How do I know I'm pregnant?

Do you think you're pregnant? You didn’t have your period (on time) this month? You feel different than normal?

There are 3 types of tests to find out if you’re pregnant.

  • You can take a urine pregnancy test at home.
  • You can ask your GP to take a blood test.
  • You can have your gynaecologist perform an ultrasound.

We recommend you start by taking a home pregnancy test. If this is positive, you can go to your GP or gynaecologist. They will tell you what to do next.

The pregnancy test

When to do a pregnancy test?

You can take a pregnancy test from the day you should have had your period, i.e. from the first day of your missed period.

How does a pregnancy test work?

When you're pregnant, your body produces a 'pregnancy hormone’ called human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. This hormone will be in your blood and urine. The home pregnancy test is a urine test.

How do I do a test?

Most tests consist of a test strip on which you pee for a few seconds. It’s best to take the test in the morning because your urine contains more hormones. The results appear on the strip after a few minutes. Always read the test within the timeframe specified in the instruction leaflet. The test is positive when two lines appear.

Is a pregnancy test reliable?

These tests are 99 percent reliable. If you take the pregnancy test too soon, your urine will not yet contain any hCG and the test will be negative. Wait a few days and repeat.

Where can I buy the test?

You can buy a pregnancy test in a pharmacy or supermarket.

How much does it cost?

A pregnancy test costs between 10 and 15 euros.

A blood test carried out by a doctor

Blood test

Your GP can carry out a blood pregnancy test. This test has an almost 100% accuracy.

An ultrasound or echo at the gynaecologist

An echo
  • If you have a positive pregnancy test, you can make an appointment with the gynaecologist for an ultrasound.
  • Six weeks after your last period, a gynaecologist can confirm that you are pregnant, and you can hear the heartbeat of the foetus.
  • With the ultrasound, the gynaecologist can not only determine how long you've been pregnant and the expected delivery date but also whether the fertilised egg grows inside and not outside the womb and whether you are going to have one baby or twins.
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