The unknown can be scary– especially when the needed knowledge can be as life changing as discovering a pregnancy.
But would a urine test or a blood test take you out of the dark faster?
Here is everything you need to know about the difference between the two types of tests.
When Should You Take a Pregnancy Test?
If you are experiencing pregnancy symptoms like a late menstrual cycle, nausea, mood changes or fatigue, you should take a pregnancy test.
You may also need to take a pregnancy test before a medical procedure like a surgery or CT scan, or if you are having issues with your birth control medication.
How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
Pregnancy tests work by looking for the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is present when a fertilized egg attaches to your uterus. The growing placenta produces the hormone, doubling the amount it produces daily for the first few weeks of pregnancy.
What is the Difference Between a Blood and Urine Test?
The main difference is the way that you take the test. A urine test is looking for hCG in your urine, usually through an at-home test by peeing on a chemical strip and then waiting a few minutes for the results.
A blood test looks for the hormone in your blood, usually taken at a medical clinic and then sent to the lab. Results can take up to two days.
Urine tests are also cheaper and easier to access, since they can be purchased at any local drugstore. However they may not be able to detect pregnancy as quickly as a blood test.
Cleveland Clinic reported, “For many of these tests, HCG can be detected in your urine about 10 days after conception. However, taking it after you miss your period reduces the chance of getting a false-negative result. A missed period typically happens around 14 days after conception.”
“These blood tests are slightly more sensitive than urine tests because they can detect very small levels of HCG. That means they can provide a more accurate answer very early on in pregnancy — within seven to 10 days after conception.”
How Can I Confirm My Pregnancy?
According to Cleveland Clinic, an at-home test is 99 percent accurate. However, if taken too soon your body will not have enough hCH to be detected. If you are not convinced your test was correct, or if you can’t afford to buy a test, we can offer no-cost pregnancy testing at our center.
We can also offer no-cost ultrasounds that will help us determine how far along you are.
If the results are positive, we can also provide helpful information about your next steps and options that you have.