Home Pregnancy Test Overview
From LoveToKnow Pregnancy
If you have questions about those test kits in the drugstore, the following home pregnancy test overview should help. You can find more information in LoveToKnow articles about specific tests and at the manufacturers' home pages.
Home pregnancy tests are a terrific way to find out if you are pregnant without the expense of a doctor’s visit. As an added bonus, you can check if you are pregnant in the privacy of your own home.
Home Pregnancy Test Overview: How the Tests Work
Home pregnancy tests are simple to use. In general, you should use an early morning midstream urine sample, meaning you should urinate a little, then either hold the test stick under your urine stream or collect urine in a cup and then dip the test strip into the cup. You must wait a few minutes for the test results. How long you wait depends on the brand of test you use.
The home pregnancy test measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) found in the urine. The placenta cells produce hCG about six days after the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. Over the next several days, the amount of hCG increases, so by 14 days after fertilization, there is enough hCG in your urine to give you a positive result.
While some tests advertise they are accurate as early as five days prior to your next expected menstruation date, research has proven most home pregnancy tests are most accurate starting a week after your expected period.
Home Pregnancy Test Overview: Reading the Results
Check the instructions for the home pregnancy test you have purchased, because the instructions vary.
Some tests use lines or slashes to show the result. These types often have two windows on the test stick. One window is a control window. This window will show a line or slash to verify that you have saturated the stick sufficiently for the test to work. The second window is the result window. It will only show a slash if you are pregnant.
Home pregnancy tests that use a plus and minus symbol to show test results will only have one window on the stick. If you have waited the amount of time instructed and see only a slash in the window, you are not pregnant. If you see a plus, congratulations! It is time to schedule an appointment with your OB health professional to confirm your pregnancy status.
Negative Test Results and No Period
It is possible the hCG level in your urine is not high enough to give a positive result. Wait a few days, up to a week, and take the test again. If you still receive a negative response and your period has not started, it could be that other factors are throwing off your menstrual cycle. Stress, changes in your birth control, changes in your diet, or medical problems can all cause menstrual irregularities. Consult with a medical professional, who will most likely do another pregnancy test, either a urine test or a blood test. If you are not pregnant, you may need other tests to figure out why you missed a period.
Home Pregnancy Test Purchasing Details
Home pregnancy tests can be purchased without a prescription at your local drugstore, many supermarkets, some department stores, and online. In generally, you can expect to spend between $6 and $18. While the cost may not be indicative of the test result accuracy, you may want to check the packaging to see how many tests are included. Many brands of home pregnancy tests sell more than one test in a package.
For More Information
If this home pregnancy test overview did not answer your questions, or if you're curious about a particular test, check the related LoveToKnow articles for more information. You can also check with your local pharmacist. Some places to start for online information are:
- The National Women's Health Information Center: Page on Pregnancy Tests
- MedLine Plus: Medical Encyclopedia entry on Pregnancy Tests
- The Mayo Clinic: Article on Home Pregnancy Tests
Learn More
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