A late period has a way of stopping you in your tracks.
Maybe your cycle is predictable, or it has always kept you guessing, but either way, the waiting can feel heavy.
While a missed period does not automatically mean you are pregnant, it’s a signal worth paying attention to so you can protect your health and understand what your body is telling you.
Contact Pregnancy Resource Center of Glenwood Springs for free and confidential pregnancy services, and read on to learn more about what to do if your pregnancy is late.
Start With a Home Pregnancy Test
If your period is late, taking a home pregnancy test is an important first step.
Home pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone your body begins producing once a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus.
To give yourself the most accurate result:
- Wait until the first day of your missed period before testing
- Use your first urine of the morning, when hCG is most concentrated
- Read and follow the instructions included in the kit
- Skip extra fluids beforehand so your results are not diluted
Taken correctly, home tests can reach up to 99% accuracy. Test too soon, though, and you may get a false negative even while you are pregnant.
Confirm What You Learn
If you receive a positive test result on your home pregnancy test, it’s critical to confirm the result with an ultrasound. This scan can tell you details that are necessary for protecting your health, such as:
Viability: Between 10 and 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, so this step matters. If no heartbeat is found, a provider can guide you on safe next steps.
Gestational age: Precise measurements taken during an ultrasound show how far along you are. The age of your pregnancy is important to understanding what options are available to you.
Location: An ultrasound confirms the pregnancy is growing inside the uterus. When a pregnancy implants somewhere other than the uterus, it is known as an ectopic pregnancy, and it calls for immediate medical care.
What Else Could Be Going On?
If your home pregnancy test is negative, it could still mean you’re pregnant but tested too early. However, it’s important to know that your menstrual cycle responds to more than pregnancy.
Ongoing stress, illness, a recent weight change, disrupted sleep, thyroid problems, or a sudden increase in exercise can all shift your hormones and delay your period.
You Are Stronger Than You Know
You do not have to face these uncertainties alone.
The Pregnancy Resource Center of Glenwood Springs offers free, confidential, lab-quality pregnancy tests, and if your pregnancy is confirmed, we can provide a free follow-up ultrasound. We also offer free, confidential STI testing so you have the information you need to make decisions at your own pace.
Our team will review your results with you, answer your questions honestly, and help you understand every option available to you.
Reach out today to schedule your free, confidential appointment. Our Mobile Medical Unit brings them to Basalt, Gypsum, and Rifle, so confidential support is always within reach.