So, how accurate are home-pregnancy tests?

[NickB79]

And does Planned Parenthood offer blood testing or urine testing for their pregnancy testing in their clinics?

[roenyc]

1. very if its positive

and yes they do offer those services.

[Bunny]

2. I don't know what PP does, but those home tests are pretty

accurate, especially for positives. They rarely give false positives. If it says you are pregnant, you are pregnant. If it says you are not pregnant, you could still be pregnant, but may have taken the test too early.

[NickB79]

5. Well, she took the test 4 times

Using different brands of testers each time, all were negative, and the 4th time was done by a "family resource center" that turned out to be a friggin Christian pro-life center in disguise! They lectured her (my girlfriend) for an hour about how sex outside of marriage is wrong before the test came back negative. Boy, was she pissed off. Basically, she's missed her period for the past 2 months and I'm just worried, but she's too stubborn to go see a doctor (not to mention she doesn't have any health insurance). We use condoms whenever we have sex, I don't recall any breaking in the past few months, and she's not having morning sickness, so I'm pretty sure she's not expecting. I'm just concerned why her periods just stopped like that, that there might be something else wrong she needs to see a doctor for.

[Bunny]

6. Well, if it's been two months, and the tests are negative,

then she is not likely to be pregnant. That is a little alarming about missing for two months in a row, though. Does she exercise strenuously? When a woman's body fat drops below a certain percentage, that can cause her period to stop. She really should see a doctor. Good luck.

[China_cat]

7. See a doctor.

NOW. For periods to stop without a pregnancy in an otherwise healthy woman of child bearing years can signal something really serious. Like deadly serious.

Nothing to play with. It can be a 'your money or your life' situation.

[RadicalMom]

8. Certainly see a doctor, but don't worry needlessly. Lots of things can

cause periods to stop. Hormone imbalances, stress, over exercising, even just exhaustion. So don't get upset, just have her get checked. Some places have free clinics or county facilities for those without money or insurance.

[China_cat]

12. Considering the possible consequences

of waiting too long, I have absolutely no compunction about scaring someone into finding out that it's nothing now...or that it's something that is easily treated now.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

15. I know in Massachusetts there are women's health clinics that

are fully anonymous, and work on a sliding scale...you should check out if there are any in your area. Call your state's public health hotline. They should be able to point you in the right direction. (That's so sick about the pro-life group)
As someone said down the thread, stress alone can make her miss her period. I know a friend who missed hers for six months. She should go see a doc, but I don't think it is something to frighten her (or you) into. There are so many factors that contribute to irregularities.

[Tsiyu]

16. I concur with the others on accuracy

but want to add the lecture:

Condoms alone are not enough to prevent pregnancy. Combine them with a spermicide and/or diaphragm for the best protection.

Missed periods are more common than you think; many factors influence the cycle. Rapid weight gain or loss, stress, heavy physical activity, or a change in the people one socializes or lives with can all trigger missed menses.

[blondeatlast]

17. She can see an Nurse Practitioner or MD at a Planned Parenthood

and they base it on ability to pay.

If you feel any responsibility toward her (and you must, or you wouldn't have asked), get her to Planned Parenthood ASAP.

[bearfan454]

3. Baby maybe ? n/t

[Catch22Dem]

9. George Carlin?

I remember that off the old FM & AM album.

[bearfan454]

13. me too.

[annabanana]

4. So, good news or bad news?........n/t

[Catch22Dem]

10. Have her go to PP even though it doesn't sound like she's preg.

They'll do the test, it'll most likely come back negative, then she can ask why her periods stopped. I once was in a situation where we thought my girlfriend was pregnant (we were verrrry young) but home tests kept showing negative. She skipped a couple of periods finally saw the DR and he said "you're not pregnant and once you stop being mortally terrified of being pregnant, your periods will start again." That was all. The stress from thinking she was pregnant was enough to screw up her cycle. Now it's kinda funny.

[Cheswick2.0]

11. They are very accurate if positive

while there can be too little hormone to show a positive very early, there can not be preg hormone without pregnancy.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

14. They are as accurate as the ones they use in the hospital/at the

docs... but you must wait 10 days after the time you think you may have been impregnated for it to show up.
(at least that's what my doc told me)

[gollygee]

18. Positive - extraordinarily accurate. . but they read false negatives often

I say take her in and get her checked. The blood ones are more accurate. Planned Parenthood should be able to do it.

It is still possible that it could be a pregnancy - I know people who have had negative home pregnancy tests for a couple of months and ended up with a baby - but that's pretty rare. It might also be a medical problem. Regardless, she should get to Planned Parenthood or a doctor relatively quickly to get a full exam.