If you suspect that you are pregnant, there are methods you should use to confirm this, both at home and through your GP. The most easily accessible and readily available test is a home pregnancy test. When the instructions are followed carefully, these tests have a very high degree of accuracy.
If you have missed a period, or want to confirm a pregnancy during irregular periods, it is advisable to take a pregnancy test. If the first test is negative, but you still suspect you are pregnant, wait a few days and take another test, as it may be too early to tell.
Find out more below about when to visit a doctor to confirm your positive pregnancy test.
You can purchase pregnancy tests from lots of places, such as pharmacies and supermarkets. It’s best to wait until your period is late before you test to make sure you get an accurate result, but there are more sensitive tests available that will give you an answer a little earlier.
Read about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and doing a pregnancy test.
If you get a positive test, you don’t need to see your general practitioner (GP) to confirm it but we would like to know. You can let us know by referring yourself to Northamptonshire maternity services by completing one of the forms below – we can then start to support you through your pregnancy.
If the test is negative, it’s best to wait a few days and then try again. If your period doesn’t start and your tests are still negative, please see your GP.
Your pregnancy can be treated confidentially, even if you are under 16. Being pregnant may affect the treatment of any current illness or conditions you have or later develop.
An evaporation line is a faint, colourless line that will typically appear if the results are read after the suggested period of time. Alternatively, an evaporation line may indicate that the test has gotten wet. Ultimately, an evaporation line does not mean that you are pregnant, and it is best to repeat the test to get an accurate result.
If you have taken a pregnancy test and it is negative, it is unlikely that it will appear positive if you take another the following day. Rather, it is best to take another test a few days to a week later, if you are still unsure. This is occasionally due to the pregnancy hormone hCG being too low at the time of testing if the pregnancy is in its very early stages.