What is a medical verification of pregnancy?
If you’re reading this page, you’re likely asking yourself, “Am I pregnant?” You may be experiencing the common pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, spotting or even a missed period. Did you know that spotting can often be mistaken for a period but is in fact implantation bleeding? Implantation bleeding is when the embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus and can often mimic a light period.
If you are pregnant, have you thought about what you will do next? There are many options available to you however, before you go too far down that path first things first. The most important thing you can do right now is to first confirm the pregnancy. If you are indeed pregnant then you need to have a medical estimation of how many weeks you are into the pregnancy.
Pregnancy confirmation with a medical grade pregnancy test is the best way to know for sure.
Free pregnancy testing and medical confirmation is available to you at one of our three conveniently located centers in Philadelphia, Bristol and Warminster Pennsylvania.
Did you know a pregnancy can be confirmed multiple ways? All pregnancy tests determine the presence of hCG. hCG is an abbreviation for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. Basically, this means the presence of a hormone the body produces when it is pregnant. How far along you are into the pregnancy, the presence of this hormone increases. Each form of pregnancy testing has a different level of ability to detect this hormone. Medical testing is going to provide the most accurate of all tests.
At the Community Women’s Centers, we provide a safe, confidential, and free pregnancy test to deliver a medical verification of pregnancy. We verify a pregnancy through a medical grade pregnancy test as this ensures the more accurate results. The test is meant to determine the presence of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in urine specimens. It is used to obtain visual, qualitative results for early detection of a potential pregnancy.
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
Pregnancy tests are most accurate a few days after a missed period, as hCG levels increase with time in early pregnancy. If you suspect you may be pregnant, or if you have concerns about your pregnancy, please contact us 267-239-0753 to schedule a free and confidential appointment.
The most common and reliable ways to confirm a pregnancy include:
Home Pregnancy Test (HPT):
Home pregnancy tests are readily available over-the-counter at most grocery stores, drugstores or markets. Pregnancy tests detect the presence of hCG. To use a home pregnancy test, follow the instructions provided in the package, which typically involve collecting a urine sample and applying it to the test strip. Although these tests are convenient and can provide accurate results as early as a few days after a missed period, false negative and positive results can occur.
Blood Test:
A blood test, performed by a healthcare professional or laboratory, can also confirm pregnancy. There are two types of blood tests: quantitative hCG tests and qualitative hCG tests. Quantitative tests measure the exact amount of hCG in the blood, while qualitative tests simply indicate the presence or absence of hCG. Blood tests are generally the more accurate way to obtain a medical verification of pregnancy and usually earlier than home pregnancy tests.
Transvaginal Ultrasound:
A transvaginal ultrasound allows the healthcare provider to visualize from inside the body the gestational sac and embryo. This is not the only way to confirm a pregnancy but may be used in certain situations. You can ask your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of this method. In general, it is most helpful to determine a very early pregnancy.
Urine Sample at a Healthcare Provider:
A healthcare provider could also conduct a urine pregnancy test. This is like a home pregnancy test but uses a much more sensitive test for better results and higher accuracy in confirmation. This is also an effective way to obtain a medical verification of pregnancy. At Community Women’s Centers, we provide this test to you at no cost and the results are confidential.
Physical Examination and Medical History:
A healthcare provider may also rely on a physical examination and medical history to assess the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, such as changes in breast size, tenderness, and missed periods.
Did you know that false-positive and false-negative results can occur? This is why it’s recommended to confirm the results with a healthcare provider if there is uncertainty or if you receive a positive result from a home pregnancy test. If you have questions, please contact us at 267-239-0753 to schedule a confidential and free appointment.
Schedule your appointment today!