Pregnancy test and the doctor

[Cakegirl]

Hi - a question about pregnancy tests.

All advice about pregnancy tests say that if you do the at-home test and it's positive, go to your doctor for confirmation, and if you get negative but you still think you might be pregnant, go to your doctor as well, and the doctor will be able to confirm or disprove it.

My question is what does the doctor do? How do they test if you're pregnant? And is their method more effective than the"99%" of the home pregnancy tests?

Cakegirl

 

[Lynxie]

I've never had it done, but I believe they take a blood test. The home kits measure hormone levels in your urine. Blood tests give a more accurate reading of your hormone levels.

 

[bigredboston]

I've never had it done, but I believe they take a blood test. The home kits measure hormone levels in your urine. Blood tests give a more accurate reading of your hormone levels.

Yes she is right, there are many ways to screw up the home test. And did the user do it correctly, also is there some medical condition that might be screwing it up. You also need a doctors care incase of problem pregnacies.

 

[Cakegirl]

Thanks for the quick replies! (A good thing - my doctor's appointment is in 2 hours )

I've had 2 negative home tests, but I'm going anyway, because my period's 2 weeks late, and if I'm not pregnant, there might be some other, scarier reason.

Cakegirl

 

[Cakegirl]

Next question:

The blood test - is that one that they send you away to a pathology lab and you give blood and then have to wait a day or two for a result about, or is it an on-the-spot test?

Yes, I'm a little anxious about this!

 

[Lynxie]

I think that depends on your doctor's office. Some have labs on site, or the equipment to process simple blood tests anyway. Others, I'd imagine, would need to send it out. But again, I've never had a pregnancy test done at the doc's, so I'm not sure.

My period's usually messed up. I was on the pill for a number of years, but then went off it due to complex life situations. I actually went all summer (about 4 months) without getting it - my hormones really hate me. I was in no risk of getting pregnant at the time, and it had happend to me before in high school (missed it for nearly 6 months). I finally went back on the pill, and got my period for an entire month straight. Ugh, that was no fun. Things are thankfully back to normal now. Stress, getting older, changes in diet or medication - these are all things that play a role in your hormone levels and, thus, your menstrual cycle.

I hope your visit to the doc goes well. Take care, CG