Grab a test! (For anyone wondering if they're pregnant)

Tomorrow’s already here, isn't it?☕

So, I’m looking for some advice. My period is supposed to start tomorrow, but things are a bit confusing—I took a pregnancy test two days ago and saw a faint line. It was barely there, but something was definitely showing. Then, the next day, I tried a different brand, and it was the exact same thing. Honestly, I’m really hoping I actually am pregnant 😉 but I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high—I don't want to deal with the letdown if it turns out to be nothing 😢

My plan is to go get a blood test (beta hCG) tomorrow to see where the levels are at, and then maybe head over to Planned Parenthood next week to see if everything looks okay? Does that sound like a reasonable plan, or should I be doing something else? Also, if I just walk into a clinic like Kaiser Permanente to get the blood work done, is it just a matter of asking, paying, and being done with it? How long does it usually take to get the results back? And can they tell you exactly how many weeks along you might be just by looking at the numbers? 😕

Sorry for all the basic questions, I’m just feeling pretty overwhelmed right now

p.s. Thanks in advance for any help 👍

coppernomad5 said:I am still a minor, for what it's worth.

My girlfriend and I have been together for nine months, and her period is already three days late. Last month it arrived on the 6th, even though it usually comes on the 9th. We've been having sex, mostly without condoms. I have NEVER actually finished inside her, so how on earth could she be pregnant? Our parents won't let us say anything to them, so we decided to wait one more day; if nothing happens by then, we'll go buy a test tomorrow. What are we supposed to do if it comes back positive? Please help! :/

So what would you actually do?
What’s done is done. 😁

Now, about the pregnancy... if the test is positive, I really hope it doesn't cross your minds to pull some shady crap by hiding from your parents and hunting down some sketchy doctor who performs procedures in their garage.

If you were mature enough to have sex, then be mature enough to deal with the fallout.

Regardless of whether you decide to keep the baby or not... the very first thing you need to do is tell your parents.
Then let them handle things, because as minors, you don't exactly have much of a say in the matter.

If you’ve already had two positive tests, then congratulations—you’re likely pregnant. My advice? Just hang tight for a few more days; once you’re actually a couple of days late, head over to your OB-GYN. They’ll get you sorted with all the necessary referrals and bloodwork.
Just remember, the pregnancy timeline is calculated from the first day of your last period.
I’m crossing my fingers for you—I can tell this is something you truly want.😉

She'll end up getting her period if things play out exactly how you said..

😉

You can get your beta levels checked at a clinic like CityMD (right over by the Library of Congress). You just walk in, tell them you need a beta test, give them a blood sample, and you'll have results in about an hour. I think it runs around $160-$57. My OBGYN wouldn't even write me a referral for it, claiming "it's only for women undergoing IVF" 🙄, so I just went through a private lab myself.

If I were in your shoes, I’d just go get a blood beta test done. Honestly, most private labs handle them, and you can usually grab the results within a few hours. I used a lab over by the intersection of Main Street and Washington once, and they had my results sitting in my inbox in about two hours—just make sure you tell them ahead of time that you want the results emailed to you. Good luck, and I'm rooting for a high beta!

I’ll just add my two cents here: if she ends up getting her period, you guys really need to start acting more responsibly and at least use a condom. I don't know how old you all are, but if a girl is sexually active, I’d highly recommend she schedules a checkup with her gynecologist to have a real conversation about long-term contraception. Pulling out is not a reliable way to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

I was getting nothing but those faint, teasing lines for four days straight. I actually pulled a beta test on day one and just knew I was pregnant, but it wasn't until the fifth test that I finally saw two solid, dark lines.😉😁
If you’ve got an ovulation strip lying around, try peeing on that instead—it gave me two clear lines right away.

driftingpanther42 said:I was getting nothing but those faint, teasing lines for four days straight. I actually pulled a beta test on day one and just knew I was pregnant, but it wasn't until the fifth test that I finally saw two solid, dark lines.😉😁
If you’ve got an ovulation strip lying around, try peeing on that instead—it gave me two clear lines right away.

My period isn't even due until tomorrow, so I suppose I should probably wait a bit longer—but the thing is, it's NEVER happened before. Like, never. Now, suddenly, I'm seeing both the control line and the positive line on two different tests, two days in a row, and not even first thing in the morning, but in the afternoon.🙄

George Peterson said:If I were in your shoes, I’d just go get a blood beta test done. Honestly, most private labs handle them, and you can usually grab the results within a few hours. I used a lab over by the intersection of Main Street and Washington once, and they had my results sitting in my inbox in about two hours—just make sure you tell them ahead of time that you want the results emailed to you. Good luck, and I'm rooting for a high beta!

Alright, I'll probably head in tomorrow, right on the day I'm expecting my period. I guess... based on the levels, would they be able to tell how far along I might be?

coastalgull said:You can get your beta levels checked at a clinic like CityMD (right over by the Library of Congress). You just walk in, tell them you need a beta test, give them a blood sample, and you'll have results in about an hour. I think it runs around $160-$57. My OBGYN wouldn't even write me a referral for it, claiming "it's only for women undergoing IVF" 🙄, so I just went through a private lab myself.

Well, based on what I read, I guess I'll just go on my own too, haha. 👍

Does it not explicitly state in the test instructions that even if the line appears faint, it still signifies a pregnancy? 😉

Terry Ramos60 said:Does it not explicitly state in the test instructions that even if the line appears faint, it still signifies a pregnancy? 😉

Heh, I get it—it all feels a bit surreal to me too. Honestly, I have this nagging feeling that something might go sideways... maybe it’s just me, though. I guess I’m just a chronic overthinker at heart. 🙄

Maria Chavez3 said:My girlfriend headed off to the Netherlands about ten days ago...
Now that she's back, she’s starting to worry because her period is running late.
Could the change in climate be the culprit? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
She’s definitely feeling all the usual symptoms that she's about to start.

Look, let's be real—those PMS symptoms can look identical to early pregnancy signs. 😛
Just grab a Clearblue at the drugstore and settle this once and for all. 😉

Brandon Robinson19 said:Alright, I'll probably head in tomorrow, right on the day I'm expecting my period. I guess... based on the levels, would they be able to tell how far along I might be?

I don't think so. It’s not a super reliable way to figure out how old the pregnancy is since those levels fluctuate so much. You're better off counting the weeks from the first day of your last period. I think someone else already mentioned that up there.
You can also use this calculator: http://www.e-beba.com/trudnoca/prvi-...na-poroda.html

If you aren't sure when your last period was, your doctor will determine the gestational age using an ultrasound.

coastalgull said:I don't think so. It’s not a super reliable way to figure out how old the pregnancy is since those levels fluctuate so much. You're better off counting the weeks from the first day of your last period. I think someone else already mentioned that up there.
You can also use this calculator: http://www.e-beba.com/trudnoca/prvi-...na-poroda.html

If you aren't sure when your last period was, your doctor will determine the gestational age using an ultrasound.

Honestly, I think I conceived around February 24th—that was my most fertile day, and we had sex right after we hadn't for five days... so I'm assuming it was then, which is why I'm asking 🤣just to see if my math checks out, haha.

Hey everyone, I’m reposting this from my women's health group because they have a dedicated thread for testing, but I'm just too impatient to wait and wanted to see if anyone here has dealt with something similar...

Hi all,

I have a bit of a question wrapped up in a longer story. First, some context: my cycle is incredibly regular—almost exactly every 28 days, down to the hour. I don't have any history of gynecological issues. Recently, though, I dealt with a nasty bout of the flu that knocked me out for nearly three weeks (I'm not sure if that plays a role, but there it is).
My period was due on Sunday, June 3rd. When it didn't show up on schedule, I headed to the pharmacy the next day and picked up a Prima test. To be honest, the pharmacist kept suggesting all sorts of different brands, but she claimed this one could be used at any time of day, so I went with it. The result was negative, yet my period still hasn't arrived. The only physical changes I've noticed are some breast tenderness when I'm not wearing a bra or when I reach upward, a massive increase in appetite—I feel like I can eat constantly, even though I'm usually a picky eater and naturally quite thin—and feeling a little more fatigued than usual, though nothing extreme.
Since my period is still MIA, I naturally turned to Google and now to you guys, because some sites mentioned that tests might be inaccurate if done during the day due to diluted urine.
However, since the Prima box specifically stated it could be used at any time, I assumed it was reliable, especially since the control line appeared clearly, showing the test worked correctly.

Now I'm stuck wondering if I should just buy a different brand. All this research has me thinking maybe another brand offers better accuracy. Back when I lived abroad for several years, I used Clearblue for my first two pregnancies and it worked perfectly, but the woman at the pharmacy insists that isn't available here in the States.

Could it be a false negative from testing too early, actual pregnancy, or just my cycle being thrown off by the flu?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Aaron Garcia36, here’s my take: it's totally possible your cycle is just acting up because of the flu. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. But if I were you? I’d definitely run the test again. That control line shows up regardless of how diluted your urine is; it just proves enough liquid hit the strip, it says nothing about the concentration. One piece of advice: DO NOT waste your money on Gravignost. I've found the cheaper SignTest works fine, and even the pricier IntimPlus is better. However, if you're feeling desperate—and looking at your posts, you clearly are—there is a much better way. It won't cost much more than those kits, and it's 100% accurate: go to a private lab for a blood test to check your beta hCG levels. That’s the hormone produced during pregnancy that all these tests are hunting for, but a blood test doesn't mess around. If you live in a major city, there's bound to be a private lab nearby where you can get this done. You'll usually have the results the same day or the next, and it costs around $130-$$60. In a place like New York, I’d probably head straight to Labcorp (and there are plenty of others), or maybe Quest Diagnostics in a city like Los Angeles; I can't speak for everywhere else.

Good luck, and keep us posted!😉

How high should my beta levels be if I missed my period on February 24th—does that mean tomorrow marks the 15-day point??? p.s. I'm pretty sure that's the date we're looking at, I guess.