When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?

If you’re experiencing pregnancy symptoms and believe you may be pregnant, the best time to take a pregnancy test is on the day of your expected period. This way, human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, will have the time it needs to build and be detected by a pregnancy test. 

If you test too early, you might get a negative result. In this case, it’s best to wait and test again. 

What Are the Symptoms of Pregnancy?

Many women experience pregnancy symptoms prior to taking a test, although some do not. Regardless, it is important to know the different symptoms so that you can be aware of when to take a test. 

Symptoms of pregnancy include:

• Missed period
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Fatigue
• Increased urination
• Tender, swollen breasts

In addition to these symptoms, you may experience others, such as light spotting, cramping, and moodiness.

If you are having any of these symptoms, it may be prudent to take a pregnancy test.

How Does HCG Work?

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that helps the body during pregnancy. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, hCG causes the body to create more estrogen and progesterone. These three hormones work together to help sustain the pregnancy. 

Pregnancy tests come in the form of blood or urine tests. When there is enough hCG present, a pregnancy test is able to detect the hormone and produce a positive result. 

If you test too early, there may not be enough hCG present to give a positive. In this case, you’ll want to test again in a couple days.

I’d Like a Free Pregnancy Test

Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic offers free, lab-quality pregnancy tests. If you believe you might be pregnant, consider stopping by the Clinic to take a test. 

Contact us today to request a confidential appointment.