How soon can a pregnancy test strip detect early pregnancy?
Disease description:
Female, 23 years old, unsure whether pregnant. How soon can a pregnancy test strip detect pregnancy?
A pregnancy test strip can generally detect whether a woman is pregnant 2–3 weeks after conception, based on changes in the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine. hCG is a glycoprotein secreted by placental trophoblastic cells, and its levels rise rapidly after conception. When hCG reaches a certain concentration in urine, the pregnancy test strip can yield a positive result. It should be noted that due to individual differences in physical condition and conception circumstances, some women may require a longer time before pregnancy can be detected with a test strip. If pregnancy is suspected, it is recommended to perform the test around 35 days after the last menstrual period to improve accuracy. If the test result is positive, prompt medical consultation is advised for further confirmation and prenatal examination. Additionally, maintaining healthy lifestyle and dietary habits, avoiding excessive fatigue, and minimizing exposure to harmful substances are important to ensure healthy fetal development.