Though some women are confident they’re pregnant based on their symptoms, others experience few to no symptoms and may be unsure when to take a test. This is normal; pregnancy is different for everyone, and it’s important to remember that specific symptoms can mirror those of other health conditions.
We’ll walk you through when to take a pregnancy test and the symptoms you may notice.
Am I Pregnant?
As mentioned previously, you may not experience any of these pregnancy symptoms. Or they can be indicative of another condition. It’s still essential to be aware of the changes your body may undergo:
- Missed period
- Tender, swollen breasts
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Increased urination
- Fatigue
- Moodiness
- Bloating
- Light spotting
- Cramping
- Constipation
- Food aversions
- Nasal congestion
The Best Time to Test
The best time to test for pregnancy is a few days after your missed period or about three weeks after sexual intercourse. Both blood and urine-based pregnancy tests test for hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG is a pregnancy hormone that rises quickly during early pregnancy. Giving it time to build in your body is your best bet when testing for pregnancy.
You’ll want to take a pregnancy test first thing in the morning when your urine is most concentrated. Typically, you’ll only have to wait a few minutes for results. While home pregnancy tests are accurate, false negatives can occur if you take the test too early, for example.
I’m Pregnant. What’s Next?
If you’ve taken a home pregnancy test and it’s positive, you may wonder what you should do. You’ll likely need peace of mind and information if it’s an unexpected pregnancy.
Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center offers free, confidential pregnancy testing to confirm your results.
Even if you’ve made up your mind about abortion, having an obstetric ultrasound is your next step. Our free ultrasounds performed by a registered nurse provide essential information about your pregnancy’s health, which can inform you of your options and give additional details about any medical conditions that may need treatment.
Contact us today to make an appointment so that you can receive the pregnancy information you need.