Urine pregnancy tests check for the presence of a chemical in urine that is produced in larger and larger amounts during the first months of pregnancy. They can be positive as early as a few days before a period is missed and stay positive throughout a pregnancy. A woman should take a pregnancy test if her period is late or if it is lighter than usual and there is a chance she could be pregnant. Pregnancy tests are more likely to be positive if the urine is concentrated- that is why the first urination of the morning is often recommended, especially if it is very early in the pregnancy. If the urine is very dilute, very watery, the test may still be positive around the time of the missed period, but the positive sign may be lighter. If a urine pregnancy test is negative, it may be too early, or the urine may be too dilute. If the period doesn’t come, or if there are other signs of pregnancy, the urine pregnancy test should be repeated in a few days or at a time when the urine is more concentrated.
Why do a pregnancy test at a doctor’s office? At our Mesa obgyn office, the urine pregnancy tests work similarly to the ones at home. Many people are unsure if they’ve done the test right, or if they can trust their home test, so they come in to do it at an Ob office and this is fine! At our office, if your test is positive, we can start you out with some vitamin samples and schedule your first Ob visit. If the test is negative and we want more precise information, we can order and draw a blood pregnancy test. Coming in to do a pregnancy test in an Ob office can give you peace of mind and it is free and doesn’t cost a cent!
Tamar Gottfried is a Board Certified Obstetrician/ gynecologist practicing general Ob/gyn in Mesa Arizona and affiliated with Banner Desert and Banner Gateway Medical Centers. She can be contacted at 480-545-0059. This is a general interest article only and is not intended to be medical advice. See a medical professional before making medical decisions.
Tamar K. Gottfried, MD
1520 S. Dobson Road, suite 316
Mesa, AZ 85202