How do I find out if I am pregnant?
You need to take a pregnancy test to tell if you’re pregnant. Home pregnancy tests detect pregnancy by identifying the presence of a certain hormone — human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is the hormone that starts being released when a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus and pregnancy begins. HCG can be detected in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman. Some of the newer home tests can detect pregnancy from a urine sample as early as a few days after a missed period.
If you use a home pregnancy test, which are tests done on urine samples, you must follow directions carefully and correctly. To be sure about whether you are pregnant, it is best to visit a qualified family planning professional for a pregnancy test and pelvic exam. Depending on your situation, the medical professional will determine whether to use a urine or a blood test — or both. (Usually the first step for the medical professional is a urine test, which may be able to detect pregnancy earlier than the one you bought in the store could.)
If you are pregnant — whether or not you want to continue the pregnancy — you need to have medical care and counseling as soon as possible. To schedule a confidential appointment with the nearest Planned Parenthood health center, call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN. Your call will connect you to the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.
