|
Share this |
Dear Extra worry,
There are pregnancy tests available that can be used as soon as 24 hours after a missed period. You can administer it yourself by buying a home pregnancy test in a local drug store, or you can make an appointment in Primary Care Medical Services (x4-2284) or with your health care provider. Having the test done in a professional environment leaves less room for error. These urine tests are designed to react with a hormone called human gonadotropic hormone (HCG), which is secreted into a pregnant woman's blood by the developing placenta.
If you have missed your period, but have not yet taken a pregnancy test, don't assume you're pregnant. Continue to use contraception if you have intercourse and don't want to be pregnant. Remember that the length of your menstrual cycle can vary from twenty to thirty six days. There are often small changes in your cycle, and there can also be major ones when you're under a great deal of stress. Before you proceed to get extremely worried, see if you have any of these other signs of pregnancy:
- Swelling or tenderness in your breasts
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling bloated or crampy
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Changes in digestion (constipation or heartburn)
- Mood changes
Wait, watch, and if you still don't get your period after finals, have a pregnancy test just in case.
