Pregnancy Tests Are Necessary When Pregnancy Symptoms Are Not Conclusive Enough

In ancient times, adequate information was not available for detecting pregnancy in women. People used unconventional methods to predict if a woman was pregnant. Checking for pregnancy symptoms ranged from abdominal distention and cramps to testing on animals. However, in modern times, the pregnant woman has ample exposure to various sources of information and sophisticated methods have been developed for pregnancy tests.

A pregnancy test may simply be defined as a test to determine whether a woman is pregnant or not. A pregnancy test works by measuring the levels of a hormone called human chronionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a woman's urine samples. hCG is a hormone released by trophoblastic tissue in the placenta. The levels of hCG also rapidly rises at the rate of double in every two days in the bloodstream. The different types of tests such as hCG Measurement, Doubling rules, Obstetric Sonography may be conducted at various points of time during pregnancy. Each test may be explained as follows:

hCG Measurement

These tests provide effective results, if tested on a person after a missed menstruation or 2-3 weeks after ovulation. All these tests look for the occurence of the beta subunit of hCG which occurs after six to twelve days after fertilization. Most pregnancy tests can be conducted in the comfort of your home.

Such pregnancy tests may be used to detect the pregnancy in the initial stages before visiting a doctor. These pregnancy tests are available in the market in two formats - test strips and midstream tests. These tests are very easy and simple to follow with detailed instructions mentioned in the test itself.

Doubling Rule

Doubling rule is another type of pregnancy test that doctors use to perform quantitative serum beta hCG levels. Pregnancy is measured by levels of mIU/ml, and a level above 25mIU/ml indicates the presence of a pregnancy. These tests are verified for a normal increase in the interval of 2-3 days. If the hCG levels do not increase in a normal manner, it is an indication of the pregnancy not developing properly. It is an alert for a possible miscarriage also known as ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy could also be predicted when the hCG levels fail to double.

Obstretric ultrasongraphy is another type of pregnancy test conducted as the pregnancy progresses. When the pregnancy has advanced about 6-8 weeks, more information can be obtained in real time through sonography about the well-being and development of the fetus.

Pregnancy Testing - Signs of Pregnancy

Apart from pregnancy tests, a woman may also look for the following changes or signs of pregnancy in her body such as:

Breasts become tender and swollen as a result of increased hormone leves.
Rise in progestosterone levels during pregnancy cause you to feel more tired than normal. Fatigue is a common factor among all pregnant women.
Nausea and/or vomiting. Morning sickness affects most women about a month following conception and usually stops by the end of the second trimester.
Frequent urination. Extra fluids produced by your body presents more of a load for your kidneys to process, as well as the pressure of the growing baby on your bladder creates the urge to urinate.
Heightened sensitivity to odors. You may notice that certain odors can cause you to feel sick or trigger a gag reflex, even if they normally had no affect on you. This may be caused by increasing levels of estrogen in your body.

Pregnancy is a joyous phase, which can result in a healthy delivery provided the mother-to-be is well aware of the need to take requisite care, maintains a healthy and balanced diet and a happy and relaxed demeanor.

Signs of pregnancy indicate towards pregnancy. However, pregnancy symptoms cannot confirm pregnancy undergoing a pregnancy test becomes necessary.

For details about signs and symptoms of pregnancy, pregnancy testing and other information related to pregnancy, visit Pregnancy Period

Various Types Of Pregnancy Tests

With the advancement of technology, pregnancy tests have also become more and more reliable and easier to carry out. Over the counter home pregnancy tests are also as effective as the tests carried out at the primary health care provider's office. These tests are the starting point for you to make an appointment with your primary health care provider, if you test positive. It's important to immediately undergo other tests in order to check whether the pregnancy is normal or if there are any abnormalities such as an ectopic pregnancy.

Types Of Pregnancy Tests

Urine Based Tests: These tests are most popular and more convenient than the other types. All that you need to do is to purchase over the counter urine home pregnancy test kit. Normally this consists of a cup into which the woman has to urinate and a special stick that has to be immersed in the urine for a specific amount of time. If you follow the instructions correctly as given along with the kit, you'll come to know whether you are pregnant or not. The results are fairly accurate most of the time. Most clinics also adopt this method of pregnancy test.

There is another method of urine pregnancy test in which the woman has to hold a special stick in the stream of urine for a specific amount of time. This is a much neater type of test and is preferred by most women. This method can also be used as an early pregnancy test since it can detect the presence of hCG pregnancy hormone as soon as the embryo has attached itself to the uterine wall.

Blood Tests For Pregnancy: Blood tests are normally more reliable and are carried out by doctors in order to detect human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), the presence of which indicates that the placenta has started to grow as a result of the attachment of the embryo to the uterine lining. This can also be found out through urine tests but blood tests are more reliable. Normally the doctor runs more tests to check your overall health so that proper prenatal vitamins and medications can be prescribed to keep you and your growing baby healthy.

Blood tests are preferred by most couples who have had infertility problems and are anxious to find out whether the pregnancy test results are positive as the blood test can be done as early as seven days after a probable conception. It's also important to undergo a blood test as the level of hCG can be measured very accurately and possible complications or problems can easily be identified. The blood pregnancy test should only be carried out at a doctor's office although it might entail the high cost of the visit and the tests. You could also visit women's clinics for pregnancy tests if you want to reduce the expenditure.

The expectant mother should also undergo further regular tests even after the pregnancy tests have revealed that she is normal and has a healthy pregnancy. These tests are normally scheduled by the doctor and expectant mothers should be aware of them and their implications. These tests are: Complete Blood Count (CBC) test that checks for anemia or any other abnormality; Urine analysis test that checks for undesirable elements such as infection, blood, protein or any other harmful product; RH factor; Immunity from German measles; tests for sexually transmitted diseases; blood glucose test; pap smear; and screening for bacterial and viral infection.

Pregnancy tests are essential to ensure the good health of the expectant mother and the growing baby.

With the advancement of technology, pregnancy tests have also become more and more reliable and easier to carry out. If you are anxious to know about your pregnancy, you can do a home pregnancy test or an early pregnancy test, with an EPT Pregnancy Test kit. Some sites offer free online pregnancy test as well. However, these tests are not a replacement for medical opinion and for confirmation, you should get a pregnancy test done under the supervision of your pregnancy doctor. Visit Pregnancy Test for more information on anything and everything related to pregnancy such as, pregnancy diet, pregnancy exercises, pregnancy stages, pregnancy complications, breastfeeding, and much more?

Pregnancy Tests - How To Verify Pregnancy

Pregnancy Tests are conducted to verify one's pregnancy. A large number of women can tell that they are pregnant by recognizing the various symptoms that accompany a pregnancy. However, to be sure, specific pregnancy tests need to be conducted. Some of these can be conducted at home itself while there are others for which you need to approach a doctor. Large varieties of home pregnancy tests kits are available in the market at chemist shops.

Pregnancy tests confirm one's pregnancy by revealing the presence of a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HcG) which is found only in pregnant women. It is produced by the cells in the uterus. Several types of pregnancy test kits are available in the market, many of which can be used at home. These tests measure the level of the HCG in our body through a urine sample. These tests need to be followed by some other pregnancy ultrasound tests that are recommended by the doctors.

The Accuracy Factor

Generally, these pregnancy tests can confirm pregnancy the day after one misses her period. However, to get accurate and 100% results, it is always better to conduct these tests a week after missing the monthly periods. Most of the times, these pregnancy tests are accurate and quite cheap too. The home pregnancy tests are generally followed by several blood tests and ultrasounds, which are done to find the possible date of the delivery and the health of the baby.

In some cases, however, the pregnancy tests may give a wrong result. These include cases when the amount of HCG in a woman's body is inadequate to show her pregnancy. In addition, it is important to remember the exact date of one's periods. These tests are effective and can give accurate results only if conducted after a woman misses her periods. A type of pregnancy test known as EPT pregnancy test claims to give 99% accurate results. However, this is possible only if a woman remembers her period date correctly. Several other early pregnancy test kits are also available in the market and can even be purchased online.

Pregnancy tests are the definitive way to know if you are pregnant. You can even take home pregnancy tests within the comforts of your home.

Pregnancy ultrasounds and early pregnancy test such as EPT early pregnancy tests are another way of knowing that the most beautiful period of your life is just around the corner.

Pregnancy Period provides more information on issues related to pregnancy, early pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy tests.

Routine tests-pregnancy

Blood Samples

Complete blood count

This test screens for anaemia, which is very common during pregnancy. Anemia can be caused by low iron levels, or may be an inherited form, such as Thalassemia.

Blood Group

This test will determine your blood group

that show if you Rhesus positive (Rh +) or negative (Rh). If you are a Rh-, usually a medication called rhogam after medical procedures such as amniocentesis, or if you have vaginal bleeding. Usually, you get an extra dose of around 28 weeks.

Antibody screen

This test determines whether you have antibodies that could pass through the placenta and cause the child to become anemic.

Hepatitis B

This test will identify women who are actively infectious hepatitis B virus, a liver disease that can be transmitted to the baby during pregnancy and labour.

HIV

This test will identify women who have been infected with the HIV retrovirus.

Red Dog

This blood test determines whether you are immune to rubella. If you're not, you will usually get vaccinated after delivery. You can not take the vaccine during pregnancy.

Syphilis

Syphilis causes not always symptoms but can cause serious problems for the foetus.

Urine test

This test looks for extra sugar or protein in your urine and signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Extra protein may be a sign of kidney disease additional sugar may indicate diabetes. UTls will be treated with antibiotics to prevent a serious kidney infection, which can lead to complications.

Mass survey of smear

If you have had recently, perhaps you have a mass survey smear (PAP smear).

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure falls, usually at the beginning of the pregnancy. Women with high blood pressure or high blood pressure at the end of normal early pregnancy are at increased risk for blood pressure problems later.

Weight

Baseline value will let your care provider calculate how much weight you gained as the pregnancy progresses and control how much weight should you gain during pregnancy.

If you are unsure whether you have had chicken pox, a blood test will tell you whether you should stay away from people with this communicable disease when you are pregnant. If you're not immune, and incidentally exposed, there are treatments to prevent serious chicken pox during pregnancy. If you are African American, Hispanic, or Mediterranean descent, you will have tests for blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia or Thalassemia, which is more common in these groups.

Last but not least, you will receive your payment due date on this appointment (sometimes called the EDC-confinement). Your expiration date is based on your last ' menstrual period. Even if you think you know the date you want your last ' menstrual period is usually the most accurate way to estimate your due date. The exception is when you can't remember when your last period was, or if you have very irregular periods. In this case is an early ultrasound is the most accurate way to date your pregnancy. Don't get too attached to your expiration date, remember that it is only an estimate.

Usually look your care provider you again in 4-6 weeks to review your test results and discuss the first quarter of the screening results. But should your doctor call you before your second visit if any results are abnormal.

Author author of pregnancy and cause pregnancy he also writes about benefits of vitamins