Reliability of Home Pregnancy Tests
- Most pregnancy tests are accurate 7-10 days from conception.
- However, many of the currently marketed tests can be accurate if your period is only one or two days late.
- If you get a negative result and you are only one or two days late, Pat would suggest repeating the test a week later to be sure that you are not pregnant.
- 10% of the results obtained by home pregnancy tests do not agree with standard laboratory pregnancy test results.
- If the test result is positive, a pelvic exam will be necessary to determine the possible risk of ectopic or abnormal implantation. You can get a pelvic exam, pregnancy test, or consultation at Hartshorn Health Services. The pregnancy test costs $15 and the consultation and pelvic exams are free for fee-paying students. Please call (970) 491-1754 for more information or to make an appointment.
Could I be pregnant?
There is no way to provide a hard statistic on the probability of your pregnancy.
However, the best way to get pregnant is to engage in penetrative intercourse, while you are fertile.
Anytime semen and penetration coincide, there are good chances for pregnancy.
Also, the best way to get pregnant is having sex a couple of days before and after ovulation (12-16 days before menstruation) because this is when a woman is most fertile.
Signs of Pregnancy
The on-set of the appearance of pregnancy also differs from woman to woman.
Even in the first trimester (1-12 weeks), signs of pregnancy will become apparent.
Breasts will swell and tingle in the first trimester.
In the second trimester (13-26 weeks), the woman is made even more aware of the pregnancy by her rapidly expanding belly.
If you are pregnant you cannot get your period.