" or "not pregnant."
The Best Time to Test
Although most early pregnancy tests purport to be 99-percent accurate on the first day of a missed period, Mayo Clinic experts point out that studies show these tests are far more effective when used a week after your period was to begin. A minute amount of HCG in your urine can yield indeterminate or confusing test results. The Mayo Clinic advises repeating the home pregnancy test a week later. Alternately, blood testing is a far more sensitive detector of HCG and can be used even earlier than an at-home pregnancy test. If you don't have a health care provider or cannot afford the cost of a doctor's visit, contact your local Planned Parenthood health center.
What Next?
For many women, conception is a joyous occasion. But for some, an unplanned pregnancy causes undue physical and emotional stress. If your pregnancy test is positive, Planned Parenthood advises seeing a health care provider to receive prenatal care or, if pregnancy is undesired, to discuss other options (see "Resources").
