As with anything medical, a blood test is often the most accurate assessment tool available. However, most pregnancy tests on the market today claim 99.9% accuracy in determining whether or not the “pregnancy hormone” hCG is present in the urine. Some of these pregnancy tests claim that after the first day of your missed period, they are able to predict with this type of accuracy whether or not you are pregnant. This is sometimes not the case. Therefore, it’s often better to wait, if you possibly can, until at least a week or two after your missed period to use a pregnancy test. This too, will eliminate the “false hope” of being pregnant when you are actually just a week late.

For women who find it difficult to conceive, there is a fertility test that can be done to determine if the woman’s reproductive cycle is working properly. This involves measuring and determining the release of eggs into the uterus, the time frame with which the eggs attach, or implant themselves as well as hormone levels and other relevant studies.

With the cost of pregnancy tests ranging from $10 to $30, it would be wise to keep a couple on hand if you are trying to conceive. There are special prices on buying more than one at a time and pregnancy tests will not expire typically for a few years. Because these tests measure hCG in urine, it is advisable to discard the tests immediately into an outside trash can.

Doctors can make an appointment for you based on the results of a pregnancy test, however, they will also conduct their own tests. Doctors use two different types of blood tests, one that determines if there is hCG in your blood and the other measures the actual amount of hCG in your blood to determine the possible term of the baby. It is important that if you get a positive result from a pregnancy test that you bought and took at home to call your OBGYN right away. As the pregnancy progresses, it will be increasingly important to eat well, exercise and to take care of your body in other ways that your doctor will share with you. There will be vitamins to take, things to stop eating and drinking (which, by the way are good courses of action to take in the anticipation of becoming pregnant) and other specific do’s and don’t’s related to your every day life.

Because pregnancy tests have, in the past, given false results, you may also want to take two tests before even calling your doctor. If you choose to do this, do so at least a week apart and at different times during the day. For instance, if you have taken the first test in the morning before eating anything (which is the best time to take many tests) then a week later, take the test before you go to bed. As the pregnancy progresses, the amount of hCG in your blood will increase dramatically from day to day. There is no chance that you will get a differing result just by taking the test at a different time of day if you truly are pregnant.

As pregnancy is best shared with a spouse, celebrate if the results are positive; but use caution, until your doctor says it’s a done deal, reserve your announcement to family and friends.