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If you have had unprotected sex, the best way to confirm or exclude a possible pregnancy is to take the pharmacy pregnancy test. However, for the result to be reliable, this test should only be done after the first day of menstruation delay. Before this period, it is possible to do the blood test, which can be done 7 days after the relationship, but which is more expensive and needs to be done in a clinical analysis laboratory.
See the difference in the types of pregnancy test and when to do it.
Although the chances are low, it is possible to become pregnant only after 1 unprotected sex, especially if the man ejaculates inside the vagina. In addition, pregnancy can also happen when there is only contact with the lubricating fluids released before ejaculation. For this reason, and although it is more rare, it is possible to become pregnant without penetration, as long as the man's fluids come into direct contact with the vagina. Understand better why it is possible to get pregnant without penetration.
Who is most at risk of becoming pregnant
When the woman has a regular menstrual cycle, with approximately 28 days, she is more likely to become pregnant when she is in the fertile period, which corresponds, usually to the 2 days before and after ovulation and, which usually happens around the 14th day, the from the first day of menstruation. Use our calculator to find out your fertile period.
Women who have an irregular cycle, which may be shorter or longer, are unable to calculate the fertile period with such precision and, therefore, the risk of becoming pregnant is greater throughout the cycle.
Although there is a greater risk of becoming pregnant in the days close to the day of ovulation, the woman can also become pregnant if she has had an unprotected relationship up to 7 days before ovulation, as sperm are able to live inside the woman's vagina between 5 to 7 days and can fertilize the egg when it is released.
When to suspect pregnancy
Although the only way to confirm a pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test, there are some signs that can lead a woman to suspect that she is pregnant, such as:
- Delayed menstruation;
- Morning sickness and vomiting;
- Increased urge to urinate;
- Tiredness and a lot of sleep during the day;
- Increased sensitivity in the breasts.
Take the following test and know your chances of being pregnant:
Know if you are pregnant
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In the last month have you had sex without using a condom or other contraceptive method such as an IUD, implant or contraceptive?
Have you noticed any pink vaginal discharge lately?
Are you getting sick and want to throw up in the morning?
Are you more sensitive to smells, getting bothered by smells like cigarettes, food or perfume?
Does your belly look more swollen than before, making it harder to keep your jeans tight during the day?
Does your skin look more oily and acne prone?
Are you feeling more tired and more sleepy?
Has your period been delayed for more than 5 days?
Have you had a pharmacy pregnancy test or blood test in the last month, with a positive result?
Did you take the pill the next day until 3 days after the unprotected relationship?
These symptoms do not exclude the chances of having a disease with similar symptoms, such as psychological pregnancy, so you should always consult a gynecologist and have tests done to confirm the pregnancy.
Check out a list of the first 18 pregnancy symptoms.
Is it possible to be pregnant even without symptoms?
In many cases, it may take a woman up to 2 or 3 months to identify any symptoms of pregnancy. This is because many of the signs can be difficult to identify and their intensity may vary according to each woman.
In addition, and although it is more rare, there are also women who may not show any symptoms during the entire pregnancy, discovering that they are pregnant only at the time of delivery. Learn more about pregnancy without symptoms and what the risks are.
When to take the pregnancy test
If the woman has had an unprotected relationship and is in the fertile period, the ideal is to have a urine or blood pregnancy test. This test must be performed after the delay of menstruation, at least 7 days after intimate contact, so that the result is as correct as possible. The two main testing options include:
- Urine test: can be purchased at the pharmacy and the woman can do it at home with the first morning urine. If it is negative and menstruation is still delayed, the test should be repeated 5 days later. If the second pregnancy test is still negative and your period is still delayed, it is recommended to make an appointment with a gynecologist to investigate the situation. However, if the test is positive, a blood test should be done to confirm the pregnancy.
- Blood test: this test is done in a laboratory and detects the amount of the HCG hormone in the blood, which is released by the placenta at the beginning of pregnancy.
These tests are the simplest way for a woman to understand if she is pregnant.
Is it possible to be pregnant even when the test is negative?
Current pregnancy tests are quite sensitive, so the result is usually quite reliable, as long as the test is done at the right time. However, as some women may produce few hormones in early pregnancy, the result may be false negative, especially in the case of urine testing. Thus, when the result is negative, it is recommended to repeat the test between 5 to 7 days after the first.
Find out more about when a false negative pregnancy result can happen.
How to confirm pregnancy
Confirmation of pregnancy needs to be done by the obstetrician and, for this it is necessary:
- The blood test for pregnancy is positive;
- Listening to the baby's heart, through a device called doptone or Doppler;
- See the fetus through an ultrasound or ultrasound of the uterus.
After confirming the pregnancy, the doctor usually plans the prenatal consultations that will serve to monitor the entire pregnancy, identifying possible problems in the baby's development.