Frequently Asked Questions

The pregnancy test used by our center turns positive as early as seven days after the missed menstrual period. Pregnancy tests measure the amount of the hormone hCG in your urine which increases every day after fertilization.

For some women, pregnancy symptoms may start as early as three weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period. Other women may not realize they might be pregnant until they miss their regular menstrual cycle and other symptoms develop over the following few weeks. Yet others may have no symptoms at all. If symptoms continue and you cannot come in during our office hours, we encourage you to call and schedule a blood test at Middle Park Medical quick labs.

All services are free thanks to the generous support of many grants and individuals, businesses and churches in our community.  Our supporters recognize the need for a safe support system when women and/or men face important decisions with sexual health or unexpected pregnancies.

We know that finding out that you are pregnant can be extremely stressful and understand that you might want to bring someone to be with you. In accordance with our policies, if you bring a family member or friend and at the discretion of our staff, they may be able to join you after testing and confidential health history information is discussed.

At PRC we have a strict policy on confidentiality. Your information will be kept private and will not be released to anyone unless you have given written consent or if we are required by law to release the information. Since all of our services are free, insurance is not required and will therefore not be notified.

Ultrasounds are needed to determine viability, location, and estimated gestational age after a positive pregnancy test. Viability is determined by the presence of a heartbeat. A heartbeat begins 21 days after conception and is detected on ultrasound as early as 6 weeks. Because the embryo is so small at this stage, an ultrasound should be scheduled no earlier than 6 weeks from the last menstrual period. If the pregnancy is earlier than 6 weeks, it may not be possible to see the embryo on the ultrasound and take the proper measurements. A free repeat ultrasound may be required in this case.

Home pregnancy tests continue to improve in their accuracy as technology advances, but several variables may affect your results. For a test to give you an accurate result, it must be taken correctly and at the right time. Tests that are administered incorrectly have a much higher likelihood of providing a false result.