Probably the first sign of possible pregnancy is missing your period. Keeping a calendar record of your monthly periods helps you know if a period was missed or is late. If you think you missed a period but haven't kept track, try to estimate, as closely as possible, when you last menstruated.
Wait until 7 to 10 days after you first missed your period to have a clinical pregnancy test. Before that time the pregnancy cannot be reliably confirmed by a physical exam or test, it is very important to have the test confirmed by a health care practitioner.
The Health and Wellness Center can perform pregnancy tests for students. Call the Health and Wellness Center at 814-898-6217 to schedule an appointment for the pregnancy test. At this time, further instructions will be given to you regarding a urine specimen collection for the pregnancy testing.
Once the urine specimen is collected, a pregnancy test is performed to detect the presence of HCG. HCG is produced during pregnancy and secreted into the blood as well as eventually excreted in the urine. HCG is usually detectable 10 to 14 days after conception.
The results of your pregnancy test will be reviewed with you during your appointment with a nurse or clinician. If your test results are negative and you were not planning a pregnancy, you may want to consider birth control options.
If the results of your test are positive, indicating that you are pregnant, you will be offered an appointment for a gynecological exam to determine how far along the pregnancy is. If you were planning a pregnancy, the nurse will review prenatal information with you and give you handouts. She will also provide you with a list of clinicians in the college area that offer pregnancy care. The Health and Wellness Center does not offer continuing pregnancy care.
If your test results are positive and you were not planning a pregnancy, the nurse will discuss pregnancy options with you based on your needs and requests. This information may include continued pregnancy care options and pregnancy termination options.
The results of your pregnancy test at the Health and Wellness Center remain in your medical record, which is confidential and seen only by medical personnel except by court order. There are costs associated with the laboratory test and appointment. The Clinical Services staff is happy to provide you with information on these costs and your options regarding payment. Appointments can be made in person or by phone. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call and cancel. Otherwise you will be charged for the visit.
Appointments
Appointments can be made in person or by phone. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call and cancel. Otherwise you will be charged for the visit.
To schedule or cancel appointments, call: 814-898-6217.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. This information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.