Testing before you’re pregnant

People who are working with a health care provider to plan a pregnancy, including those using an egg donor, sperm donor, or IVF, often undergo testing before pregnancy.  

Testing in early pregnancy

What do my results mean?

Tests early in pregnancy help your doctor catch and solve problems early in your pregnancy. Your OB will explain your results to you, and talk through next steps in case of any issues.

If you’d like to read more, this guide from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers a complete breakdown of all tests conducted early in pregnancy. LEARN MORE

Tests done later in your pregnancy

Most people will have two ultrasounds during pregnancy — one early on to confirm pregnancy, and another at 20 weeks to monitor your baby’s growth and development and check for any complications.

Later in pregnancy, you will be screened for:

• Glucose, or blood sugar, to check for risk of gestational diabetes
• Group B streptococcus (GBS), a bacteria that naturally lives in your body that can be passed to your baby during labor

Genetic testing for birth defects

Screening for birth defects begins early in your pregnancy — or before you even become pregnant—by assessing your risk factors. Your OB may give you a list of questions to find out whether you have risk factors. If you are worried about risk factors, be sure to ask your OB. If you do have risk factors, you might want to see a genetic counselor for more detailed information and testing.

Things that can increase your risk of birth defects include:

• Having a personal or family history of birth defects
• Belonging to certain ethnic groups
• Being 35 or older
• Having diabetes before pregnancy

You are not required to screen or test for birth defects; it is a personal choice. Knowing about birth defects ahead of time allows you to choose whether to continue the pregnancy, and gives you time to plan your baby’s care team if more support is needed.