Your Pregnancy Test: And the Answer Is…

Waiting for Pregnancy Test ResultsYou’re standing alone in the bathroom.

The pregnancy test you’ve just started is sitting by the sink.

Now you wait . . . What will it show?

And more importantly, what will that mean?

Here are some questions we often hear from the ladies who come to Choices Pregnancy Center for our free pregnancy test.

Is this test accurate?

In clinical trials, the test we use proved to be 100% accurate (compared with another commercially available test).

How does a little test kit “know” if I’m pregnant?

Pregnancy tests look for hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in your urine.

The hormone hCG is released in your body when a fertilized egg has implanted into your uterus. This means the first cell--with all the genes needed to produce a child--has already begun to multiply into more cells. That happens because your body’s reproductive system is designed to nourish it.

Our tests can detect 20 mIU/mL of hCG in your urine sample. This sensitivity is equal to or better than any pregnancy test you can buy in a store. (Most store-bought tests can’t detect hCG until it reaches 25 – 50 mIU/mL.) And ours are offered for free.

NOTE: Every woman’s body is different. You may produce more or less hCG than other women at the same stage of pregnancy. As a pregnancy continues through the first 8-11 weeks, the level of hCG doubles about every 2-3 days. So it becomes easier to detect as time passes.

If my test is negative, can I be sure I’m NOT pregnant?

See the note above. A negative test may only mean that your hCG level hasn’t reached a detectable level. Wait until 31 days after the first day of your last menstrual period and then test again.

My test is positive. Am I definitely pregnant?

The likelihood that you are pregnant is very high. A positive pregnancy test should always be confirmed with a doctor.

NOTE: More often than most people realize, pregnancies end in Early Pregnancy Loss (EPL). This occurs naturally either when an egg doesn’t implant or when it implants and then is rejected for unknown reasons. That’s why a test may be positive early on, and a later test can be negative. Again, it is important to confirm a positive pregnancy test at least 31 days after the first day of your last menstrual period.

If I go to Choices Pregnancy Center for a free pregnancy test, what should I expect?

  • You are welcome at Choices. You will be treated with respect and confidentiality. You will fill out a brief form that helps us know what you would like us to do for you.
  • The pregnancy test. A trained and caring staff member will accompany you to a private consultation room with a bathroom attached. There you will receive a pregnancy test kit and training in how to use it. In the privacy of the bathroom, you will apply a few drops of your urine to the test kit. After 3 minutes, the results will be clear. If there is any problem you will be given another test kit.
  • After the test. You will return to the consultation room. There, our staff member will answer any questions you may have. She will also give you printed and verbal information you may find helpful.  We know that a potential pregnancy can create conflicting emotions. So your staff member may ask a few questions to help you stay in line with what you value most as you respond to your test results.
  • Then what? It’s up to you how long or short this conversation runs. Our staff desires to be sensitive to your needs as you share them. We’re here to help. We are not here to pressure you into making a sudden decision about what to do next. It's our goal to see you aware of all the facts about your current situation, and confident that you can make wise choices.
  • Next? If you wish, you can set up another appointment to follow up on any areas of interest or concern you may have. Check out the other Services we offer. They are all free.

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If you want to know more about getting a pregnancy test at Choices, please don’t hesitate to call or text.
Just use the numbers in the right margin of this page.
We look forward to talking with you.