No contraceptive method is perfect. Forgetting to take a pill, a condom breaking, or a late period can all leave you feeling unsettled and worried that your birth control didn’t work.

Worrying cannot answer the questions racing through your head, but testing can. Below is what a home pregnancy test measures, how to use one well, and the medical steps that should follow a positive result.

Contact MyLife Medical and Resource Center anytime for free, confidential services.

What a Home Pregnancy Test Measures

Once a pregnancy implants in the lining of the uterus, your body begins producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Home pregnancy tests look for that hormone in your urine.

hCG levels climb steadily during early pregnancy, which is why timing shapes your result.

Testing before your period is due can produce a negative even when you are pregnant, simply because the hormone has not yet reached a level the test can detect.

Getting a Reliable Result at Home

There are some steps to take that can improve the odds that your test reflects what is actually happening in your body:

• Wait until at least the first day of your missed period
• Use your first urine of the morning, when hCG is most concentrated
• Limit fluids beforehand so the sample is not diluted
• Read the package directions first, since brands differ in wait times and how results display

At-home tests can reach roughly 99% accuracy when used correctly, but false negatives and false positives can still happen.

Confirming the result with a lab-quality test and a follow-up ultrasound scan settles the question.

Why an Ultrasound Comes Next

A positive test confirms that you are pregnant. It does not tell you whether the pregnancy is progressing, how far along you are, or where the pregnancy is implanted.

An ultrasound scan answers all three, and each answer affects your health and your options.

• Viability: A detectable heartbeat indicates a viable pregnancy. If no heartbeat is found, you may have miscarried and could need medical care to pass the pregnancy safely.
• Gestational age: Measurements taken during the scan can determine your pregnancy’s gestational age. The FDA has approved mifepristone only through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, so gestational age directly affects which options are available to you.
• Location: A pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, in the fallopian tube, ovary, cervix, or abdomen, is called an ectopic pregnancy. Left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can rupture and cause internal bleeding that threatens your life.

Abortion drugs cannot be used for an ectopic pregnancy and require emergency medical treatment.

Start With the Facts at MyLife

MyLife Medical & Resource Center is here to provide you with facts and details when everything feels uncertain.

We offer no-cost, lab-quality pregnancy tests and obstetric ultrasounds in a safe, confidential setting, with results available during your visit.

Our client advocates also provide counseling services & education, so you can ask questions and receive fact-based information before making any decision.

Every service is confidential, nonjudgmental, and free.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment.