When to use a home pregnancy test?
On many pregnancy test packages you can read that they show an accurate result already on the first day of a missed period - or even earlier. However, the likelihood of a correct analysis is much higher after at least a week's delay.
Soon after the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, your body begins to produce the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). During early pregnancy, the level of hCG in your blood rises very quickly—roughly doubling every two days. Home pregnancy tests detect the presence of this hormone in the urine with a high degree of accuracy one week after the first missed period. Use the test a few days earlier and it will no longer be as accurate. If it is important for you to confirm your pregnancy as early as possible, ask your doctor to check the level of hCG in your blood. A blood test, which can be quickly carried out in a laboratory, is much more sensitive than a urine test.
Types of tests
There is a fairly wide variety of modern tests. They differ in the method of application and, most importantly, in their sensitivity to the hCG hormone. Based on this, there are three types of tests
.
Test strip
It is the most common, most affordable, and therefore most often used by women.
In appearance, it is a paper or fabric strip that is impregnated with a reagent. The application is as follows
: this strip is removed from the blaster (package), placed to the desired mark in a container filled with urine. After 10–15 seconds, remove and observe the result. Since this is the cheapest test, there is an error in most cases.
Tablet test
This representative of modern gadgets for women costs a little more, and is more advanced: it already has a plastic shell, into which the same paper strip soaked in the reagent is placed. It is used like this:
urine is collected into a pipette (it is included in the test kit) and dripped into the corresponding test window. The second window will give you the answer. This test has also been improved in terms of such characteristics as sensitivity: it is able to determine the presence/absence of pregnancy after the first days of delay.
Jet test
The good thing is that urine does not need to be collected in the morning. Its application
possible at any time of the day, you just need to place it under a stream of urinary fluid. He will give you the most accurate and truthful answer, moreover, he will write it in words and indicate the duration of pregnancy.
Also watch the video about whether pregnancy tests lie and in what situations.
If you are in doubt about the reason for your missed period (late period), you can always use a home pregnancy test to confirm your suspicions. Most women feel comfortable using them because they are the quickest way to determine if a delay is due to pregnancy, and only you know the answer. To get accurate results, it is important to use the test correctly - at the right time and according to the instructions. You also need to make sure that you do not use a pregnancy test that has expired. Many women ask whether the test can show the correct result after the end date of use indicated on the package?
Are all home pregnancy tests the same?
There are different types of pregnancy tests on the market. Typically, you will need to place the marked end of the test stick under a stream of urine or dip it in a container of urine for 5-10 seconds . After a few minutes, you will be able to see the result in the form of a plus or minus, a line, a change in color, or the appearance of the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant”, which will become visible in a certain area.
Please note that instructions may vary depending on the specific test. Please read the operating instructions carefully before use. If you have questions regarding the interpretation of the result, contact the manufacturer. Try to find the customer help line number on the test packaging or on the manufacturer’s website.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Any delay in the critical days makes a woman think about a possible pregnancy. The easiest way to check your guesses is to buy a test at a pharmacy and use it to diagnose at home. But how to use it, which one to choose and why the result may be unreliable? Let's try to figure it out.
In the life of any woman, there has been a delay in menstruation at least once. Regardless of whether you are taking contraception or not, there is a need to confirm/refute pregnancy.
Ultrasound diagnostics are not always able to prove the presence of a fetus in the early stages, and morning sickness cannot be called a symptom of an exceptionally successful conception. You can donate blood or take a home pregnancy test. The second method will be much cheaper, and you won’t have to go to the laboratory early in the morning and painfully wait for the results of the hCG test.
You can purchase the test at any pharmacy or large supermarket. However, their modern diversity can confuse any woman.
How does a pregnancy test work?
The test strip determines the presence or absence of pregnancy by “scanning” the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine. HCG is called the “pregnancy hormone” because in the first months after conception its concentration in the blood increases daily. For example, in the first week of pregnancy the hCG level is 25-150 units, and in the sixth week - 150-200 thousand units.
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The strip contains sensitive reagents that can confirm pregnancy at a period of three to four weeks. But, according to doctors, the optimal period for using the test is the fifth or sixth week from the date of the first day of the last menstruation - only then can we talk about high reliability of the results.
Reasons for false results
Gonadotropin levels are high, but are you sure that pregnancy is out of the question? This symptom is very alarming; it can signal benign and malignant tumors of the uterus and ovaries.
A home pregnancy test can be falsely positive or negative not only due to diseases of the female genital area. A test strip can be said to be ineffective if:
— its price is no more than 10-15 rubles. There are many reviews on the forums of expectant mothers that cheap tests are sometimes more accurate than expensive electronic ones. For every laudatory review, there are several scolding ones: cheap indicator strips give girls unjustified hope due to the poor quality of the reagent or paper. Is accurate results important to you? Buy a more expensive test from a well-known manufacturer;
— the expiration date has expired. A pregnancy test should not be used if it is expired or has been stored for a long time in conditions of high humidity or extreme heat;
- you took medications that make it difficult to diagnose pregnancy;
— the test was carried out contrary to the requirements of the instructions. Accuracy of more than 99.9% is guaranteed by the manufacturer if the terms and rules of use are followed. To determine pregnancy, only morning urine is suitable - the level of hCG in it reaches its maximum level. Before using the test strip, you should not drink diuretics and some medicinal herbs - for example, St. John's wort, sweet clover or yarrow.
Types of pregnancy tests
Disposable test strips. The most common and cheapest type of test for diagnosing pregnancy. Their cost ranges from 10 to 150 rubles. A paper strip with the applied reagent is lowered into a container with urine for a few seconds, then the result is assessed visually. The first line that appears indicates the reliability of the test, the second indicates the presence of pregnancy.
Tablet test. An “advanced” version of the usual one: the test is packaged in a plastic “wrapper”, and a special pipette is attached to it. After collecting a few drops of urine, drop it into a special window. After three to five minutes, evaluate the result. Its reliability is maintained during the first 10 minutes after testing - therefore, a weak line that appears an hour or two after testing cannot be considered proof of successful conception.
A type of tablet test is inkjet . You don’t have to use a pipette; you can simply place it under a stream of urine.
Electronic test. An option for doubting girls. If you are tired of looking at the second strip under a magnifying glass, buy an electronic test. Instead, “yes” or “no” will appear in the window. Such a test costs from 200 rubles and more. But you can be sure of the result. An electronic device that determines the exact duration of pregnancy in weeks will cost approximately twice as much.
You should not use so-called “folk” tests. Iodine, starch, soda, honey - healers recommend using all these available remedies instead of pharmacy test strips. Their effectiveness has not been proven, so you should not rely on such dubious methods.
What medications can affect the results of a home pregnancy test?
Some fertility drugs and other medications that contain hCG may change the test readings. But most medications—including antibiotics and oral contraceptives—have no effect on the test result.
Several subtleties of diagnosing early pregnancy
As for the effectiveness of methods for early diagnosis of pregnancy and their reliability, as a rule, doctors cite the figure as 97%. This is exactly how much you can trust most of the tests that exist today. If it was carried out haphazardly, without following the instructions for use, then you should not expect an accurate result at all. Usually in such cases the methods fail and show erroneous data. It is best to carry out the test immediately after the woman wakes up. After all, a common recommendation for all types of methods is the request not to visit the toilet for at least 4 hours before testing. Diagnosis is carried out immediately after urination.
A stale sample of urine is not acceptable for diagnosing pregnancy.
Moreover, it will be possible to obtain reliable results no earlier than 5 minutes after completing the procedure and performing all the actions specified in the instructions.
But the results may be erroneous if there are a number of diseases or insufficient time has passed since the day of ovulation. Another reason for an incorrect result may be the irregular onset of menstruation. Also, you should not trust those tests of dubious origin that were purchased somewhere outside the pharmacy. Most of these are low quality products. But in any case, it is very important to check its expiration date, which will be the key to accurate and effective results.
Read: Negative pregnancy test when menorrhea is delayed for 2 months: why and what to do
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18 Dec 2013 Yuki 667
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Can a negative result be a false result?
You may see a negative test result when in fact you are pregnant. The probability of a false negative is significantly higher than that of a false positive. You may see a false negative result if:
- you took the test too early. Wait to test until at least the first day of your missed period. Most tests are still unable to detect pregnancy before this period. To increase reliability, use the test a week after the delay - then the level of hCG in the urine will certainly reach the sensitivity level of the test.
- you timed it incorrectly. Give the test time to work, but don't wait too long. It is recommended to set the timer for the time specified in the instructions.
- you used unconcentrated urine. If you drink a lot of water before peeing for a pregnancy test, the result may change to negative. To get the most accurate result, do the test in the morning: morning urine is the most concentrated.
Cheap tests and their reliability
The cost of the test is influenced by the cost of its production and some other factors. The jet test, for example, is quite expensive, but it has the highest degree of sensitivity to hCG. It can be used even a few days before menstruation.
Inexpensive strip strips can only be used after a missed period. The later the express analysis is done, the more reliable the result will be. For example, 1-2 weeks after the delay, if available, even the test itself will show the result, unless, of course, it is defective.
If the test result is negative, but the woman still suspects pregnancy, she can perform a repeat test in a few days. During this time, the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine will increase significantly.
To increase the chances that an inexpensive test will show a reliable result, you need to do it in the morning, immediately after waking up. At this time, the concentration of hCG in the urine is maximum.
Getting a false positive result has nothing to do with the quality of the pregnancy test. If the analysis shows that the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine is increased, but there is still no pregnancy, this can only mean that the woman has a fairly serious disease. This result can also be obtained if an abortion was recently performed.
Regardless of whether a woman is expecting a baby with all her heart or is terrified of a possible pregnancy, she wants to know as soon as possible about the presence or absence of pregnancy.
Even in the very recent past, women could not even dream of finding out about their “interesting situation” before their periods were delayed. Fortunately, this is now quite possible thanks to rapid tests.
What to do next?
If the test comes back positive—or if multiple tests give conflicting results— make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible . A blood test or examination by a gynecologist may be required to confirm pregnancy. The sooner you find out you are pregnant, the better you can take care of yourself and your baby.
If the test is negative, repeat the test a few days later - especially if you took the first test immediately after your missed period or if your period is more than a week late. If the result remains negative and your period does not start, you should visit your doctor. A variety of factors can lead to a delay in menstruation, including stress, illness, strenuous exercise and hormonal imbalances. If you are not pregnant, your doctor can help you get your menstrual cycle in order.
When will the test show a reliable result?
The test will show the most accurate indicator of the presence/absence of pregnancy 10 days after the start of the delay. Most tests to determine pregnancy involve conducting the research procedure only in the morning, with the first urine. But, even in a situation where all the requirements are followed, you can get false information about your situation.
Lack of pregnancy. False indicator
This occurs in a situation where the amount of the hCG hormone (gonadotropin) is small: perhaps this is due to early pregnancy, perhaps this is a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or a threat of miscarriage, we have the same indicator when conceiving immediately before menstruation, if there is a pregnancy for more late stages (after the 12th week of pregnancy, this hormone ceases to be produced).
Additional conditioning factors include: excessive fluid intake on the eve of the test (then there will be not so much hCG hormone in the urine, but water). This is especially true for early pregnancy. Thus, for greater reliability, drink less fluid at night, and for the experiment, collect the first urine in the morning.
When will the test show a pregnancy that is not there?
This also happens if you take medications that increase the amount of hCG hormone in the blood. These drugs also include those that stimulate ovulation. It is also worth considering the fact that even after completing treatment with these medications, the level of gonadotropin in the blood will remain present for another two whole weeks, which the test will indicate in the form of a positive answer.
Another factor in a false test reading in this case may be the presence of the hCG hormone in a woman’s body some time later, even after a termination of pregnancy (miscarriage or abortion).
It is also worth paying attention to the method of using the test and strict adherence to the instructions for it, plus its characteristics: expired or poor quality will also affect the result. Be sure to check the integrity of the packaging before purchasing the product. Ask for a product quality certificate, you have the right to product safety. Before buying a pregnancy test, inspect the packaging (it should be intact). If you have any doubts about the quality of the product, ask the seller for the relevant documents (quality certificate). The package with the test is opened only at the moment of using the latter. The test itself is carried out only using fresh urine: collected in the morning, but examined after 4-5 hours, will show a false result.
