Usually, the steps for a pregnancy test at a medical center are a urine test, an internal examination, and an ultrasound.
The principle of the urine test is that when the placenta begins to form, an endocrine secretion called chorionic gonadotropin will appear in the woman's body, and this endocrine secretion will be excreted in the urine. A pregnancy test can be taken about 2 weeks after menopause. The same principle applies to the pregnancy test sold in the market and the urine test done in hospitals.
The test that is 100% accurate is an internal examination by a gynecologist two weeks after conception (which is usually when a pregnancy test is taken due to late menstruation). As the uterus becomes larger in the early stages of pregnancy, and the cervix and lower part of the uterus become softer, it is easy for the physician to confirm the test by palpating the uterus. This may make the woman feel uncomfortable, but it will not affect the baby, so there is no need for the mother-to-be to worry.
At about the fifth week of pregnancy (the first official checkup after the pregnancy is confirmed), the physician will conduct an ultrasound examination for the pregnant woman. The main purpose of the ultrasound examination is to understand the internal state of the uterus, the size of the fetus, and most importantly, the fetal heartbeat, which can be clearly heard at this time. Other factors such as the normal condition of the placenta, the number of fetuses, and whether or not the fetus' limbs and senses are sound also depend on the ultrasound scan during pregnancy.
During the pregnancy test, the doctor will usually ask questions such as the date of the last menstrual period, whether the usual cycle is stable and normal, whether the last menstrual flow is normal, whether there is any experience of labor or abortion, whether there is any disease that is being treated by medication, etc. When the result of the pregnancy test is confirmed, the doctor will ask whether the baby is pregnant or not. When the result of pregnancy is confirmed, the doctor will further understand the health condition of both husband and wife, their family medical history, whether they are allergic to medication...etc., or further remind the parents-to-be to pay attention to the matters.
When you are pregnant and decide to continue with your pregnancy, it is important to choose a regular hospital and obstetrician. It's also best to have your regular checkups and delivery at the same hospital. If you plan to have your delivery at another location, you must keep your checkups complete and provide a copy of your checkups to the doctor who will deliver your baby.
The advantage of a large hospital is that it is well-equipped to deal with all kinds of emergencies and is easy to consult. The disadvantages are that you often have to wait for a long time, you may not always be able to get the same doctor as you would during your regular checkups, and the environment is a bit noisy. The advantages of an obstetrics and gynecology clinic are that it has a fixed doctor to deliver the baby, a more comfortable and free environment (usually a single room), and more careful care for the baby and the mother, but the disadvantages are that the medical equipment and resources are not sufficient in larger hospitals, and that the ability to cope with emergencies and the resources to deal with emergencies are also relatively weak.
Remember, it's not wise to travel too far from home, whether it's a hospital or an OB/GYN clinic!