Think you might be pregnant?
We have No Cost Pregnancy tests available.
If you have had unprotected sex and have missed your period, you might be wondering if you are pregnant. The first thing you may want to do is take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are typically a simple urine test that can show you if you are pregnant.
The Women’s Clinic of Columbus has performed thousands of free pregnancy tests. Our experienced medical personnel are here to answer your question, and help you make sense of your results.
We are here to help, and will perform the test at no cost to you.
Keep in mind that, for a test to be correct, it’s best that you wait until after you have missed your period. If you don’t know when to expect your period, you can usually wait 17 days after you’ve had sex for an accurate test reading. You may need to take another pregnancy test if you took your first pregnancy test before your missed period—even if the test said you were not pregnant.
Our online scheduling system makes it easy to make an appointment.
Doing a pregnancy test
If you have missed a period and recently had unprotected sex, you may be pregnant. Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period.
When you can do a pregnancy test
You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don’t know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.
Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period.
You can do a pregnancy test on a sample of urine collected at any time of the day. It doesn’t have to be in the morning.
Where you can get a pregnancy test
You can buy pregnancy testing kits from drug stores and most supermarkets. The Women’s Clinic of Columbus can provide you with a pregnancy test at no cost.
How does a pregnancy test work?
All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilization.
Most pregnancy tests come in a box that contains 1 or 2 long sticks. You pee on the stick and the result appears on the stick after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so always check the instructions.
Will a pregnancy test work if I’m on the pill?
Yes.
Some methods of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill, contain hormones, but these hormones will not stop a pregnancy test working.
No method of contraception is completely effective, so it’s important to take a pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant.
Pregnancy test results
Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly.
A positive test result is almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable.
The result may not be reliable if you:
- do not follow the instructions properly
- take the test too early
Some medicines can also affect the results.
If you get a negative result and still think you’re pregnant, wait a few days and try again. Speak to your doctor if you get a negative result after a second test but your period has not arrived.
