Patient's question:
I've been feeling very tired these days, and I always feel nauseous when I wake up in the morning. I had sexual intercourse a week ago and didn't use any protection. I suspect I might be pregnant, but my period hasn't arrived yet. I'm very worried and don't know how early pregnancy can be detected. I'm seeking advice.What kind of help do I need: How soon can pregnancy be detected?
Doctor's answer:
Normal discharge similar to leukorrhea during ovulation is common, as a woman's vaginal secretions increase due to hormonal influence during this period. The most common question women have is when to use a pregnancy test after intercourse for the most accurate results. Doctors recommend that if fertilization is successful, it takes about 6 to 7 days for the fertilized egg to produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Pregnancy tests detect hCG in urine. However, hCG starts to be secreted in large amounts only after the embryo implants, when the syncytiotrophoblast begins to produce significant amounts of hCG. And the implantation of the embryo takes at least 11 days. Therefore, the earliest it can be detected is on day 6, but for more accurate results, it's best to wait until after day 11. Ultimately, a definitive diagnosis can only be made through a gynecological examination at a formal hospital.