What Examinations Are Done During Pregnancy Checkups?

Update Date: Source: Network

When a pregnant woman reaches 12 weeks of gestation, she is required to visit the hospital for her official first prenatal examination. This examination involves urine testing and ultrasound scans to rule out any abnormal pregnancies.

1. Urine Testing

This test can typically be performed 7-10 days after intercourse. It aims to confirm whether the female is pregnant or not. The cost of this test is generally around 10 yuan, and the results are usually available immediately. If the urine sample test shows a positive result, congratulations, you're going to be a mother! After conception, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman's body rises and is excreted through urine, which is the principle behind early pregnancy tests and hospital urine tests. Its accuracy is over 90% and can detect pregnancy as early as 2 weeks after conception. If the test is performed after 4 weeks of gestation, the results will be more reliable. For home testing, it is recommended to use morning urine, which can increase the accuracy.

2. Ultrasound Scan

After confirming pregnancy through urine testing, the pregnant woman should actively undergo an ultrasound scan. This test is preferably performed at 12 weeks of gestation. An ultrasound scan can determine intrauterine pregnancy and rule out abnormal pregnancies. However, ultrasound is not a routine examination at 12 weeks of gestation. Nevertheless, if there is minor bleeding from the vagina after pregnancy or a history of abdominal pain or spontaneous abortion, an ultrasound can help to accurately diagnose whether the pregnancy is intrauterine, excluding ectopic pregnancy and hydatidiform mole.