Several tests are available on the market. They can be performed on urine or blood.
1/ Urine test :
In some cases, they simply consist of an absorbent rod held under the urine stream.
In other cases, urine is first collected in a small container. The absorbent rod is then dipped into the container.
The result may appear as coloured lines. Other tests will show a + if you are pregnant. Finally, some tests use a digital display to announce the result.
Most urine tests can detect pregnancy from the day your next period is due.
The test detects the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG). This hormone is produced during pregnancy and manufactured by the embryo shortly after conception.
If the test is carried out earlier, it is more difficult to detect HCG, as it is still in small quantities in the urine.
However, the best time to take a urine pregnancy test and obtain a reliable result would be 1 or 2 weeks after the expected date of menstruation.
You can take a urine test at Planning Familial without an appointment and free of charge.
2/ Blood test :
Because of the higher concentration of HCG in the blood, blood tests prescribed by a doctor usually detect pregnancy more quickly than urine tests.
A blood test can detect whether a woman is pregnant 8 to 10 days after fertilization.