Although it is not as simple as the pharmacy ones, the blood pregnancy test is the most reliable when it comes to confirming a pregnancy.
Most women, when they realize that their period is late, immediately look for a pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test. But, did you know that definitive confirmation of a pregnancy is only possible with a blood pregnancy test?
If you don’t know, and have a lot of questions about this subject, here’s more. Well, we at Women’s Area have separated everything you need to know about the blood pregnancy test. In fact, here is the first information of public interest on the subject: to carry out this exam, you do not need a medical prescription or fasting.
Furthermore, this test is so simple that the result can be reported within a few hours of collection. That is, depending on the laboratory.
Above all, this exam is today considered the best test for confirming pregnancy. This is because it can detect the amount of the HCG hormone, which is only produced during pregnancy.
However, it is only recommended to take this test 10 days after fertilization. Or, on the first day after a missed period.
Check out more details about the blood pregnancy test.
What is the HCG hormone?
In principle, as we have already said, HCG – chorionic gonadotropin hormone – is only produced in the female body. Furthermore, it is only produced when a woman is pregnant, or when she has some serious hormonal change.
Basically, this hormone has the function of maintaining pregnancy and nourishing the embryo. Furthermore, it is responsible for helping to produce progesterone, another hormone that prepares the wall of the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg.
It is worth mentioning that the implantation of the fertilized egg is also known as implantation. The most interesting thing of all, in fact, is that this process can cause a small amount of bleeding. Which, in turn, can be confused with menstruation, causing the woman to rule out the possibility of pregnancy. Therefore, once again, it is important to highlight the importance of the blood pregnancy test.
Above all, the beta HCG blood pregnancy test is only performed when pregnancy is suspected. Even if the woman is experiencing symptoms of pregnancy, and if the Beta HCG test still does not detect it or is inconclusive, it is recommended that it be repeated after 3 days.
Now, if the blood pregnancy test indicates that the quantitative beta hormone HCG values are greater than 5.0 mlU/ml, this indicates that the woman is actually pregnant.
Main pregnancy symptoms
- Menstrual delay
- Nausea
- Morning nausea
- Breast enlargement and sensitivity
- Aversion to strong smells
- strange desires
- Emotional instability
- Darkening of the breast areolas,
- Increased urinary frequency, among others.
Types of blood pregnancy test
Beta HCG quantitative
Basically, the quantitative beta HCG test is a blood test, which indicates the amount of hormone present in the blood. Above all, in this type of exam, a blood sample is collected so that the indicators can be identified.
However, the downside of this type of exam is that the results may take a little longer. But, it depends on each laboratory. Some take days, others, for example, only take a few hours.
Furthermore, false positive results may also occur in this type of test. However, this only occurs if the woman has taken the morning-after pill or some type of vitamin supplementation with biotin.
Qualitative Beta HCG
Now, the qualitative beta HCG test is the common one from a pharmacy, the urine test. Which, in fact, only indicates whether the woman is pregnant or not. In other words, this type of test does not inform the concentration of hormones in the blood. Therefore, it is not as reliable as blood, or rather, quantitative.
Despite offering a quick result, this type of exam is basically more likely to present false-positive results.
Quantitative Beta HCG Table
Check now the amount of Beta HCG hormones in the blood pregnancy test present in each week of pregnancy:
- If the woman is not pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be negative or less than 5 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 3 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 5 to 50 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 4 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 5 to 426 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 5 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 18 to 7,340 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 6 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 1,080 to 56,500 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 7 to 8 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 7,650 to 229,000 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 9 to 12 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 25,700 to 288,000 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 13 to 16 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 13,300 to 254,000 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 17 to 24 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 4,060 to 165,500 mlU/ml
- If the woman is 25 to 40 weeks pregnant. So the amount of Beta HCG will be 3,640 to 117,000 mlU/ml
Recommendation
Above all, it is important to highlight that, for the result to be truly reliable, it is recommended that the blood test be carried out at least 10 days after menstruation. It can be said that this time is enough to indicate whether there has been fertilization of the egg and implantation of the uterus.
If you take the exam beforehand, the result reported may have been false-negative. In other words, the woman may be pregnant, but not have been informed during the exam. Because, probably in a shorter period than indicated, the body is unable to produce the HCG hormone in sufficient concentrations to be detectable.
Other Beta HCG test results
Did you know that, based on the results of your Beta HCG hormone test, you can discover other problems? Basically, this hormone can also indicate problems such as ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or anembryonic pregnancy, which is when the embryo does not develop.
Above all, these problems can be identified through hormone levels. If they are lower than expected for gestational age, it is recommended that the mother see an obstetrician. Therefore, he will be able to assess the cause of her hormonal change.
Another interesting fact about the Beta HCG exam is that it can also be responsible for indicating whether your pregnancy will be twins or not. Basically, if you are pregnant with twins, the beta HCG values will be higher than those indicated for each week. However, to be sure, an ultrasound must be performed from the 6th week of pregnancy.
What to do after confirming pregnancy?
Above all, after taking the blood pregnancy test, the pregnancy will be confirmed or not. If the result is positive, you will need to make an appointment with an obstetrician. Because, with it, you will have prenatal care.
Furthermore, the importance of continuing to visit the doctor is that they indicate the necessary tests for each stage of pregnancy, as well as the necessary vaccines for the period, in addition to monitoring the health of the fetus. All of this certainly guarantees a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy.
Anyway, what did you think of our article about blood pregnancy tests? Were you able to clear all your doubts?
Check out more articles from Women’s Area: Stretch marks during pregnancy – What they are, why they appear and how to avoid them
Sources: Your health, Hilab
Featured image: Tricurioso
