Home Pregnancy Tests
Missed periods, nausea, dizziness – are you feeling some early pregnancy symptoms? It’s time to take a home pregnancy test. Here’s what you need to know about pregnancy tests and how to read the results.
If you’re about to take a home pregnancy test, but are unsure about what to do, how it works and the earliest you can try it, here’s a helpful guide to help you answer these questions.
How do home pregnancy tests work?
Pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) – a hormone found in urine. Your body produces hCG right after a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of your uterus as early as six days after fertilization. When you become pregnant, the amount of hCG in your body will increase rapidly.
Where can you buy a pregnancy test?
Home pregnancy tests can regularly be found in pharmacies across the country. If you are unable to find them, consult with your doctor.
How soon can you take the test?
The outcome of a pregnancy test is found to be more reliable if you take it on the first day of your missed period. In other words, if your period is a day overdue, you can take the test.
What if the test shows a negative result, but you still think you are pregnant?
If the test shows that you are pregnant (a positive result), you most probably are. However, negative results are less reliable than positive ones, because you may have, for example, taken the test too early. Therefore, we advise you to wait until a day or two after your missed period and take another test to be sure. In either case, you should consult your doctor for confirmation.
When is the best time of day for you to take the test?
hCG is found in urine, and urine is at its most concentrated when you wake up in the morning. This means that the urine will contain a more elevated amount of hCG at that time. Therefore, the best time to take a test is first thing in the morning when the hCG hormone concentration is at its highest.
What does the test show if you are pregnant?
Different brands and tests have different ways of showing positive or negative results. Some will show a pink or blue line on the test strip and others will show a plus symbol when showing a positive. Some are digital and tell you if you’re pregnant.
How accurate are home pregnancy tests?
Today’s home pregnancy tests claim 99% accuracy. Some even claim to be able to tell if you’re pregnant when taken a day or two before your period.If you would like to know what the signs are, and what to look out for, visit our early signs of pregnancy, where you will see a list of pregnancy symptoms in the first trimester.
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