Salem Pregnancy Care Center
Are you pregnant? Do you think you may be pregnant?
If so, you may find yourself wondering what your options are. The decisions you’re facing are stressful. Our goal is to equip you with the facts so you can make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
So how do we start? Well, first things first. You’ll want to confirm whether you’re pregnant or not.
Am I Pregnant? The Urine Test
A urine test will identify the pregnancy hormone, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). They are highly accurate in their detection of hCG levels. However, if you took the test close to the time you missed your period, you may get a more accurate reading now that some time has gone by. The hCG concentration increases each day during early pregnancy, so it may be ideal to test yourself about a week after missing your period.
Two Options for Urine Testing
Your first option is the home pregnancy test (HPT). These have been on the market for several decades and tend to be quite accurate. If you go this route, make sure your test is not expired and that you carefully follow the instructions.
However, we highly recommend the second option, which is clinical testing. Going into a clinic for your urine test should take away some of the stress of human error. You’ll have the assurance of knowing that the people there are knowledgeable and have gone through the process many times before. This is also an opportunity to gather additional information in a safe, confidential setting.