
Calculator on the topic
Due Date Calculator
You can easily calculate your due date using the first day of your last period and the average length of your cycle with the Due Date Calculator. The result also includes a pregnancy calendar with numerous other dates of your pregnancy.Pregnant or not? Planned or unexpected? If the female period does not occur, the question of pregnancy needs to be answered quickly. After all, it is important to take good care of the newborn from the very beginning by adapting your lifestyle. With a pregnancy test, you can know the basic information.
Here are briefly the most important facts you need to know about a pregnancy test:
Who carries out a pregnancy test?
The first physical signs of pregnancy are tiredness, morning sickness, mood swings and, of course, the absence of menstruation. A corresponding test is requested by young girls, including family mothers or more mature women. The motivation for doing a urine test or a blood test at the doctor's office often varies:
- Women who want to have children want to know as early as possible whether or not they are pregnant so that they can adjust their lifestyle accordingly.
- In the case of artificial insemination, the result should be known as soon as possible.
- Failure to use contraceptives during the last sexual intercourse leads to fear of a possible pregnancy.
Therefore, women react differently to the result of the test, not everyone is thrilled with a "Yes, you are pregnant!"
What the test measures
About 14 days after fertilization, it is present in urine and blood in such high concentrations that it can be reliably detected by a test.
How a urine test works
Quick tests from the pharmacy or drugstore are the first way many women confirm pregnancy. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Special early tests can be carried out from 7 days before the actual time of the next period. From the 5th week of pregnancy, which is about 1 week after the period has stopped, these tests can detect the hormone hCG quite reliably (the weeks of pregnancy are counted from the first day of the last period). It is recommended to use the selected test in the morning, as the concentration of the hormone is highest in morning urine.
Causes of a false test result
Various influences can cause the result of the pregnancy test to be falsified. These include
- wrong time of measurement (i.e., use from the 5th or after the 20th week of pregnancy)
- extremely low concentration of hCG due to excessive drinking
- hormonal fluctuations, diseases present, or medication taken
- bacteria in the urine
- humidity, extreme heat or cold
- expiry date of the test
The blood test as an additional safety
The pregnancy hormone hCG can be detected even more accurately with the help of a blood test by a gynaecologist as the concentration here is higher than that of the urine. Pregnancy can be detected by the blood test as early as 9 days after fertilization of the egg, which is particularly helpful for women with a strong desire to have children. The test is also suitable if the pregnancy is already far advanced. The results of the blood test are considered 100 percent safe. In addition, the doctor also immediately advises the pregnant woman about future changes in her body and points out the necessary precautions to take, such as abstention from alcohol and nicotine.
The ultrasound in high-risk pregnancies
If the first pregnancy test was already positive, it is worth having an ultrasound performed, especially in the case of high-risk pregnancies or artificial insemination. During this vaginal examination, the gynaecologist can determine exactly how many eggs have been fertilized and where they have nested. At the same time, the gynaecologist can rule out a tubal pregnancy. The ultrasound provides a reliable result from the 7th day after the period has stopped. From the 8th week of pregnancy, this technique can be used to check whether the embryo's heart is beating.
Pregnancy confirmation with the test
Love, security and a healthy lifestyle from the mother give the unborn child a good start. The pregnancy test provides certainty at a very early stage of the pregnancy, with blood tests proving to be safe. But products from the pharmacy or drugstore have long since proven themselves to be quick tests. If used correctly, they can provide reliable results. In case you are pregnant, please feel free to use our Due Date Calendar.
More online calculators
Pregnancy Week Calculator, Ovulation Calculator, Overweight Children
Source information
As source for the information in the 'Due Date' category, we have used in particular:
Last update on February 19, 2023
The pages of the 'Due Date' category were last editorially reviewed by Stefan Banse on February 19, 2023. They all correspond to the current status.
Previous changes on November 4, 2021
- May 4, 2021: Publication of the guidebook on pregnancy test and the cycle lenth.
- Publication of the due date calculator
- Editorial revision of all texts in this category