Two Types of Pregnancy Tests
Most hopeful moms-to-be want to know if they are pregnant. In most cases, you can know for sure as soon as one week after conception. When implantation occurs, the developing placenta begins to produce the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
This hormone is detectable by the different types of pregnancy tests as early as one week after conception in your blood and 7 to 10 days after conception in your urine.
Type of Pregnancy Test #1: Urine Test
Instead of making the long trip to your doctor or midwife’s office, you can make the short trip to your own bathroom and get your answer from a couple of drops of urine. The most common types of pregnancy tests are urine tests. Urine tests can be performed in your doctor’s office or at home (if you follow the directions on a home pregnancy kit).
A very early test may register negative if your body has not yet produced enough HCG to be detected. A repeat test a few days or a week later may come out positive. By the way, a home pregnancy test is nearly 100 percent positive within 7 to 10 days after conception. Whether your test registers positive or negative, if you think you are pregnant, take care of yourself and your baby as if you were pregnant.
Because you need a high enough level of HCG in your urine to reflect a positive test, if the test is done too early, there may not be a high enough concentration to register. So if you get a negative test at 6 days, repeat at 12 or 14 days. During the first week after a missed period (2-3 weeks after conception), these tests are 97% accurate, as long as you follow the directions.
Type of Pregnancy Test #2: Blood Test
A few drops of blood can let you know if you are pregnant as early as one week after conception. This blood test is performed in your doctor’s office or a laboratory. It measures the level of HCG in a blood sample. The blood level of HCG may be detectable as early as a week after conception.
Within a day or two, you will have the final results. The test is nearly 100 percent accurate, depending on no laboratory error. If the tests are negative or HCG levels are low yet you still think you are pregnant, notify your doctor or midwife, because problem pregnancies are often associated with lower than normal levels of HCG.
If you would like to work with a Certified Health Coach during your pregnancy, or postpartum, you can find a Coach in your area.