Pregnancy test

A pregnancy test (/ˈprɛɡnənsi tɛst/) is a medical test that is primarily used to determine whether a woman is pregnant or not. This is typically achieved by detecting the presence of a specific hormone, known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), in the woman's urine or blood.

Etymology

The term "pregnancy test" is derived from the English words "pregnancy", which refers to the period during which a woman carries a fetus inside her uterus, and "test", which refers to a procedure intended to establish the presence or quality of something.

Types of Pregnancy Tests

There are two main types of pregnancy tests: urine tests and blood tests.

Urine tests are the most common type of pregnancy test. They can be performed at home or in a doctor's office and are available over-the-counter in most pharmacies. These tests detect the presence of hCG in the urine.

Blood tests are more accurate and can detect pregnancy earlier than urine tests. They must be performed in a doctor's office.

Related Terms

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): This is a hormone produced by the placenta after implantation. The presence of hCG is detected in pregnancy tests.

Urine test: A type of test that involves the analysis of a person's urine. In the context of pregnancy tests, it is used to detect the presence of hCG.

Blood test: A type of test that involves the analysis of a person's blood. In the context of pregnancy tests, it is used to detect the presence of hCG.