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Definition

What is a home pregnancy test?

Home pregnancy tests can find the presence of the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin / hCG) in a urine sample. High levels of hCG are produced during pregnancy. The home test has the same results as the urine pregnancy test in most doctors' offices if used exactly according to the instructions.

When a woman becomes pregnant, the egg is generally fertilized by a sperm cell in the fallopian tube (conception). Within 9 days after fertilization, the egg descends from the fallopian tube into the uterus and attaches to the uterine wall. When the fertilized egg attaches, the placenta begins to develop and begins to release hCG into the woman's blood. Some of this hCG also passes into the urine. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, the amount of hCG in the urine gets higher and higher very quickly — doubling every 2-3 days.

There are two basic types of home pregnancy tests:

The most common types of home pregnancy tests use a stick or measuring stick that you touch in the urine stream or dip into a urine sample. The area at the end of the measuring stick or stick changes color with hCG, which means you are pregnant.

The second type uses a urine collection glass with a test kit. To use this type of test, you may pour urine into the bottom of the test kit or put the test kit into the urine that has collected in a glass. The appliance area changes color if you have hCG, which means you are pregnant.

The first urine in the morning (which has been collecting in the bladder during the night) is the best to use and has the most accurate test results.

The accuracy of home pregnancy tests varies from woman to woman because:

days of a woman's menstrual cycle and ovulation can change every month
the exact day of implantation of a fertilized egg is not always known
each home pregnancy test kit has a different sensitivity to one another for finding hCG. If the level is very low, the first urine in the morning has the greatest chance of showing a positive result

Although some home pregnancy tests may be sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy on the first day a woman has a late period, most test kits are usually more accurate if used about a week after a late menstrual period.

When should I have a home pregnancy test?

If you think you are pregnant, you should have a home pregnancy test before going to the hospital or seeing a doctor.

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before taking a home pregnancy test?

Home pregnancy test kits can be used a few days after your period is late. However, the test results will be more accurate if you wait a few days longer. If you have the test immediately after you miss your period and it shows that you are not pregnant (negative result), repeat the test within a week if menstrual periods have not started, or take a pregnancy test at the doctor's office or clinic.

Most of the women will get positive results after a few days of not menstruating but some women may get negative results in early pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can be found in the blood before it is found in urine. Blood tests can confirm pregnancy about 6 days after implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus (even before skipping menstrual periods).

Process

What should I do before taking a home pregnancy test?

You can buy home pregnancy test kits at most pharmacies or supermarkets. You don't need a doctor's prescription. The test kit generally has a measuring stick or stick and instructions that explain how to perform the test. Some devices have a urine collection cup and a measuring stick that you immerse in the urine. All devices tell you to wait a specific amount of time before reading the results.

How is the home pregnancy test process?

Read the instructions that come with your home appliance carefully. Instructions will vary from device to device. Be sure to read the test results at the correct time indicated in the instructions for accurate results. If you have a device that asks you to take a urine sample in the morning, test urine that has been in your bladder for at least 4 hours. The first urine sample in the morning (which has been collecting in the bladder during the night) gives the most accurate test results. Test urine within 15 minutes of sample collection.

If you are using a measuring stick, urinate a small amount first, then hold the measuring stick in the urine stream afterward. Test the urine sample according to the instructions included in the test kit package

What should I do after taking a home pregnancy test?

With any home pregnancy test, if the test shows you are pregnant (the test is positive) you will need to see a healthcare professional to confirm the test and arrange for further treatment. If the test doesn't show you are pregnant (the test is negative), there is still a chance that you may actually be pregnant. You should repeat the test within a week if your menstrual periods haven't started either. If the test remains negative, you may not be pregnant, but you should talk to a healthcare professional about why you don't have your period.

Explanation of the Test Results

What do my test results mean?

It is important to know what a positive or negative result means.

If you get a positive result, You are pregnant. This is true, no matter how obscure the lines, colors, or marks are. If you get a positive result, you may want to call your doctor to talk about what will happen next.

In very rare cases, you could have a false positive result. This means you are not pregnant but tests show that you are. You can have a false positive if there is blood or protein in the urine. Certain medications, such as sedatives, anti-seizures, or hypnosis, may also cause a false positive.

If you get negative results, You may not be pregnant. However, you may still be pregnant if:

the test kit has expired
You are doing the test the wrong way
You took the test too soon
too runny urine because you drank too much fluid right before the test
You are currently taking certain medications, such as diuretics or antihistamines

If you get a negative pregnancy test, try the test again in about a week to double-check. Some home pregnancy tests suggest taking it regardless of your results.