Pregnancy is a life-changing moment for any woman. So naturally, confirming a pregnancy comes with uncertainty and worry. More precisely, taking a home pregnancy test can be an extremely stressful experience as one is never really sure of the reliability of the test results.
This write-up details the know-how on home pregnancy tests and gives you a clear outlook on the various aspects associated with these tests.
If you think you might be pregnant or are planning to get pregnant, you would be left wondering when the test should be. You may find it convenient to test yourself at home with a home pregnancy test. You can buy test kits at a pharmacy store without a prescription.
So when should you take a home pregnancy test?
Most of these tests are said to show accurate results from as early as the first day of a missed period, and some even claim to do so before the missed period. However, you should ideally get more accurate results after the first day of your missed period.
So how does this help you get more accurate results?
It can be attributed to the fact that after a fertilised egg attaches itself to the uterine lining, it leads to the formation of the placenta and the well-known hormone: human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The HCG enters the bloodstream and urine.
Accuracy of home pregnancy tests
Most home pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate. On the other hand, home pregnancy tests are different in confirming pregnancy in women who have recently missed a period.
If your home test gave you a negative, but you still feel pregnant, it is strongly advised to repeat the test one week after your missed period or consult a GP to get a confirmation.
Understanding HCG and its relevance to pregnancy
During the early stages of pregnancy, the HCG levels in the body escalate at the rate of two times the concentration every two or three days. In other words, if you take the test earlier, it is difficult to find detectable levels of HCG in your body.
Furthermore, the timing of ovulation varies each month, and as such, the fertilised egg can get implanted in the uterus at different times. As a result, the HCG levels change with time, and you might miscalculate the due date for your period if you already have irregular periods.
Keeping these variable HCG levels in mind, we recommend that you confirm your pregnancy as soon as possible after the first day of missed period. Going by how far you have advanced in your pregnancy, you would be required to have an ultrasound and take another urine and blood test to ascertain your HCG levels.
How to do a home pregnancy test?
Like most tests, you would need to place the end of a dipstick in your urine stream or dip it in a container of collected urine. In the span of a few minutes, the dipstick would reveal the results in one of the following ways:
- One line (not pregnant) or two lines (pregnant)
- Plus (pregnant) or minus (not pregnant) sign
- The words “pregnant” or “not pregnant” on a screen
It typically takes 2-3 minutes to reveal the results. Most of these tests also come with a designated indicator to signify that the test was successful. If this indicator doesn’t appear, then the rest didn’t work. So try again with an altogether new test.
It is worth noting that some home tests tend to be more sensitive than others. In such cases, a lower amount of HCG would be sufficient in giving you a positive test result.
Some home pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others. In other words, the amount of HCG needed to be detected in the urine to produce a positive test result is lower in some tests.
All things said and done, do make sure to read the test’s expiration date and follow the instructions carefully.
Can medications affect the test results?
Any medication containing HCG can interfere with the test results. However, antibiotics and birth control pills don’t affect the results.
Understanding a false positive on a pregnancy test
While this happens very rarely, getting pregnancy confirmation or a test positive even though you aren’t pregnant is possible. This phenomenon is known as a false-positive.
A false-positive usually happens if you have a pregnancy loss immediately after the fertilised egg attaches to the uterine lining. Or, you may also get a false-positive if you took your pregnancy test soon after taking a medication that had HCG in it (such as a fertility drug). Additionally, you may also get incorrect results in the event of menopause, dysfunctional ovaries or an extrauterine pregnancy (a pregnancy wherein the fertilised egg gets implanted outside the uterus).
Under any of these cases, you are advised to consult your GP for thorough and personalised guidance.
Negative test result implying a pregnancy
It is also possible that you are pregnant even though your results were negative. Such a situation is known as a false-negative and happens in the following situations:
You took the test too early.
It would be difficult to detect respectable HCG levels if you take the test as early as possible after a missed period. Therefore, it is advised to take the test again a week after your missed period. If you are unwilling to wait for a week, take a blood test after talking to your GP.
You checked the test results too soon.
Follow the instructions on your home test kit package and give it time to show results (typing 2-3 minutes).
Use concentrated urine.
To achieve the most accurate results, take the test first thing in the morning (urine is the most concentrated).
What to do after getting your pregnancy test results?
As per our test results, you should ideally take the following steps:
Positive test results or mixed results
Book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible and get a blood test or ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy and proceed towards starting your prenatal care.
Negative test results
If you don’t get your period even after getting a negative pregnancy result, repeat the test within a few days or one week. If you’re still uncertain, better take the safe route and book an appointment with your GP.
You should note that several factors contribute to missed periods: thyroid issues, use of contraceptive pills, ovarian problems, low body weight or even stress. Even if you are not pregnant, your GP can help you get your menstrual cycle back uniform.
Conclusion
Home pregnancy tests are quite popular due to the discretion, privacy, quickness and convenience you can get from them.
However, one should understand that these tests are not as accurate as blood tests, and they cannot give you an indication of the progression of your pregnancy.
So if you are looking for quick and accurate results or are anxious or unsure about your pregnancy, get in touch with your GP.
Pregnancy is a major event in any woman’s life, and it should be as smooth, comfortable and hassle-free as possible for the soon-to-be mother!
