Whether or not you are trying to become pregnant, the first event of any pregnancy is usually a missed period. That alone, though, doesn’t signal pregnancy since there are many reasons a period might be delayed or absent, including stress.

It wasn’t so long ago that women had to wait weeks after their period was due to find out for sure if they were pregnant. Even then, tests were only available through the woman’s doctor. Not anymore! While you’ll still need to see your doctor, you can find out if you might be pregnant at home and as early as one day after your missed period.

Home pregnancy tests, which can be purchased in drugstores and supermarkets, measure human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. That’s the hormone that supports pregnancy. While false positives and false negatives are certainly possible – especially early in your pregnancy – you can minimize false results by following the package directions to the letter.

A home pregnancy test is only the beginning, though. If a home pregnancy test comes out positive, you’ll need to make an appointment with your doctor. She will conduct a more precise blood test and a physical exam to verify pregnancy. And then, your adventure will begin!