Pregnancy Testing
So, you think you might be pregnant near Cary & Fox River Grove, IL?
So, you think you might be pregnant?
If you think you might be pregnant, you’ve come to the right place. Focus Women’s Center is your first step in finding out for sure. FWC’s medical team provides confidential, lab-quality urine pregnancy testing at no cost to our patients. To get started, schedule a free Pregnancy Verification and Consultation appointment today.
Common Early Symptoms of Pregnancy:
- missed period
- nausea
- vomiting
- general feeling of discomfort
- breast tenderness(1)
Home Pregnancy Tests
Home pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This is a hormone that supports normal development of an egg and stimulates its release from the ovary during ovulation. The pregnancy test will either give you a positive or negative result.
Home pregnancy tests typically involve placing either a few drops of urine on a prepared strip or holding the strip in the stream of urine. The steps and directions vary by the test type and brand, specifically how long to wait before reading the result. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Only use FDA approved tests. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure if a specific test is FDA approved.
Home Pregnancy Tests
Home pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This is a hormone that supports normal development of an egg and stimulates its release from the ovary during ovulation. The pregnancy test will either give you a positive or negative result.
Home pregnancy tests typically involve placing either a few drops of urine on a prepared strip or holding the strip in the stream of urine. The steps and directions vary by the test type and brand, specifically how long to wait before reading the result. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Only use FDA approved tests. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure if a specific test is FDA approved.
Cary & Fox River Grove
Tips on overall use:
- Use first morning urine when hCG levels are most easily detected or use urine that has been in the bladder for at least 4 hours.
- Do not drink an excessive amount of fluids prior to the test. If you do, then your urine will be diluted (thinned out) and hCG will not be accurately detected.
- Read the test directions found in or on the box and follow the steps exactly as directed.
How Accurate are Home Pregnancy Tests?
The accuracy of at-home urine pregnancy tests greatly depends on how well the instructions were followed and the results interpreted. If a test is mishandled or misunderstood, inaccurate results can occur. Having your pregnancy test performed in a medical clinic’s laboratory, administered by a trained professional, can lower the possibility of a false negative. Contact Focus Women’s Center to schedule a lab-quality urine pregnancy test administered by a member of our medical team – free of charge.(2) (3) (4)
Could a positive test be wrong?
Although rare, it is possible to get false-positive results – meaning the pregnancy test is positive, but you actually aren’t pregnant. There are a few things that may cause this such as the use of certain fertility drugs, an early pregnancy loss soon after the fertilized egg attached to the uterus lining (known as a biochemical pregnancy), an ectopic pregnancy, or some other health conditions. At Focus Women’s Center we may offer a limited ultrasound scan – free of charge – in order to confirm the pregnancy.
Could a negative test be wrong?
False-negative results do happen. This means that you actually are pregnant, even though the pregnancy test result was negative. Oftentimes this occurs because you took the test too early, checked the results too early, or used urine that was too diluted. If you get a negative result and your period doesn’t start, repeat the test in a couple days or one week. If you continue to get negative results but your period doesn’t begin, contact your healthcare provider.
My home pregnancy test was positive – now what?
If you’ve had a positive home pregnancy test, your next best step is to call Focus Women’s Center for a Pregnancy Verification and Consultation appointment. A positive home pregnancy test doesn’t tell you if you have a viable pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, between 10-25% of known pregnancies are not viable and end naturally in miscarriage – usually within the first 13 weeks. (5)
An ultrasound is the best way to confirm pregnancy since it can tell you:
- that the pregnancy is located where it needs to be to survive
- whether or not the pregnancy has a heartbeat
Focus Women’s Center uses ultrasound to confirm pregnancy in patients who qualify. During your appointment you will meet one-on-one with members of our medical team who will be able to answer any questions you may have, as well as give you information on your pregnancy and all of your legal options. To find out more about what you can expect at your appointment, click here.
Do I need to be worried about STDs?
If you’ve engaged in sexual activity, you might be at risk for a sexually transmitted disease or infection (STD/STI). Untreated STD/STIs can cause serious harm to both you and your pregnancy -whether you’re planning to keep it or have an abortion. Focus Women’s Center is able to offer testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea to our pregnant patients who qualify. Call 815-322-1585 to schedule your free and confidential Pregnancy Verification and Consultation appointment today.
Sources
(1) Shields, A. (2017). Pregnancy diagnosis. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/262591-overview#a2
(2) Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Your guide to pregnancy tests. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9703-your-guide-to-pregnancy-tests
(3) Samra, O. (2020). Home pregnancy test accuracy. Retrieved from https://www.emedicinehealth.com/home_pregnancy_test/article_em.htm#what_should_i_know_about_home_pregnancy_tests
(4) Mayo Clinic. (2019).Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/home-pregnancy-tests/art-20047940
(5) American Pregnancy Association. (n.d.). Ultrasound: sonogram. Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/prenatal-testing/ultrasound/
(6) American Pregnancy Association. (2019). Miscarriage. Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/miscarriage/
Cary is a village located in Algonquin Township, McHenry County, Illinois, and Cuba Township, Lake County, Illinois, United States. Fox River Grove is a village in Algonquin Township, McHenry County and Cuba Township, Lake County, Illinois, United States. In 1919, the village of Fox River Grove officially incorporated, becoming the ninth village in McHenry County. The Grove is situated along the southern shore of the Fox River. Residents refer to themselves as “Grovers.”
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