Patient's question:
Currently, in general situations:Her period arrived from the 5th to the 10th of last month. Later, she had contact with her boyfriend, but it was external ejaculation! Today is the 11th, and her period hasn't arrived this month yet. Also, her lower abdomen has been frequently swollen and painful lately! She doesn't know if she might be pregnant... Please help! Thank you!!
First follow-up question: Can a pregnancy test detect pregnancy now?
Doctor's answer:
The working principle of early pregnancy test strips for self-testing is to detect HCG levels, which refers to the level of human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is produced by the placenta and generally appears in the urine a few days after pregnancy. However, due to its small amount, it is not easily detectable at first and becomes increasingly noticeable only after 10 to 14 days. (HCG levels can also be measured through blood tests, and with greater accuracy). Although many early pregnancy test strips indicate that women can perform self-testing one day after missing their normal menstrual period, in reality, not all pregnant women release HCG hormone at the same speed and quantity—it varies from person to person. "Prematurely conducting a urine test may yield a false negative result," says an obstetrician and gynecologist. Therefore, it is best to wait two weeks after a missed menstrual period before performing an early pregnancy test, as the results will be more reliable.