Planting Seeds of the Future
'Fertilisation' occurs during reproduction when sperm penetrates the outer layer of the ovum, or egg. The egg then implants itself in the endometrial lining of the uterus and begins the series of chemical changes that will gradually transform it into an embryo.
A pregnancy test kit can only pick up signs of pregnancy after the egg has implanted itself. This is due to the fact that every pregnancy test kit measures the amount of hCG, a specialized hormone created only by a fertilised egg and, later, its placenta.
Finding Out if Fertilisation Has Taken Place
One of the most common methods for determining fertilisation is the use of a pregnancy test kit. You can purchase a pregnancy test kit at just about any drugstore, and they all work in the same basic manner: they measure levels of hCG in your urine.
HCG stands for "human Chorionic Gonadotropin". It is a hormone released only after implantation of a fertilised egg. In some rare cases, the human body may produce hCG on its own, but this is typically a sign of a serious and rare illness. It's safe to say that if you achieve positive results on a pregnancy test kit, you are most likely pregnant.
No pregnancy test kit, no matter what the box may claim, is 100% accurate. Variations in the style and ease of use between different types of pregnancy test kit can reduce this accuracy to 75% based simply on misunderstanding or failure to follow the directions accurately. So, whether the pregnancy test kit says you are or are not pregnant, if your period continues to be delayed or if you're concerned about symptoms, a visit to the doctor is an excellent idea.
Your doctor has their own version of a pregnancy test kit, much more sensitive than an at-home pregnancy test kit, and with the potential to be much more accurate as the doctor has knowledge about your reproductive history and habits. A standard pregnancy test kit can detect levels of hCG between 20 mlU/mL and 100 mlU/mL, whereas a quantitative blood test from your doctor can detect levels as low as 1 mlU/mL. This allows you to know sooner and with greater certainty whether or not you're pregnant.
If you're truly curious whether or not you're pregnant, you're better off with a visit to the doctor rather than using any pregnancy test kit, although testing at home is more convenient and can yield reassuring or exciting results. Remember to call the day after or of your home test to schedule an appointment. Fertilisation is just the first step down the long and exciting road to parenthood.
remove
