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Basic InformationMore InformationLatest NewsGenes May Boost Woman's Risk of Postpartum DepressionLiving Near Major Roadways in Pregnancy Tied to Respiratory Woes in ChildrenEven Mild Iodine Deficiency Can Affect Child's CognitionHealth Tip: Keep Teeth Healthy During PregnancyFor Pregnant Smokers, Vitamin C Might Help Babies' LungsSynthetic Pot Use Can Mimic Symptoms of Prenatal DisorderHealth Tip: Taking a Birthing ClassFDA Warns Pregnant Women About Migraine DrugsHospitals Enact Policies to Curb Early ChildbirthFlame-Retardant Chemicals Could Be Toxic to KidsKeep Beauty Regimen Safe During Pregnancy, Doctor AdvisesPediatrician Group Issues Home Birth Policy StatementUltrasound Best Detector of Dangerous Ectopic Pregnancies, Study FindsLow-Carb Diet Doesn't Improve Gestational Diabetes OutcomesHealth Tip: Ease Leg Cramps During PregnancyFish Oil Has No Effect on Depression in PregnancyEstrogen Level in Pregnancy May Affect Breast Cancer Risk in DaughtersDiclegis Approved for Morning SicknessHospitals Work to Reduce Unnecessary Early BirthsSmog Exposure During Pregnancy Might Raise Child's Cancer Risk: StudyIntegrated Model Can Predict Preeclampsia in First TrimesterRepeat Births by Teen Girls Still Too High: CDCStudy Pinpoints Women at Risk for Blood Clots From PregnancyPregnant Women Under Stress May Be at Higher Risk for StillbirthRubella in Pregnancy Rare in U.S., But Can Be Devastating for BabyVitamin D Important During Pregnancy, Study SuggestsWorking While Pregnant Won't Harm the Baby, Study FindsStress During Pregnancy May Raise Heart Defect Risk for BabyHypospadias Not Related to Organic Diet During PregnancyStudy: Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy May Not Affect Baby's GrowthMeth in Pregnancy May Blunt Child's Reaction to Stress: StudyHealth Tip: Enjoy Safe Exercise During PregnancyVitamin D Levels in Pregnancy May Not Affect Kids' Future Bone HealthKey Variables Examined in Gestational Diabetes AdvanceEctopic Pregnancy Treatments Have Similar Effects on FertilityHeavier Pregnant Women May Face Higher C-Section RiskCombo Treatment Might Beat Epidural to Ease Labor: StudyHealth Tip: Experiencing Nosebleeds During Pregnancy?Postpartum Anxiety More Common Than DepressionC-Section Rates Vary Widely at U.S. HospitalsHealth Tip: Coping With Itching During PregnancyNo Risks to Pregnancy Seen With Morning Sickness DrugU.S. Teen Birth Rates Highest in Rural Areas, Research ShowsTeen Pregnancy-Prevention Program Works, Study SaysFetal Heart May Develop Later in Pregnancy Than ThoughtBrains of Fetuses 'Build a Bridge' Between Regions, Images ShowToo Much Coffee in Pregnancy Tied to Smaller, Later Newborns, Study SaysProgesterone Shots May Not Prevent Preterm Birth of Twins: StudyRed Meat Intake May Raise Risk of Gestational DiabetesFolic Acid in Pregnancy May Lower Autism Risk Questions and AnswersLinksBook Reviews |
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Identifying PregnancyJessica Evert, MDIf you are anxiously awaiting confirmation that you are indeed pregnant, any small change in the way you feel might find you running out to buy a home pregnancy test. Before you get carried away, take some time to investigate your symptoms and make sure they aren’t indicators of a different kind.
For most women, the first signs of pregnancy are a missed period, breast fullness, breast tenderness, nausea, frequent headaches, and fatigue. While some symptoms of pregnancy can occur as soon as one week after conception, the same symptoms can also indicate other non-pregnancy related conditions. For example, some women experience breast tenderness right before their menstrual period. Even if you experience several symptoms characteristic of pregnancy, this doesn't mean that you are necessarily pregnant. You may find, for instance, that your nausea, fatigue, and frequent headaches are signs of the flu, rather than pregnancy. There is a difference between a pregnancy symptom (which may indicate pregnancy, but might also indicate illness or infection) and the more definitive pregnancy sign (such as a positive blood test for pregnancy or a detectable fetal heartbeat).
Once you have determined that your symptoms are not caused by illness, you may want to use a home pregnancy test to confirm that you are pregnant. Home pregnancy tests measure the amount of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the urine. HCG levels are low in women who are not pregnant, and begin to increase within the first few weeks of conception. Although most tests claim to be able to detect pregnancy as soon as the first day of your missed period, you will obtain a more accurate result by waiting to take the test until 7 days after the day you expected your period to occur.
Although home pregnancy test results are generally accurate, they aren't as definitive as the blood test for pregnancy that your doctor can administer. Home pregnancy tests can sometimes produce false negative and false positive results. Blood tests remain the most effective method of detecting pregnancy. You should as your doctor to perform a blood test a week after your missed period if you suspect you may be pregnant despite a negative home pregnancy test result, or if you want positive confirmation as to whether you are pregnant or not.
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