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How can I Confirm a Pregnancy Test?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

The best way to confirm a pregnancy test is with a visit to a doctor’s office. A doctor may perform a range of tests, depending on the estimated stage of pregnancy, to confirm a pregnancy. For example, your doctor may follow your home pregnancy test with in-office urine and blood tests, physical examinations, and possibly even ultrasounds. You may also use common pregnancy symptoms as a way of confirming pregnancy. For instance, the lack of menstruation, nausea, fatigue, and food cravings may help you to feel more confident that your positive pregnancy test is correct.

If you’ve taken a pregnancy test at home, you may do well to schedule an appointment with a doctor to confirm it. Your doctor may give you a similar urine pregnancy test in his office in an effort to confirm your pregnancy. He may also follow up with a blood test, which may be more accurate than both in-home and in-office urine tests. If you believe that you are further along in your pregnancy, he may even order an ultrasound to confirm a pregnancy test, confirm that the pregnancy is viable, or date your pregnancy.

Home pregnancy test showing positive and negative results.
Home pregnancy test showing positive and negative results.

Often, a doctor will also perform a physical examination in order to confirm a pregnancy test. Depending on how far along you think you are, he may check for subtle changes, such as a slight increase in your heart rate, skin changes, and a slight lowering of your normal blood pressure. He may even check for changes in your breast tissue, including darkening of the area around your nipples and visible veins beneath the skin of your breasts.

Extreme fatigue may be a sign of pregnancy.
Extreme fatigue may be a sign of pregnancy.

A doctor may also feel your abdomen or perform an internal examination in order to note changes in the size of your uterus. Confirming pregnancy in this manner may be harder if you are still in the very early stage of pregnancy, however. This is especially true if your doctor is attempting to feel your uterus through your abdomen. He may first note changes in its size during an internal exam.

A blood test may produce the earliest and most accurate results.
A blood test may produce the earliest and most accurate results.

Your doctor’s exam may prove critical in confirming pregnancy, but you may also gain confidence in its presence by listening to your own body. A missed period is often the first sign a woman has of pregnancy. You may also, however, have such symptoms as morning sickness, fatigue, and food cravings. Sore breasts and frequent urination may also help to confirm a pregnancy test.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Spotiche5

@ocelot60- I think that the problem with most pregnancy tests that women take at home is that there are so many reasons that the test may show a false negative or a false positive. The wrong time to take it, not following the test directions, and reading it inaccurately can all cause false results.

Any woman who wants to confirm her pregnancy with an accurate test can try a home pregnancy test first, but should not feel that her status is confirmed until she sees her doctor.

Heavanet

@ocelot60- I think at home pregnancy tests are pretty accurate at testing for pregnancy, though I think anyone who does one should repeat it at least twice over a week or so to see if she gets the same results. Then, if it is positive, she should definitely seek prenatal advice from her doctor as soon as possible.

Ocelot60

I think that most women who suspect they are pregnant take home pregnancy tests first before seeking medical advice. Are at home pregnancy tests fairly accurate?

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    • Home pregnancy test showing positive and negative results.
      By: Tein
      Home pregnancy test showing positive and negative results.
    • Extreme fatigue may be a sign of pregnancy.
      By: petrrunjela
      Extreme fatigue may be a sign of pregnancy.
    • A blood test may produce the earliest and most accurate results.
      By: Wojciech Sobiech
      A blood test may produce the earliest and most accurate results.
    • An ultrasound can confirm a pregnancy test.
      By: Andrey Chmelyov
      An ultrasound can confirm a pregnancy test.
    • Expectant mothers should book their first ultrasound at the 10-13 week mark.
      By: Darren Brode
      Expectant mothers should book their first ultrasound at the 10-13 week mark.
    • Once you've taken a home pregnancy test, it's best to schedule a doctor's appointment to confirm it.
      By: Monkey Business
      Once you've taken a home pregnancy test, it's best to schedule a doctor's appointment to confirm it.
    • A serum test is often the first trusted confirmation of pregnancy.
      By: LanaK
      A serum test is often the first trusted confirmation of pregnancy.
    • No pregnancy test should be read after ten minutes have passed, as it is likely to indicate a false positive.
      By: michaeljung
      No pregnancy test should be read after ten minutes have passed, as it is likely to indicate a false positive.