Many women, in the course of their fertile age and when they begin to have unprotected sex, believe they are pregnant without really knowing it.
Some are guided by their symptoms, others are tested for pregnancy but doubt its effectiveness and others do not believe it until the ultrasound confirms pregnancy.
We will try to explain, with this entry, How do you know if you are pregnant and what to do at the time the pregnancy is confirmed.
I think I'm pregnant, how to confirm
A pregnancy can be confirmed in three different ways: through a urine test, a blood test or an ultrasound.
The most common method, being the most accessible, is the urine test, which is performed with a pregnancy test. The result of the pregnancy test is immediate and it can be done at home or in the health center.
The blood test is not usually done, since the result is not immediate (the blood must be sent to the laboratory for analysis) and because it has a higher cost in resources.
The ultrasound is not usually done to confirm a pregnancy because it is necessary to wait at least ten days from the date on which the menstruation should have arrived and because the pregnancy test is cheaper and faster.
Can I trust pregnancy tests?
Yes, if the test is well done the result is reliable. Normally it is recommended to wait a few days after the absence of the period (about 10 days), although there are tests capable of indicating a pregnancy even one day after the lack of menstruation.
How is a pregnancy test done?
Pregnancy tests analyze the woman's urine. Ideally, collect a urine sample in a boat and from there take the urine for the test. Some tests carry a pad that absorbs the urine and others carry a knob to catch the urine and leave it in the cartridge, in a place indicated for it.
The test cartridges carry an absorbent strip that reacts when the presence of the urine is detected in the urine chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) changing color (or rather taking color, because they are white at the beginning).
Many tests carry a control strip, which always positive (or always should), which tells us that the test works and reacts as it should.
The first symptoms of pregnancy
The first symptom is the absence of period. Having pregnancy stops having menstruation.
However, there are other reasons why a woman may stop having the period, such as illness, stress or an irregular rule that could occur for various reasons.
That's why you have to try to find others symptom that can make you suspect a pregnancy, such as:
- Frequent urination
- Having nausea and / or vomiting: normally in the morning, but it can be at any time of the day.
- Having sensitive breasts: Notice them more swollen than usual or notice a tingling sensation.
- Feeling especially tired.
- Feel more sensitive, more tearful.
- Suffer sudden constipation.
- Reject the smell or taste of foods that you previously accepted or feel like eating a strange food. Sometimes you even notice a metallic taste in your mouth.
What to do once pregnancy is confirmed
The ideal is go to the doctor or gynecologist to start pregnancy control. Ultrasound and blood tests will be done to confirm that everything is going well and will probably prescribe some iodine and folic acid supplement if the woman was not already taking it (it is advisable to start taking it a few months before pregnancy).
The rule has not come to me, but the test is negative
Sometimes the test negative even when there is no menstruation. Most likely in this situation is that it is a delay for some reason or because there has been no ovulation.
It is also possible that the test shows a false negative, because it does not contain enough urine hCG as to make the test positive. In that case it is recommended to wait a few days and do a test again.
Photos | Flickr (molly_darling), Flickr (daviddesign)
In Babies and more | The first symptoms of pregnancy, First symptoms of pregnancy, A delay is not always pregnancy, When in doubt, take a pregnancy test
