Patient's question:
Female, 31 years old, just had sex with her boyfriend. We didn't use a condom because we don't like the feeling. But now we don't want to get pregnant. How many ways are there to test for pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
Through a careful urine test, a positive result is generally detectable about 14 days after intercourse. However, the detection of a gestational sac in the uterine cavity usually requires waiting until around 35 days of pregnancy. The gestational sac typically implants around the first few weeks of pregnancy, and by the sixth week, a distinct embryo can be observed. The fastest way to test for pregnancy is through a blood test for HCG, which can be done 7-10 days after the last intercourse. To confirm pregnancy, the earliest test is usually a blood test for HCG, followed by an early pregnancy test strip for urine, and finally an ultrasound examination to visualize the gestational sac.