When to ask GP for a pregnancy blood test?

[Calatheas]

I am looking for advice and words of wisdom.

My period is currently 10 days late. I've poas twice, and each one has come back negative.

I have never been pregnant before so I don't really know how this works - can I just make an appointment and ask for a blood test to tell me if I am pregnant? Is there a certain length of time I have to wait first? How long do results take to come through?

I want to call my GP tomorrow and I'd like to not sound entirely clueless! Even if I am not actually pregnant I have 28 day cycles like clockwork, so I would be very concerned to have missed a period entirely.

I don't think that the GP does blood tests to see if you are pregnant. Normally you just tell them that you are and they make a referral to the local maternity team.

Try another test in a weeks time. Not everyone who is pregnant shows up quickly on a test. Don't use a digital one as they can take much later than other types to show a positive result (and then there is the environmental issues about having to dispose of the battery inside of them).

There can be many reasons for missing a period, including things such as stress, so don't worry about it until you have missed several in a row and still aren't pregnant.

GP unlikely to be interested, if you still don't have a period or a pos in a week maybe make appointment but they don't routinely do blood tests to check for pregnancy, home tests tell you all you need to know and they take your word for it.

Urine tests are so reliable now that we never do blood tests just to confirm. Why not test again in a few days? Good luck

I don't think the GP would do it to be honest.

Leave it a few days, are you using good tests rather than cheapo one's of the internet?

Should we be excited for you?! Would you like to be pregnant?

OK thanks for the advice and saving me some embarrassment.

I'll test again next week and go from there. I wish I'd waited to do that second test now.

aarrrhhhhh!!

Blood tests cost money and are unnecessary, you need to buy another home urine test and test again first thing in the morning in a few days.

Your GP will not do a blood test.

It's quite common to not ovulate for the odd month.

Repeating what everyone else has said - docs unlikely to do a blood test. Urine testing is so accurate.

Have you been tracking your BBT? Do you know if you ovulated?

Holly

I just bought Boots own brand early test ones.

I am not sure, I think I am excited?? DP is taking it all in his stride, we had talked about ttc this year after we get past a few big birthdays and weddings that are coming up. So if I am pregnant then fine, just a bit sooner than planned!

But then I am also in the second round of interviews for a new job so the timing is really not ideal at all.

I have spend all weekend cleaning, crying, and looking up due dates and pregnancy symptoms...

NimbleKnitter

Have you been tracking your BBT? Do you know if you ovulated?

I have not been tracking, but I am pretty sure I ovulated, had the egg-white-like discharge etc.

Yes, I used bbt to track my ovulation for about 9 months.

I stopped after that (it's quite draining) but it was useful information - i knew I was ovulating early each month, and I knew my luteal phase was 12-13 days.

I found the information really empowering, even if it didn't help me conceive (opks were much better for that).

Oh, and fertile cervical fluid is caused by oestrogen. Oestrogen rises throughout the follicular phase and is a pretty good indicator of ovulation, but isn't fool proof. It shows your body gearing up for ovulation, but sometimes your body just doesn't release the egg.

If that happens, your body can try again a few days later, which means you can ovulate a few days later than you thought.

A friend of mine got blood tests for this reason. Negative tests for 2 weeks. She was pregnant.

I would speak to your gp and take their advice; can’t do any harm and if it’s unusual for you they’ll want to know