If you think you may be pregnant, the most common way to tell is with a urine test kit completed at home. But did you know that you can also check your blood to see if you are pregnant, and that a blood test is a more effective, reliable and earlier test?
What is a Pregnancy Blood Test?
A blood test to check if you are pregnant will look for the hormone Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, also known as Beta HCG. By detecting this hormone, a Goodbody Clinic blood test can determine if you are pregnant, and even by how many weeks.
What is Beta HCG?
Beta HCG, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. The presence of this hormone in the blood or urine is a reliable indicator of pregnancy. Beta HCG levels can be measured through a blood test or a urine sample test.
A Beta HCG test is a simple and non-invasive way to confirm pregnancy. The test measures the level of Beta HCG in the blood and can detect pregnancy as early as a few days after a missed period. The test can also be used to monitor the progress of a pregnancy and detect any potential complications.
What are the benefits of a Beta HCG Blood Test?
A blood test for Beta HCG is considered to be more accurate and reliable than a urine sample test. Blood tests can detect lower levels of Beta HCG and can confirm pregnancy earlier than a urine sample test. Blood tests also provide more detailed information about Beta HCG levels, which can be important for monitoring the progress of a pregnancy.
Blood tests for Beta HCG are also more convenient than urine sample tests as they can be done at any time, whereas urine sample tests are usually done in the morning when the urine is most concentrated. Blood tests also do not require any special preparation or timing, whereas urine sample tests require the person to avoid urinating for several hours before the test.
Beta HCG tests and Ectopic Pregnancy
Another benefit of taking a blood test over urine test is that it can help detect abnormal pregnancy such as Ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself outside of the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube. This type of pregnancy is life-threatening, and early detection is important to prevent serious complications. Blood test can detect the presence of Beta HCG even in very low levels, which can help in the early detection of ectopic pregnancy.
In ectopic pregnancies, the Beta HCG levels tend to rise more slowly than in a normal pregnancy, so by completing several tests over the course of a couple of weeks, it is possible to detect ectopic pregnancies much sooner than waiting for medical appointments with a midwife. Beta HCG levels in a normal pregnancy typically double every 48-72 hours, whereas in ectopic pregnancies this rise is slower.
How to Book a Pregnancy Blood test with Goodbody Clinic
Arranging your private pregnancy blood test with Goodbody Clinic is really simple and quick. You can arrange your appointment for a local clinic online in just a few easy steps.
Book a private Pregnancy blood test to check your Beta HCG levels today at https://health.goodbodyclinic.com/product/pregnancy-blood-test/.
Our appointments are private and discreet, with a personalised results report emailed to you within 3-5 days. This means you get fast, private results to tell you whether you are pregnant, how far along you are, or whether there are any signs of ectopic pregnancy.
