In this video, a midwife explains when you can take a pregnancy test and how to do it properly. Show
Home pregnancy tests can be very accurate if used properly. Since the earliest recorded history, women have had a strong desire to know whether they are pregnant as early as possible. The body goes through countless changes in the first trimester, and one of the first indicators is a change in the hormones that leave the body through urine. Ancient Egyptians relied on a form of urine testing to determine pregnancy status way back in 1350 BCE. A woman urinated daily on wheat or barley seeds and if the plants grew, it meant she was pregnant. Modern-day validation suggests that test was about 70% accurate in detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced by a woman’s body soon after implantation of a fertilized egg inside the uterus. Thankfully, urine-based pregnancy tests have evolved substantially. Women now have access to advanced tests that can detect a pregnancy as early as eight days after ovulation. But while many home pregnancy tests are marketed as simple and effective, getting accurate results comes down to how early in your ovulation cycle you take the test. Ovulation generally occurs around day 15 of a 28-day cycle. In a normal pregnancy, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and then travels into the uterus, where it implants in the uterine wall. After implantation, production of hCG starts from cells in the developing placenta (tissue that will feed the fetus). Trace levels of hCG can be detected as early as eight days after ovulation. That means you could get positive results several days before you expect your period to start. However, the first part of your cycle is more variable than the second, making it tricky to determine the best time for an early test. Whether or not you’re trying to conceive, missing your period—one of the clearest signs of pregnancy—can be a nerve-wracking and overwhelming experience. To relieve this anxiety, many people choose to take at-home pregnancy tests. But with all the options out there, it’s hard to know which one to pick and how they work to get the most accurate results. How to Take a Pregnancy TestTake the test in the morning right when you get out of bed since this is when your hCG levels are at their highest. Tip: Catch a “midstream sample” for the most accurate results. This basically means peeing a little bit into the toilet before peeing on the test. You can either pee directly on the test for up to 5-10 seconds (or however long the instructions say) or you can pee in a cup and put the pregnancy stick inside for no longer than 10 seconds—whichever is more comfortable for you. When you pee on the stick, make sure to keep the results window facing you. Pregnancy tests typically only take a couple of minutes, but it’s important to read the directions to determine how long test results take to process. The Best Way to Read a Pregnancy TestNowadays pregnancy tests range from the traditional to the more high-tech. Here’s how to read positive and negative results for both. Positive Pregnancy TestTraditional at-home pregnancy tests come with a single window or two windows on the pregnancy stick. All tests will have a test line to make sure that the pregnancy stick is actually working. For single window tests a positive result would show both the test line and another line to indicate that you are pregnant. For the two-window tests, in one window a test line would appear and in the second window a plus sign (+) will appear even if it is faint to indicate that you are pregnant. Some women prefer digital tests because they are easier to read and there are no lines (faint or bold) to interpret. There will also be some type of countdown to indicate when the results are ready. A positive pregnancy result will say “You’re Pregnant” or it would say “Yes” in a digital test Negative Pregnancy TestIf you are not pregnant, a single window test would only show the single test line. For two-window tests, the first window would show the test line and the second window would show a single line that looks like a minus (-) symbol. This means you are not pregnant. On a digital test, a negative test result will say “Not Pregnant” or “No” to indicate that you aren’t expecting. Faint Line on Pregnancy TestYou might end up with a faint line, also called an evaporation line. It can be confused with a false positive. The line usually appears several minutes after the time of the test and is caused by evaporating urine. If the line seems faint or you are at all uncertain, take another test. How Do Home Pregnancy Tests Work?At-home pregnancy tests have become more accurate because they are more sensitive to the hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) which indicates pregnancy. When an egg is fertilized and attaches to your uterine wall, the placenta begins to form and produces hCG, which flows throughout your bloodstream and urine (that’s where the pee part of pregnancy tests comes in). As you get further along in pregnancy, hCG levels rise more rapidly, doubling every couple of days. At-home pregnancy tests measure the level of hcG in your urine. How Soon Can I Take a Pregnancy Test?Many at-home pregnancy tests say they are 99% accurate on the first day of a missed period. According to Mayo Clinic, however, you should wait at least a week from the day of your missed period to take the test for more reliable results. Before taking the test, keep these things in mind:
How Accurate are Pregnancy Tests?False positives: This is rare but can definitely happen. If you receive a false positive it could be that infertility drugs are messing with your hCG levels, you recently gave birth or had a miscarriage, or the test could be broken. If you get a positive result, go to your healthcare provider to have confirmed by the lab. False negatives are also rare but more common than false positives. Around 5% of tests may lead to false negatives. Factors that could give you a false negative result range from taking the test too soon and having a faulty test. For the best results be patient and wait at least a week to take the test. If you tested early and it came up negative, but you end up missing your period, test again. If your home pregnancy test says you’re pregnant, it’s time to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm the results. Looking for the best items for your growing family? Add all your favorite baby products to ONE registry with Babylist.
An HCG pregnancy test checks human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels in the blood or urine. This measurement means that an HCG test can determine whether a person is pregnant, as well as whether their body is producing the right level of pregnancy hormones. Typically, HCG levels increase steadily during the first trimester, peak, then decline in the second and third trimesters as the pregnancy progresses. Doctors may order several HCG blood tests over several days to monitor how a person’s HCG levels change. This HCG trend can help doctors determine how a pregnancy is developing. Key points to know about HCG pregnancy tests include the following:
This article looks at HCG levels and how they relate to pregnancy. We also examine the potential results and accuracy of an HCG pregnancy test. Share on PinterestThiemi Higashi/EyeEm/Getty Images Many people have very low levels of HCG in their blood and urine when they are not pregnant. HCG tests detect elevated levels. Some tests may not detect pregnancy until HCG has risen to a certain level. Tests that can detect lower levels of HCG may diagnose pregnancy earlier. Blood tests are typically more sensitive than urine tests. However, many home urine tests are highly sensitive. A 2014 analysis found that four types of home pregnancy tests could detect HCG levels up to 4 days before the expected period, or about 10 days after ovulation for many people. Cells that become the placenta produce the hormone HCG. A person’s HCG levels quickly rise during the first few weeks of pregnancy. HCG levels not only signal pregnancy but are also a way to measure whether a pregnancy is developing correctly. Very low HCG levels may point to a problem with the pregnancy, be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, or warn that pregnancy loss could occur. Rapidly rising HCG levels can signal a molar pregnancy, a condition that causes a uterine tumor to grow. Doctors require multiple HCG measurements to track the development of a pregnancy. HCG levels stop rising late in the first trimester. This leveling out may be why many people experience relief from pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue, around this time. There are two types of HCG tests: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative HCG testsA person can use this type of test to check for elevated HCG levels in the urine or blood. Urine tests are about as accurate as blood tests. A high level of HCG indicates that a person is pregnant. A negative qualitative HCG test means a person is not pregnant. If they still suspect that they are pregnant, a person should repeat the test after a few days. False-positive results may occur if hormone levels are high due to menopause or hormone supplements. Some ovarian or testicular tumors may also raise a person’s HCG levels. Learn more about false-positive pregnancy tests here. Quantitative HCG testsAlso called a beta HCG test, this blood test measures the specific HCG hormone in your blood in international units per liter (IU/L). The level of HCG helps determine the age of the fetus. HCG levels rise in the first trimester and then slightly drop. They typically peak at 28,000–210,000 IU/L around 12 weeks after conception. If HCG is higher than the average pregnancy level, it could indicate more than one fetus. People must read the urine test instructions and follow them carefully. Most tests use lines to show when a test is positive. The test line does not have to be as dark as the control line to be positive. Any line at all indicates the test is positive. An individual must check the test within the time frame the instructions indicate. This is typically around 2 minutes. Test strips can change color as they dry. Some people notice an evaporation line after several minutes. This is a very faint line that may look like a shadow. Learn everything you need to know about pregnancy tests here. Each pregnancy is different, but home pregnancy tests are close to 99% accurate if a person uses them as instructed. False-positive results are rarer than false-negative results. Due to how long it takes for HCG levels to rise, a person can be pregnant and still get a negative test. A positive result usually appears after retesting a few days later. However, because home pregnancy tests are increasingly sensitive, some can detect very early pregnancies with low HCG levels. The best time to use an HCG testFor the most accurate results, a person should not take a home pregnancy test until 1–2 weeks after a missed period. Implantation usually happens a week or so after ovulation. It can take several days for HCG levels to rise high enough for a test to detect the hormone. The earlier a person takes the home pregnancy test, the more difficult it is to detect this hormone. HCG blood tests can detect pregnancy about 10 days after conception, while urine tests generally take 2 or more weeks. Although some home pregnancy tests can provide results before the first missed period, the results are usually more accurate after the first day of the missed period. In addition to testing too early, the following factors can cause a false negative with a urine HCG test:
Tests that have passed their expiry date may produce false positives or negatives. Reused tests are not accurate. In rare cases, a person can have abnormally high levels of HCG even though they are not pregnant. The most common reasons for this include:
Less common causes include: HCG tests are very safe. The urine test is risk-free. The blood test can cause brief pain and occasional bruising at the puncture site. Urine HCG tests can return false-negative results, particularly very early in pregnancy. This can be stressful and demoralizing to people having difficulty becoming pregnant. Blood tests are typically more accurate, though even these may fail to pick up low levels of HCG in early pregnancy. It is also possible to get an early positive result. Some people get positive tests very early in pregnancy and then experience a pregnancy loss a few days later. If they had not had an early HCG test, they might not have known they were pregnant. This can be a stressful and alarming experience, with some people experiencing intense grief over the lost pregnancy. If a person receives a positive HCG pregnancy result, they should make an appointment as soon as possible with a doctor, nurse, or family planning clinic. They will be able to take a follow-up test to confirm the pregnancy and detect any possible complications. A person can use these appointments to discuss pregnancy with a health care professional who can provide resources and counseling. Learn more by visiting our pregnancy and parenthood hub here. Most people first learn about a pregnancy through a home HCG pregnancy test, and many confirm that the pregnancy is healthy with blood HCG testing. Though imperfect, the test is typically reliable, particularly as a pregnancy progresses. The information that a single HCG test provides cannot differentiate between ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies, or other pregnancy complications. Doctors will need further information to identify these pregnancy issues and may request further blood HCG tests to observe a person’s HCG trend. Although unusually high or low HCG levels can indicate a problem with the pregnancy, this is not always the case. People who have concerns about the development of the embryo or the pregnancy should ask a healthcare professional about additional testing options. |