Ravishing
11-01-2006, 08:04 PM
Yesterday I went to my gyno because of super sore, sensitive, and veiny breasts for the past week (see a seperate post about that on the women's health board). Based on what I was describing and her findings during the breast exam she did, she was pretty sure I'm pregnant and had me do a urine test.
The test came back negative. But, I was one week away from my period as of yesterday and she said that the test would only detect an hcg of 20 or more. She told me that if my period is weird or doesn't come when it is supposed to, I am supposed to test again at home. Would a blood test not have been more accurate - especially if I'm potentially experiencng early symptoms of pregnancy?
She has me booked for some other tests etc (again, see my other post) to rule out things other than pregnancy but I don't know how fond I am of the "wait and see" approach to this when she is being exceptionally thorough about everything else and her gut reaction was/is pregnancy.
Thanks for any light you can shed on this
The test came back negative. But, I was one week away from my period as of yesterday and she said that the test would only detect an hcg of 20 or more. She told me that if my period is weird or doesn't come when it is supposed to, I am supposed to test again at home. Would a blood test not have been more accurate - especially if I'm potentially experiencng early symptoms of pregnancy?
She has me booked for some other tests etc (again, see my other post) to rule out things other than pregnancy but I don't know how fond I am of the "wait and see" approach to this when she is being exceptionally thorough about everything else and her gut reaction was/is pregnancy.
Thanks for any light you can shed on this
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megss
11-01-2006, 08:40 PM
Well, blood tests are generally accurate sooner than urine tests, and at the very earliest, a blood test will be accurate about 6 days before your expected period. Urine tests take longer. Some women do get positive urine tests 4 days before their expected period, but most won't until 2-0 days before and even some don't get a positive until after they've missed a period. So yes, at a week before your period is due, a urine test would not detect a pregnancy.
To get complicated, this is how they work: Pregnancy tests work to detect the HcG hormone which may be present (in VERY small amounts) in a non pregnant women but rises quickly once a fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall. Implantation occurs anywhere from 6-12 days past ovulation. The amount of HcG will generally double every 48-72 hours, and a test will not become positive until the amount reaches at least the test's sensitivity level.
She probably only had you do a urine test because you could see the results right away, plus just in case you ovulated earlier than you thought and would therefore be further along in the pregnancy.
I would wait to see if you get your period before testing again...but tender boobs is one of the first pregnancy symptoms noticed:)
Sorry to be so thorough and good luck!
To get complicated, this is how they work: Pregnancy tests work to detect the HcG hormone which may be present (in VERY small amounts) in a non pregnant women but rises quickly once a fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall. Implantation occurs anywhere from 6-12 days past ovulation. The amount of HcG will generally double every 48-72 hours, and a test will not become positive until the amount reaches at least the test's sensitivity level.
She probably only had you do a urine test because you could see the results right away, plus just in case you ovulated earlier than you thought and would therefore be further along in the pregnancy.
I would wait to see if you get your period before testing again...but tender boobs is one of the first pregnancy symptoms noticed:)
Sorry to be so thorough and good luck!