This is one test you never dreamt you’d be taking at this time. If you suspect you’re unexpectedly pregnant, a pregnancy test is your first step to finding out for sure. Don’t spend your money on home pregnancy tests because ALC Pregnancy Resource Center offers free and confidential testing.
When a woman gets pregnant, the fertilized egg attaches to her uterine lining. This is called implantation. The placenta (which provides nutrients for your pregnancy) forms and produces a hormone called hCG. This hormone enters your bloodstream and urine.
The amount of hCG hormone builds quickly. But it’s important to wait until it’s increased enough for a pregnancy test to find. The earlier you take a pregnancy test, the harder it might be for the test to detect hCG.
At our center, one of our consultants will ask about timing, explain the process, and administer a free urine pregnancy test. Your confidential results will be available at that time.
At-home pregnancy tests profess to be extremely accurate. In fact, many say they are 99% accurate. But home tests differ from brand to brand. The problem isn’t so much with the test itself, it’s usually with the test taker.
Many women panic when their period doesn’t start and they take the test too early. Or, they don’t follow the directions correctly. It’s even possible the test is out of date.
Yes, it’s possible to get a false positive or false-negative test result. It’s rare for a test to be positive when you aren’t pregnant, but it is possible. The Mayo Clinic claims “About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.” Actually, the number could be higher because many women miscarry before they even know they’re pregnant.
A woman’s body takes time to realize it’s no longer pregnant because of the number of hormones still in her system. As a result, you could get a false-positive test result.
You’re more likely to get a false-negative result because you took the test too soon, you checked the results too early, or your urine is diluted. Take a pregnancy test first thing in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
If you’ve taken a free pregnancy test at ALC and the results are positive, we can schedule you for a free limited ultrasound. The ultrasound will confirm your test results and give you even more important information.
After your pregnancy is confirmed, we can sit and talk about what it means for your future plans. You’ve got a few options. Trust us to keep all of your test results and our conversations completely confidential.
You are important to us and so is your future. Schedule an appointment today or stop by one of our two locations. You’re always welcome at A Loving Choice.