The pharmacy pregnancy test can be done from the 1st day of the delay of the menstruation, and the blood test to know if you are pregnant can be done 12 days after the fertile period, even before the delaying menstruation.
However, pregnancy tests sold at the pharmacy have different sensitivity and so when the test gives negative but pregnancy symptoms are present, it should be repeated after about 3 to 5 days because the amount of hormone in the urine increases each day, and the result may change to positive after this period.
It is also important to remember that home tests using bleach, bleach, coca cola, needle and vinegar are unreliable and should not be used to confirm pregnancy.
What exam should I do?
There are two tests that are reliable, the blood test done in the laboratory and the urine test, which is bought at the pharmacy. They work because they measure the amount of the hormone Beta HCG, which is produced only during gestation and which is present in a woman's urine or blood. Here's how each one works:
Pharmacy Testing
The pharmacy exam, which can be purchased for about 10 reais, measures the amount of beta-HCG hormone in the urine, which can be done from the 1st day of the menstrual period. It is a quick examination that gives the result in a few minutes, but one must be aware that in some cases wrong results can happen, especially if the test is done very early, which makes it difficult to identify the hormone.
Thus, in the case of a negative result, but with the presence of pregnancy symptoms such as increased breast tenderness and increased oiliness of the skin, it is best to repeat the test after about 3 to 5 days, or to have a blood test. See other symptoms in: 10 first symptoms of pregnancy.
Blood test
The blood test done in the laboratory costs between 20 and 40 reais and is the most appropriate to confirm the pregnancy. To do this, it is not necessary to have a medical prescription or to be fasting, but some laboratories ask women to fast for 4 hours before collecting blood.
The result of the test comes out a few hours after the collection and to be totally reliable, it should be done at least 1 week after the intima relationship without a condom, even if the menstruation is not yet delayed.
Possible pregnancy test results
Possible results from the pharmacy test and blood test can be:
| Pharmacy test | Beta HCG Blood Test | |
| Positive | Strips darker or 2 stripes | more than 25 mIU / ml |
| Negative | No change or just 1 stripe | less than 5 mIU / ml |
| False negative | No change or just 1 stripe | between 5 to 25 mIU / ml |
Positive result
When the pregnancy test proves positive, it indicates that the woman is pregnant and should perform the prenatal and begin to prepare for the arrival of the baby. If you were not trying to get pregnant, see how to deal with unwanted pregnancy.
Negative result
In cases of negative result, but the delay in menstruation continues, the test should be repeated after about 1 week to confirm the previous result. If the new blood test is negative again, it means that the woman is not really pregnant and that it is necessary to investigate the causes of delayed menstruation. See 5 Common Causes of Late Menstruation.
While you do not have confirmation of pregnancy, take this quick test to know your chances of being pregnant:
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