Pregnancy Tests
A positive Home Pregnancy Test is for a lot of women the first confirmation that they are pregnant.
Home Pregnancy tests are easy to use, inexpensive, and can be done in the privacy of your home.
Here I will try answer the common questions
How does a Pregnancy Test work?
A Pregnancy Test works by looking for a hormone in the urine or blood that is produced by women only when they are pregnant. The hormone is called human chorionic gonadotrpin (or hCG for short) and is made when a fertilised egg is implanted in the uterus which happens about 6 days after conception. The amount of hCG increases for each day after conception.
Different types of Pregnancy Tests
There are two types of Pregnancy Tests
- One tests blood for the pregnancy hormone hCG – which is carried out by a doctor
- The other tests for hCG in urine. – can be done at home with a home pregnancy test
Home Pregnancy Tests
This is why although many pregnancy tests claim to be able to give accurate results on the day you expect your period, it is more accurate to wait at least one week after missing a period.
The better Pregnancy tests available will measure between 25-50 mIUs of hCG which is the usual amount that can be found in urine 4th to 5th weeks of being pregnant.
First morning urine will always contain the highest concentration of hCG, however must tests don’t require you to wait till then, you can wait a couple of hours between visiting the bathroom and this should allow the hCG to build up enough to be measured.
The tests are fairly accurate, however false readings do happen, and can be a result of taking to the test too early in the pregnancy. A positive result that later turns into a woman not being pregnant may be due to a very early miscarriage. Your doctor would be a good person to answer your questions on pregnancy tests.
This is why a lot of woman do two pregnancy tests with a few days or a week or two in between.
If the home pregnancy test shows you as being pregnant, you should contact your doctor. Your doctor can use more sensitive tests along with a pelvic exam to confirm if you are pregnant or not.
How do I do a Home Pregnancy Test?
Most pharmacies sell home pregnancy tests over the counter, they are inexpensive, and fairly easy to use, and most pregnancy tests work in a similar way:
- The majority of home pregnancy kits need a stick to be held in the urine stream. Others work by collecting urine in a container and dipping the stick into it.
- You will then need to wait a few minutes – the amount of time needed varies between brands of pregnancy test
- Next you need to look at the results to see if a line or a symbol has appeared. If there has been a change the result is positive. A lot of pregnancy tests also have a control near the results which shows whether the test is working correctly.
- Most brands will recommend repeating the test a few days after no matter what the first result was.
Remember to read and follow carefully the instructions that come with the home pregnancy test.
When should I use a Home Pregnancy Test?
Research suggests that you should wait at least one week after your missed period before taking a home pregnancy test in order to get a more accurate result. You should consult your Doctor if you need an accurate answer earlier.
Please consult your doctor if you have more detailed questions about using a home pregnancy test.
