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Pregnancy tests
A pregnancy test is the best way to find out if you are pregnant or not. But how exactly does it work?
Well, a pregnancy test measures the amount of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) present in your blood or urine, if there is more than 25 mIU of hCG for every mililitre of urine your home pregnancy test will give you a positive reading, if there is less, then the test will be negative. The two main types of pregnancy tests that measure your hCG levels are: a urine pregnancy test and a blood pregnancy test.
During the first trimester of your pregnancy your hCG levels rise rapidly and will even double every 2-3 days. For this reason, doctors often measure your hCG levels during your first trimester to ensure your pregnancy is progressing well and to identify any problems, such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, or any surprises, such as twins!
Tags: blood pregnancy tests, first trimester, getting pregnant, HCG, home pregnancy tests, pregnancy, pregnancy hormones, pregnancy tests, pregnant, urine pregnancy tests