Take A Home Pregnancy Test
The cheapest, easiest, most accessible way to confirm youâre pregnant is with a home pregnancy test. This form of testing can identify a positive pregnancy result as early as two weeks after fertilization, making it one of the fastest ways to learn more about your situation. Youâre probably familiar with how the little stick you buy at the supermarket or convenience store worksâyou bring it to the restroom with you, urinate on it, and wait for the results.
The test works by looking for human chorionic gonadotropin in your urineâa hormone your body starts to crank out in large quantities shortly after conception. If you test negative on the first try, many pregnancy tests recommend you check again three to five days later. Why? Because hCG can take several days to build up in your body, the first test may accidentally give you a false negative!
This retest is really important. If your first test suggests youâre not really pregnant , you may not know to reach out to your doctor or physician to get the checkups, vitamins, or medications you need to ensure you and your baby remain healthy. If/when you get a positive resultâwhether itâs on the first, second, or eighth timeâmake sure you take the next step by scheduling a medical visit!
Paying Attention To Other Symptoms
The Test Is Positive What Do I Do Now
If the pregnancy test is positive, this means youre pregnant. All tests are very reliable.
Its normal to feel a range of different emotions. You may feel some, all, or none of the following:
- happiness that youre able to get pregnant
- shock that youre actually pregnant
- worry that you arent ready
- worry that you cant afford to have a baby
- anger that youre pregnant when you didnt choose to be
- anxiety about what other people will think
- excitement about such a big change in your life
- concern that you might make the wrong decision
- fear about the process of pregnancy and giving birth.
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Avoid Alcohol And Drugs
This last one is really important, especially for young people. That’s because most teenagers who become pregnant have had unprotected sex when they have drunk too much or have been using drugs. Both drastically inhibit your ability to think properly and make wise decisions. Having unprotected sex may seem ok when you are out of it and caught up in the moment, but I can guarantee you it will not feel ok the next morning nor in the coming weeks when you are waiting anxiously for your next period.
If You Still Have A Negative Result
Sometimes, life doesnt go according to plan. You might try to get pregnant for a long time and keep getting disappointing results from pregnancy tests. You might wonder whether youre trying the right sex positions for conception, or if it just isnt meant to be.
Many people have to try for several months before getting a positive pregnancy test result.
If you think your partner may have some fertility issues or health concerns, you still have several options for growing your family.
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What Are Five Common Signs Of Pregnancy
There are several signs of early pregnancy that you could experience. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms, and some women may not feel any of these things. Pregnancy symptoms throughout the entire pregnancy can vary dramatically between women. Its important not to compare your pregnancy to someone elses.
Common early pregnancy symptoms can include:
When Should You Take A Pregnancy Test
Its usually recommended that you take a pregnancy test after youve missed your period. This is because pregnancy tests measure the level of human chorionic gonadotrophin in your body, which is a hormone that starts to build up when you conceive. It can take around three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for there to be enough hCG in your body to show up on a test.
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How To Avoid Pregnancy
Susana has worked extensively with pregnant women and families, including many young people experiencing unplanned pregnancies.
The subject of how to avoid pregnancy has many myths, old wives tales, and falsehoods attached to it, so in this article, my aim is to dispel those myths and sort out fact from fiction.
After all, if you don’t want to get pregnant and spend the next 18 years caring for someone else, then why take needless risks or listen to age-old stories from back when people didn’t really understand how pregnancy happened?
Being pregnant and either having a baby or a termination is life-changing in a VERY BIG WAY. If your not ready for that kind of change yet, then learning how to avoid pregnancy is a good lesson to learn.
What’s Involved In An Abortion
For some people, deciding whether or not to have an abortion is easier if you know how an abortion is carried out. There are different abortion procedures, and the method used depends on how long youve been pregnant, your medical suitability and your preferences.
You can find out more about abortion procedures from:
- The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists .
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Could I Have The Symptoms Of Early Pregnancy And Not Be Pregnant
Many of the symptoms of early pregnancy overlap with other medical conditions, as well as your typical menstrual cycle. Premenstrual symptoms can be very similar to pregnancy symptoms. This can make it difficult to tell the difference. You can also miss a period without being pregnant. This can happen when you exercise in extreme amounts, lose or gain a lot of weight, or even are stressed. Breastfeeding can also cause your period to stop for a while.
The best way to know youre pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. If you have missed a period and think theres a chance you could be pregnant, consider taking a test.
What Other Symptoms Can Be Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Every person and every pregnancy is different. So, if you are pregnant, youll likely experience a unique combination of common, not-so-common and sometimes overlapping symptoms. And, they may show up earlier or later than expected. Here are more than a dozen possible symptoms of early pregnancy.
1. Spotting or light bleeding
Many women are surprised to learn that spotting or light bleeding can be an early sign of pregnancy, but about one-third of women experience it. This is often called implantation bleeding because doctors believe it occurs as the fertilized egg attaches itself into the uterine lining.
Implantation bleeding typically occurs 10 to 14 days after conception, which is just before or right around the time your period is due. So, you may think youve gotten your period.
But implantation bleeding is a light flow, which may start and stop over a couple days. And while it can take on a range of colors, its more likely to be pink, brown or light red.
Your period, on the other hand, may start off light in flow and in color but after a couple days becomes heavier, changes to a crimson red color and lasts up to a week or so.
2. Lower abdominal pain or cramping
While cramps and lower-abdominal pain can signal a coming period, they can also be a sign of egg implantation.
But menstrual cramps can often feel like a throbbing or dull ache, and typically start a day or two before your period.
3. Higher basal body temperature
4. Changes in cervical mucus
6. Fatigue
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You’re Over 44 Years Old
Thanks to that good-old biological clock, a woman’s chances of getting pregnant wane over time. Women are born with some 1 million to 2 million eggs there’s only about 300,000 left when they get their first period and 25,000 left by their late 30s. This means that a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant in her early 40s are pretty slim, though it’s by no means impossible. “As we get closer to 40, the ticking of our biological clock becomes louder and by 44, it can be deafening,” she says. “Fertility decreases by as much as 95 percent in women between 40 and 45 years of age.”
How hard is it to get pregnant over 44 years old? According to Dr. Ross, women over the age of 44 have a less than 5 percent chance of getting pregnant each month.
Month Pregnant: Symptoms And Foetal Development
If your period is late and you suspect you may be pregnant, the best way to find out is to take a home pregnancy test. If it turns out positive, congratulations are in order! At one month pregnant thereâs a lot going on inside your belly, although it may not seem like it from the outside. Read on to learn more about your little oneâs development this month and the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy you might notice.
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Key Indicators Of A Possible Pregnancy
Many women experience one or more pregnancy symptoms during a normal menstrual cycle, so you shouldnât panic if youâre a little nauseous, tired, or experiencing cramping. If youâve noticed several of the indicators below over the last few weeks, however, itâs worth a closer look. These signs often signal a pregnancy, but only an official pregnancy test or doctorâs visit will be able to tell you for sure.
Further Information And Advice
Other organisations that can offer help and information during and after your pregnancy include:
- Tommys . Information on pre-pregnancy care and keeping healthy during pregnancy.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists . Information about pregnancy, including alcohol, exercise, antenatal appointments, and links to other useful sites.
- Working Families . Information and advice on all aspects of working and family life.
- National Childbirth Trust . Advice and support during pregnancy and after the birth.
- NHS Smokefree . Advice and support on stopping smoking.
- Frank . Information and help for drug and alcohol users.
- Family Support NI . Information for families and young people in Northern Ireland.
You can find details of GPs and pharmacies from the NHS website in England, NHS Direct in Wales, NHS 24 in Scotland and your local health and social care trust in Northern Ireland See How to get help with your sexual health.
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Bleaching Powder Pregnancy Test
If you want quick results with an easy method, then bleaching powder is your go-to option. For this test, you need bleaching powder, a urine sample collected in the morning and a clean glass to mix the two.
| Method | Negative Sign | |
| Drop bleaching powder into the glass and pour the collected urine sample into it. | If you notice bubble and froth formation and a lot of frizzing as soon as the urine touches the bleaching powder, you are pregnant. | If there is no bubbling and frothing, you are not pregnant. |
Note: Please avoid inhaling the fumes coming out of the above reaction as they are toxic and harmful for you. So, make sure you maintain a safe distance.
Am I Definitely Pregnant
If you might be pregnant, you should take a pregnancy test.
You can do a pregnancy test from the first day of a missed period. If you take a test before this time, the level of pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin , may be too low to show up on the test and you may get a negative result even if youre pregnant.
If you dont know when your period is due, the earliest time to take a test is three weeks after your last unprotected sex.
You can buy a pregnancy test from a pharmacy, or you can ask for a test to be done at:
- your general practice
- a young peoples service
- a pharmacy
- most NHS walk-in centres
- a sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinic.
For details on how to find one of these services see Where to get help.
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Have Emergency Contraception Handy
Contraceptives sometimes fail, but you still have options. EC can help prevent pregnancy if youve had unprotected sex or your birth control didnt work. There are two types of EC available:
Hormonal EC pills. You can take hormonal EC pills right away, or up to five days after sex. But its most effective when taken within the first 72 hours. You can purchase EC pills at your local pharmacy, or, if youre insured, get a prescription for free because its considered preventative care. You should also keep one or two EC pills on hand just in case you may need it in the future.
Emergency IUD contraception. Your doctor can insert the Copper IUD up to five days after sex to prevent pregnancy, and can last for up to 10 years. As with EC pills, the emergency IUD can be free or low-cost with most insurance plans.
Storing Urine Pregnancy Test
Another effective homemade pregnancy test is simply observing your stored urine. All you need is a glass jar and urine sample collected early in the morning.
| Method | Negative Sign | |
| Add the sample to the glass jar and store it away for about 24 hours. | If you notice a thin layer or film formed on the surface of the stored sample, then you are pregnant. | The absence of any layer or film indicates that you are not pregnant yet. |
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The Easyread App Isnt Working For Me
Please double check that you have iOS 12.0 or later or Android 7.0 or later. If youre having trouble scanning your pregnancy test, please make sure to check out the demo within the app for instructions on how to scan it properly. This demo can be accessed once you start the timer or from the top right of the scanning screen. For any troubleshooting or other issues, head over to either the App Store or .
If you have any questions call us, toll-free at 1-800-367-6022, Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time
1 Double the confirmation Same accuracy of results2> 99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels from the day of your missed period. Note that hormone levels vary. See insert.3> 99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels. Note that hormone levels vary. See insert.
You Use The Pull Out Method
This old-school method of preventing pregnancy is a far cry from a myth. No, it’s not foolproof and it can certainly result in pregnancy, but it does significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. In case you need a refresher course on the pull-out method, it involves the male partner pulling out of the vagina before he ejaculates. The problem, however, is that pre-ejaculate, or precum, the bodily fluid that’s released from the penis before an actual ejaculation, very well may contain active and viable sperm. Additionally, Mark Trolice, M.D., reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at My Fertility CARE: The IVF Center in Winter Park, Florida, explains that most men aren’t aware of when they release this precum. “Because it’s hard to predict when pre-ejaculation occurs, the withdrawal method is often fraught with peril and certainly not the most reliable method out there,” he says.
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Pregnancy Tests That Your Doctor May Do
Your GP will probably do a urine pregnancy test to detect whether you are pregnant.
It is always a good idea to bring a sample of urine to the GP surgery with you if you think you may be pregnant. This will mean your appointment is not delayed.
It will also avoid the ‘stage fright’ that can occur when you are trying to pee and you know someone is waiting on you.
The pregnancy testing kit that your GP will use is like the kits that you can buy over the counter.
Your doctor may perform a blood test to check the level of hCG in your blood. This test is done if you have had some bleeding from your vagina or if you have severe pains in your tummy. Your GP may also carry out a blood test if you have severe morning sickness.
