Pregnancy test is usually designed to tell if your urine or
blood contains a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) This hormone
is produced after fertilization of the egg
This usually happens but not always about six
days after fertilization. If you're pregnant, levels of hCG continue to rise
rapidly, doubling every two to three days.
What types of pregnancy tests are available?
Two main
types of pregnancy tests can let you know if you're pregnant: urine tests and
blood tests.
Urine
tests can be
done at home or in a doctor's office. Many women first choose a home pregnancy
test to take about a week after a missed period. Home
pregnancy tests are private and convenient.
These
products come with instructions. Follow them closely for the most accurate
results. After testing, you can confirm results by seeing your doctor, who can
perform even more sensitive pregnancy tests.
Blood
tests are done
at your doctor's office, but are used less often than urine tests. These tests
can detect pregnancy earlier than a home pregnancy test, or about six to eight
days after ovulation.
But with these tests, it takes longer to get the results than with a home
pregnancy test.
How accurate are pregnancy tests?
You
should know that waiting at least a week after a missed period may give you the
most accurate result. Results may also be more accurate if you do the test
first thing in the morning, when your urine is more concentrated.
Urine
home pregnancy tests are about 97% accurate. Blood tests are even more accurate
than this.
How
accurate a home pregnancy test is depends upon:
- How closely you follow instructions.
- When you ovulate in your cycle and how soon implantation occurs.
- How soon after pregnancy you take the test.
- The sensitivity of the pregnancy test.
How to do home pregnancy test
(HPT)?
You can
buy a home pregnancy test in a drugstore without a prescription. The cost
depends on the brand. But most tests are relatively inexpensive.
Home
pregnancy tests are quick and easy to use. They are also very accurate if you
carefully follow directions. These pregnancy tests all work in a similar way.
You test the urine in one of these ways:
- Hold the test stick in your urine stream
- Collect urine in a cup and then dip the test stick into it
- Collect urine in a cup and use a dropper to put urine into another container.
With all
of these techniques, you need to wait a few minutes before seeing the results.
Results may show up as a line, a colour, or a symbol such as a "+" or
"-" sign. Digital tests produce the words "pregnant" or
"not pregnant"
If you
have any questions about the pregnancy test or the results, call your doctor or
the telephone number listed with the home pregnancy test.
What do the pregnancy test results mean?
It's
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 faint the line, colour, or
sign is.In very
rare cases, you can have a false-positive result. This means you're not pregnant
but the test says you are. You could have a false-positive result if blood or
protein is present in your urine. And certain drugs , such as tranquilizers,
anti-convulsants, or hypnotics, may also cause false-positive results.
If you
get a negative result, you are likely not pregnant. However, you may still be pregnant if:
- The test is past its expiration date.
- You took the test the wrong way.
- You tested too soon.
- Your urine is too diluted because you consumed large amounts of fluid right before the test.
- You are taking certain medications, such as diuretics or antihistamines .
If you
get a negative pregnancy test result try retesting within about a week to double check Some home pregnancy tests
suggest doing this regardless of your results.
What if
you get two different results? Call your doctor. A blood test is a good idea to
confirm results.
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