Detecting a Pregnancy

Over-the-counter home pregnancy kits provide privacy and fast results, and can detect pregnancy as early as six days after conception , or one day after a missed menstrual period . This gives an early advantage for vital prenatal care. All pregnancy tests are based on the presence of a hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), that the pregnant woman produces after conception. [ 1 ]
The signs of pregnancy can vary from person to person. A woman may have none, some, or all of the following signs of pregnancy:

• A missed period, spotting, or a period with less bleeding than normal
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tender, swollen, or tingling breasts
• Fatigue
• Changes in appetite or digestion
• Frequent urination and urgency [ 2 ]

See also, prenatal tests .

The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken from the following source(s):
1. The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) FAQs: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/
2. EngenderHealth : http://www.engenderhealth.org/wh/mch/index.html