When your period doesn’t start, and you’re not planning on being pregnant, a panicked feeling starts building. You hope you miscalculated the date, but you also wonder if you should take a pregnancy test. 

Experts recommend not taking a test before the first day of your missed period. However, if you wait a little longer, you may get more accurate results.

How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?

When a woman becomes pregnant, her body begins producing a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone builds rapidly in her body and eventually enters her blood and urine stream. 

Over-the-counter pregnancy tests detect pregnancy through your urine. You need to visit a healthcare provider for a blood test. 

At Anderson House, we provide free and confidential lab-quality pregnancy tests. Schedule yours today!

Are At-Home Tests Reliable?

Many home pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate. These pregnancy tests are reliable, but some brands are more sensitive than others. More sensitive tests require less hCG in your urine so that you can test earlier.

No matter which brand you choose, be sure to follow these steps to get accurate results:

• Check the expiration date of the test. 
• Wait until at least the first day after your missed period before testing. 
• Take the test in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
• Follow the directions carefully and wait the recommended amount of time before checking the results. 
• Take another test in three to five days to verify the results.

Is It Possible the Test Result Could Be Wrong?

Although rare, getting a false positive or false negative is possible. A false positive indicates you are pregnant when you aren’t. This happens when you have a miscarriage, but the pregnancy hormones are still in your system.

Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and most of those occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

A false negative might occur if you take the test too soon before enough hCG is present in your urine stream. If you get a negative result but still feel pregnant, be sure to retest again in a week. 

Get a Free and Confidential Pregnancy Test

Whether you take your first test or need to retest, take advantage of free and confidential lab-quality pregnancy testing at Anderson House. If your test is positive, we offer a free ultrasound referral.

You won’t want to skip an ultrasound. This scan detects if your pregnancy is viable (developing with a heartbeat) or if you have had a miscarriage.

We have two locations to serve you: Uvalde and Carrizo Springs. Fill out our online contact form, and we will contact you shortly to schedule an appointment. We’re here for you.