I missed my period.  Am I pregnant?

Can you answer yes to one or more of these statements?

• You took a home pregnancy test and the line is really faint
• It’s been awhile since you remember having your period
• You’re having  breast tenderness, nausea or just feeling tired
• You had unprotected sex

Every woman, no matter how careful, can have a pregnancy scare. You wake up one morning not feeling quite right and then remember that you were supposed to start your period a few days ago. You haven’t had any signs of your period and now begin to get a little worried. Could you be pregnant?

Pregnancy Symptoms

A night of unprotected sex, the condom broke or you didn’t think you could get pregnant. No matter the reason, it’s possible you might be pregnant.  For many, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy are clear, but for some they may experience no symptoms or just a feeling they might be pregnant.

If you have any of the most common pregnancy symptoms below, it’s possible you might be pregnant.

• Missed menstrual period
• Swollen or tender breasts
• Irritability, short-temper, tears or a wide range of emotions
• Tiredness, fatigue or exhaustion
• Increased or decrease in appetite
• Nausea or vomiting

Other symptoms to consider might include:

• Spotting or light bleeding
• Frequent Urination
• Headache
• Backache
• Darkening of your nipples (areolas)

It’s true, some of these symptoms can be explained by other causes, so it’s important to understand if they are due to pregnancy or something else.

What should you do first?

Most women will run to the store and purchase a pregnancy test (or two or three). Sometimes the results are clear and undeniable, but other times they might leave you confused.

• The line is really faint, but I think it’s there.
• I took a pregnancy test yesterday and it was negative, but I took one today and it was positive.
• The test says negative, but I haven’t had my period in over 2 months and I just feel like I am pregnant.

To confirm whether you are indeed pregnant it is important to use a medical grade pregnancy test. We provide medical grade urine testing for FREE.  There is no cost to you whether the pregnancy test is positive or negative, and we can answer any questions you may have with honest and current information.  The test is simple and all you need to do is provide a urine sample. Our tests are looking for the hCG levels in your urine that produced when a woman is  pregnant. These levels can be detected in the urine approximately 12-14 days after conception. If you know the last date of your menstrual period you can also use our online calculator to help narrow down your dates.

Make an appointment and find out for sure

So how do you know for sure?  Make an appointment at the Pregnancy Resource Center. A Pregnancy Test appointment usually lasts about 45 minutes, it’s free and we can usually give you an answer the same day.

As you prepare for your appointment begin to think about these factors.

• When was the first day of your last menstrual period? In other words, do you remember when your last period was? This information helps a nurse determine when you might have ovulated and if you have indeed missed a period. Track your period using a period tracking app.
• Do you remember when you had sexual intercourse in the last few months? Don’t be embarrassed about the frequency or lack or frequency.  What is important is if you give the nurse a good indication of the dates you were sexually active.  This will help her determine if the sequence of events lines up and could indicate the possibility of pregnancy.

What happens if I am pregnant? 

If you are pregnant, we can help determine your approximate due date, discuss your options, answer your questions, and possibly schedule you for a free ultrasound.  We will also provide you with a Verification of Pregnancy document that is often helpful as you apply for assistance programs or to provide proof of pregnancy to your insurance company.

We work with women of all ages and know how scary it can be to hear the words “the test is positive.” Be assured that you are safe and that our consultants and nursing staff understand the decisions you face and fear you might experience. We can help answer all your questions, give you honest answers and help you begin thinking about your next steps.

We are here for you no matter what you decide and encourage you to make Pregnancy Resource Center your first choice.

“I need a free pregnancy test”

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You can make an appointment online or call our office since there are often same day appointments available.  We realize that the sooner you know, the sooner you can begin to figure out what to do next.