Dear nessi_203,

You get the results right away. Home pregnancy tests have very detailed instructions in the package. It's important to follow the instructions carefully to make sure that the test is accurate. With most pregnancy tests, a woman urinates on the absorbent tip of a plastic strip or dips the tip into a clean container of urine. A few minutes later, the results appear in a window on the strip. The test instructions tell a woman how to read the results.

Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone called the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG). HCG is the hormone that supports pregnancy and starts being released when the fertilized egg implants itself and pregnancy begins. A pregnancy test can detect pregnancy after a missed period — some can even detect it a few days before a missed period.

After doing a home pregnancy test, a woman may want to schedule a pregnancy test at health center to confirm the results and get follow-up care. To find a Planned Parenthood health center near you, call 1-800-230-PLAN.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.