Nothing is more nerve-wracking, and perhaps frightening, than waiting to see if your period starts after unprotected sex. Whether your monthly cycle comes like clockwork or you never know from month to month when it will start, a late period often indicates pregnancy.
Your first step is to take a pregnancy test. Registered nurses administer free and confidential pregnancy testing at Women’s Hope Medical Clinic. Make an appointment today.
Are You Experiencing Other Pregnancy Symptoms?
A change in your menstrual cycle can happen for other reasons. Stress, a hormone imbalance, increased exercise, and rapid weight gain or loss can all cause a late period. Are you experiencing any of these early pregnancy symptoms?
- Tender, swollen breasts
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Cramping
- Moodiness
- Food aversions
Can I Take a Home Pregnancy Test?
Home pregnancy tests are reliable, but following the directions carefully is vital. You need to get the most accurate results possible. Here are the steps to take:
- Check the expiration date.
- Read through the instructions first.
- Test in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
- Wait to test until after the first day of your missed period.
- Follow the correct time to view the results.
- Retest within 3 to 5 days to ensure the same results.
When Can I Take a Test?
Pregnancy tests work by detecting a particular pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), in the body. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body begins producing this hormone. It enters her urine and bloodstream and eventually rises to detectable levels.
Healthcare professionals recommend waiting until a day or two after your missed period before testing. The longer you wait, the more accurate the results will be.
Get Free and Confidential Pregnancy Testing
If you want to be confident in your test results, come to Women’s Hope Medical Clinic for pregnancy testing. If your test is positive, we also recommend getting an ultrasound scan.
Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and most of those occur early in pregnancy. It’s possible to get a positive pregnancy test result even after a miscarriage because it takes your body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels.
A registered diagnostic sonographer performs our free and confidential ultrasounds. Don’t skip this vital step.
Conveniently schedule an appointment online, or call or text us at (334) 502-7000. We’re here for you.