Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?
Table of Content
Contact a healthcare professional if you still have a negative pregnancy test or have further questions. Many home pregnancy tests claim to be 99 percent accurate. However, home pregnancy tests differ in the ability to diagnose pregnancy in women who have recently missed a period.
But you're more likely to get an accurate result if you wait until the first day of your missed period. These blood tests are slightly more sensitive than urine tests because they can detect very small levels of HCG. That means they can provide a more accurate answer very early on in pregnancy — within seven to 10 days after conception.
Why do I need a pregnancy test?
Cleveland Clinic’s Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health Institute is committed to providing world-class care for women of all ages. We offer women's health services, obstetrics and gynecology throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond. If your period is less-than-punctual, Dr. Robinson Tidmore suggests taking a home pregnancy test two weeks after having unprotected sex is a good rule of thumb. If you’ve had unprotected sex recently, you may be wondering how long it may be before you know whether you’re pregnant. If your early result pregnancy test reads positive, you can safely assume that you are pregnant and have the advantage of knowing sooner than usual. In addition to the standard pregnancy tests, you can also buy early-result pregnancy tests, which work the same way.
If you’re trying to conceive and want to test regularly, it might make sense to prioritize tests that come in larger quantities. If you just want to test once or twice, you might want to opt for tests that come just a couple to a package. Tests come two per pack, and delivery options include every 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. While not quite as user-friendly, test strips tend to be much less expensive and just as accurate when used correctly.
Products and Services
For the most accurate results, take the test first thing in the morning — when your urine is the most concentrated. During early pregnancy, the HCG concentration increases rapidly — doubling every two to three days. The earlier you take the home pregnancy test, the harder it might be for the test to detect HCG. Using a pregnancy test that doesn’t detect lower levels of hCG. You can check the package insert for more information about the level at which the test will be positive. Having too dilute urine after drinking a lot of water or testing later in the day.
Content on HealthTap should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. Blood test is more sensitive and may be positive sooner.
Should you take a pregnancy test in the morning or night?
One symptom to be especially cautious of is pain that you feel in just one side of your lower abdomen, especially if it’s accompanied by dizziness or bleeding. In this case, you’ll want to call a healthcare provider right away. That happens when a fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube instead of your uterus.
Testing too early can give you a result that's not accurate, which can make the process all the more frustrating. Do you just want to know right now, or are you down to wait a few minutes? Some tests, like the Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test, can give you results in as fast as one minute, while others require you to wait for up to five minutes. It can be a little hard to believe your results the first time, so if you want to be really sure, this variety pack from First Response may be a winner. With three separate sticks, you can test early, at your missed period, and after your missed period. This is a budget-friendly option if you are going to be doing a lot of testing for ovulation and pregnancy without having to buy a bunch of separate tests.
A quick look at the best pregnancy tests
A blood test confirms pregnancy first because it can detect a smaller amount of HCG as compared to a test that uses your pee. If you take a blood test, your provider will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab. The lab will determine the amount of HCG in your blood. One of your first calls should be to a doctor’s office, but don’t expect that they’ll need to see you right away. After an egg is fertilized, it attaches itself to the lining of your uterus.
A positive result means that hCG was found in your sample. It's important to see your provider as soon as possible to make sure you get the right care. If you did a home test, your provider may do another test to confirm your pregnancy. This appointment might not happen for several weeks — but it’s a good idea to call your provider and make an appointment. Blood tests tend to be more expensive and inconvenient. However, blood tests can detect pregnancy sooner and are the only tests to show specific amounts of HCG in your body.
This test might show a plus sign, double vertical lines or even the word “pregnant.” Different tests will show a positive result in unique ways. Read the directions that come with the test to know what a positive result will look like. For example, most tests have a control window that shows up first. Seeing a symbol in this window will tell you that the test is working.
Home pregnancy tests can be very accurate if used properly. These take away the plastic applicator and absorbent tip of your standard pregnancy test and give you a simple strip to dip into a cup of your urine. Wondfo is a similar pregnancy test, at a similar price point.
Your provider performs an ultrasound in their office. Human chorionic gonadotropin, or ß-hCG, is produced at implantation. Most pregnancy tests contain antibodies that react with this pregnancy hormone ß-hCG .
Comments
Post a Comment