Positive Home Pregnancy Test? Confirming It, What's Next, and Warning Signs

Home pregnancy tests detect the hormone hCG in urine and are very accurate when used on or after the first day of a missed period, following the instructions. A positive result is very likely right. A negative result can be wrong if you test too early, so test again in a few days if your period still doesn't come. A clinic can confirm the result with a urine test, and if you have belly pain or bleeding, it's important to be seen, because those can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy.

When to take a home pregnancy test

• For the most accurate result: on or after the first day of your missed period
• Use first-morning urine if you're testing early, when hCG is most concentrated
• If it's negative but your period still hasn't come: test again in two to three days
• Early-result tests can pick up a pregnancy a few days before a missed period, but are more likely to miss one that early

How accurate are they?

Positive results are rarely wrong. False negatives are more common: testing too early, using diluted urine, or reading it too soon or too late. A faint line usually still means positive. Certain medicines, like some fertility treatments, can affect results.

Confirming the result

A clinic can run a urine pregnancy test during a visit, with results in minutes. A blood test is more sensitive and can measure the amount of hCG, which a provider may use if the result is unclear or to follow an early pregnancy. At AfterOurs, pregnancy testing is one of our in-clinic lab tests.

What to do next

• Start a prenatal vitamin with folic acid if you haven't already
• Make a prenatal appointment with an OB-GYN, midwife or primary care provider, usually around 8 weeks
• Review your medicines with a provider or pharmacist, including over-the-counter ones and supplements
• Avoid alcohol, smoking, vaping and recreational drugs
• If you're unsure about the pregnancy, a primary care provider or family planning clinic can talk through your options

Common early symptoms

Missed period, breast tenderness, nausea, tiredness, needing to pee more, and light spotting around the time of an expected period are all common. Severe vomiting, heavy bleeding or one-sided pain are not normal.

What urgent care can do

Urgent care can confirm a pregnancy, check bleeding or cramping in early pregnancy, treat a UTI (common in pregnancy), and help with nausea and dehydration, including IV fluids. If anything suggests an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, you'll be sent to the ER for an ultrasound.

At an AfterOurs clinic, a standard self-pay visit is $175, and a self-pay in-clinic visit never costs more than $330. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. See the cost and insurance page and our vaginal bleeding page.

Go to the ER or call 911 if you're pregnant or might be, and have sharp or severe belly or pelvic pain, especially on one side; heavy bleeding (soaking a pad an hour); shoulder-tip pain; dizziness or fainting; or vomiting so severe you can't keep fluids down. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency.

Where to find us

Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:

• Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM

Walk in, or book online.