When you visit Choices Pregnancy Center for a pregnancy testing appointment, you can expect compassion, confidentiality, and professionalism from all our staff. After a medical-grade pregnancy test read by our nurse, you’ll receive all the time you need to discuss your questions and concerns. She may offer you additional free services according to your unique needs.
Let’s walk through what happens in a typical pregnancy testing appointment at Choices Pregnancy Center in either our Redwood Falls, MN, or in Marshall, MN, location.
A welcome at the reception desk
Our staff will greet you, find you a comfortable place to sit, and give you a questionnaire to fill out. The answers you choose to provide will give our nurse the information she needs to serve you well. All your information will be kept confidential.
Taking the pregnancy test
Our nurse will welcome you into the examination room for your pregnancy test. After you discuss your questionnaire, she will give you a specimen cup and instructions for collecting your urine.* In the private restroom, you will collect your sample and place the cup inside the pass-through door for testing. Then you can return to the exam room.
The nurse will perform the testing on your sample and record the results. Our tests detect as little as 20 mlU/hCG. (HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, the hormone your body produces during pregnancy.) Details on why these tests may be more sensitive, accurate, and effective than store-bought home test kits can be found on our Pregnancy Testing services page.
Discussing your pregnancy test results
Our nurse will be able to tell you the results within a few minutes. Those results will be stored confidentially to protect your privacy. But test results don’t have to end your appointment. Many women have a range of questions and feelings to address once they know whether they are pregnant. Our nurse will gladly listen, provide information, and support you as you consider your next steps.
Next steps after a positive pregnancy test
A positive pregnancy test indicates the presence of hCG hormone, which means you are pregnant. Our nurse can provide written pregnancy confirmation if needed later for insurance.
If it has been at least 6 weeks since your last menstrual period, you may be eligible to receive a limited obstetric ultrasound at no cost to you. This kind of ultrasound scan is designed to reveal:
- Whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus. (If it is outside the uterus, it is called “ectopic” and will require medical attention right away.)
- A viable pregnancy is one that is progressing normally. Usually a heartbeat is detectable and the size of the fetus aligns with the probable time of conception.
- Gestational age. The ultrasound can estimate how far along your pregnancy is by measuring certain features. This will shape the next steps you consider.
Our nurse will discuss with you all your available options. This is a great time to ask questions and let your concerns be heard.
She can also tell you about free services Choices Pregnancy Center offers to support pregnant women. For example, our Earn While You Learn program gives you one-on-one mentoring and education on pregnancy and parenting as well as access to free baby and maternity items from our Boutique. We can also refer you to doctors and other support services in the area around Redwood Falls, MN, and Marshall, MN. (Please note that as a faith-based, life-affirming organization, we do not refer to abortion providers.)
Next steps after a negative pregnancy test
After a negative pregnancy test result, you are welcome to discuss any concerns you may have about that result or about aspects of your life that might make pregnancy feel like a problem. Whether you were hoping for pregnancy or dreading it, you deserve time to address those feelings and the circumstances around them.
We care about you and your whole life, not just when you’re pregnant. Our caring advocates would be happy to give you a safe space to talk about your concerns. Use this appointment as an opportunity to plan a positive pathway forward.