Today, pregnancy tests are available in a wide range. There are several types of tests:
- Strip tests: special strips that must be dipped into a container with urine, the sensitivity threshold is 10-25 mIU/ml (the amount of hCG in 1 ml of urine).
- Tablet: a plastic case in which there is a window with a substance sensitive to hCG. You need to add a few drops of urine into this window. Sensitivity threshold 10-25 mIU/ml.
- Jet: do not require collecting urine into a separate container - a pregnancy test can be performed directly during urination, placing the analyzer under the stream. Sensitivity threshold from 10mIU/ml.
- Electronic (digital): they have several varieties and can be intended for repeated use or determining the duration of pregnancy, etc.
Each type of test has its own advantages and disadvantages. Now we’ll try to figure out which pregnancy tests are the best.
Frautest Express Ultra sensitive
Photo: frautest.ru
The cost of a package with one strip test is about 85 rubles.
The sensitivity of the Frautest express pregnancy test starts at 15 mMKU/ml and, according to the manufacturer, it can be used without waiting for a missed period, and even 2 days before the date when (possibly) the countdown from the “missed” first day of menstruation begins. The test results are determined 3-5 minutes after you remove the strip from the urine container.
Flaws. The need to look for a container for urine, fill it, hold a strip test in it for 10 seconds and then think about how to dispose of the filled “container” is not entirely convenient when outside the home.
Advantages This pregnancy test is easy to use and highly reliable results (up to 99%). Well, let’s not pretend that cost doesn’t matter. The affordable price is a huge plus.
conclusions. One of the best pregnancy tests. A well-deserved rating of 10 out of 10.
Reviews.“I have already bought a test from this company twice, or rather, this time my husband bought it, and it did not disappoint again. My opinion is that there is no need to buy expensive tests, even if they tend to show the number of weeks. This pregnancy test is reliable, It is sold in all pharmacies, it is convenient to use and attractive in price."
Frautest Planning
Photo: frautest.ru
The cost of a set of 5 strip tests for determining ovulation, 2 for pregnancy and 7 disposable containers for collecting urine is about 380 rubles.
Another “nominee” from the Hungarian company Human takes a leading position in the ranking of the best pregnancy tests. Frautest Planning is an excellent tool for women who are planning a pregnancy and want to verify the fact of its occurrence (or the need to continue trying) without leaving the cash register.
The well-thought-out configuration of this strip kit allows you to cover the entire period from the probable start date of ovulation and “catch” the moment necessary for conception until pregnancy is determined (you can start checking 2 days before the expected day of delay). An added bonus is the disposable urine collection containers, which are easy to dispose of and allow you to take the test under any conditions.
Flaws. The only drawback is the high cost. But this is only at first glance: the same set, but “scattered” into separate packages, will cost about 70 rubles more.
conclusions. Best test for pregnancy for those who care not only about a healthy lifestyle from the first days of pregnancy, but also understand the importance of planning for this fateful moment. Well-deserved ten!
Reviews. « I made big mistakes several times when I used ovulation tests and pregnancy tests from different manufacturers. The consequences were, to put it mildly, painful for my nervous system. 3 months after using Frautest for planning, I finally got on the right “schedule”. The result - in the fourth month, a pregnancy test confirmed that you can be happy. I highly recommend it - it’s expensive, but it’s reliable and doesn’t confuse you with false results.”
Clearblue Digital
Photo: www.thedrugstorelimited.com
The cost of a package with 1 digital test is about 480 rubles.
Advantages. If we take the percentage of accuracy with which the test determines the presence of pregnancy as a unit of quality, then Clearblue Digital sets the bar incredibly high: above 99%. One hundred percent accuracy is just around the corner, and this test is one of the most reliable today. But that's not all. In addition to the mark indicating the presence/absence of pregnancy (“+” - yes, “-” - no), a number will appear in the window indicating the duration of pregnancy in weeks. The format of the indicators corresponds to the range of 1-2 weeks, 2-3 weeks and more than three (the image “3+” will appear on the display). If conception does occur, then the accuracy of determining the due date, according to the manufacturer and research results, is 92%. Impressive, isn't it?
If your period is delayed, the test can be used from the very first day of its expected start. But if “you can’t bear to wait,” and your body persistently hints about your interesting situation in other ways (for example, by the desire to eat persimmons, having previously smeared them with toothpaste), then the test can be performed 4 days before the date of the likely delay.
Flaws. Not everyone will consider determining the gestational age a necessary function. Still have to visit the doctor, ultrasonography and blood tests - together, all this will establish the deadline even without a test. But let’s remember the “surprises” of pregnancy, which can calmly coexist with regular periods. In this case, it is often important for a woman to understand how far along she is, and whether she has enough time to contact an antenatal clinic and register. A classic example is a long business trip or business trip, when the dilemma of “dropping everything and going home versus still having time, you can wait” ruins all plans. So whether this is a drawback or not is up to you to decide.
conclusions. Considering that not everyone is interested in setting an exact date without going to the doctor, but this function makes the price “bite”, the rating is 9 out of 10.
Reviews. “I felt something was wrong as soon as I arrived on vacation. With my floating and irregular monthly cycle, I assumed that I might not be in the early stages of pregnancy. The KLeablu test showed that I have been pregnant for more than three weeks. I limited myself to rides and other active entertainment, and when I returned a week later and went to the doctor, the period turned out to be already 6 weeks. The test didn’t disappoint.”
Evitest Proof
Photo: s5.stc.all.kpcdn.net
The cost of a package with one tablet test is about 190 rubles.
Advantages. The main advantage rather relates to the design of the test: the tablet model allows urine to be more evenly distributed over the surface of the substrate with the reagent, which, accordingly, increases the reliability of the results. The second plus is the “purity” of the results. It is impossible to touch the reagent, which is located in the recess of the window, with your fingers, even by accident, so possible contamination of the sample (not a fantastic event, by the way) is simply excluded.
Flaws. You may feel like a professor in a chemistry laboratory who carefully and carefully introduces a special substance (urine) onto the surface of the test object (test) so that there is no explosion. Nothing will really explode, except maybe your patience if you're nervous and your hands are shaking. Therefore, it is better to conduct “experiments” at home, where you can relax (or at least pretend) and finish what you started.
conclusions. One of the best tablet pregnancy tests when it comes to the accuracy of the results. And this is - main reason, for which you decided to buy it, right? This means that giving it a rating of 10 out of 10 would be correct and fair.
Reviews. « I was treated for infertility for a long time and used only this test. I don’t even know why - I was superstitiously afraid to change it for another. And 2 years later he showed a positive result for the first time! Positive and correct».
Premium Diagnostics
Photo: www.premiumdiagnostics.ru
The cost of a package with one jet test is about 120 rubles.
Advantages. Fast and accurate result (up to 99% - if the test is performed after the first day of the delay), for which there is no need to collect urine - great alternative"strip" traditions. At the same time, a control window is provided in the cassette, which represents the test. Regardless of whether the result is positive or not - if a red line appears in the control window - the test was carried out correctly.
Flaws. The ability to perform a test without having to collect urine for someone would be very useful quality test, inconvenient for some. But, as they say, you won’t be nice to everyone - let’s not count this as a disadvantage.
conclusions. An excellent pregnancy test that will fulfill its purpose both in a cozy home environment and in “camping” conditions, when there is no time or opportunity to look for and fill a urine container. In our opinion, 10 points is a well-deserved rating.
Home pregnancy tests are not required special conditions and medical knowledge, they are easy to use... and, apparently, that is why they cause mistrust among consumers. There is a very common belief that all pregnancy tests “lie”, the results, both positive and negative, can be unreliable, and even that “home tests are a pure scam.” And all because, according to doubters, it is impossible to determine pregnancy in just a couple of weeks using a stick soaked in urine. The reason for such a disrespectful attitude towards pregnancy tests is obvious: women do not understand how this method “works”, and misunderstanding always gives rise to mistrust.
In fact, home tests for diagnosing pregnancy give a very high reliability of the result. The method is based on the detection of hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, in the urine of a pregnant woman. This highly specific protein is secreted exclusively by the tissues of the fetus and enters the maternal body through the bloodstream. Outside of pregnancy, the appearance of hCG in a woman’s blood is impossible, so there can be no error as a result. Two weeks after hCG is present in the urine expectant mother in quantities sufficient to carry out the test. Usually this period corresponds to the first days of missed menstruation.
The most commonly used pregnancy test is a strip of thick paper, one end of which is impregnated with a special indicator (a substance that reacts to the presence of hCG). To obtain a result, the indicator must be saturated with urine; Some types of tests are placed under a stream of urine directly during urination, others need to be lowered into a container with urine for a few seconds. It should be noted that home tests are always supplied detailed instructions with explanatory drawings.
Of course, like any other product, a pregnancy test can be defective. A control strip should be visible at one end of the test. The suitability of the test is judged by its presence. Therefore, before use, you need to carefully examine the test and make sure there is a control strip. If the result is positive, a second stripe appears next to the control one or (on some imported tests) the color of the control stripe changes. If the second line (or color change - depending on the manufacturer) does not appear, the result is negative, and there is no hCG in the woman’s body, which indicates pregnancy.
If there are certain characteristics of a woman’s health, the test may give a false negative result, that is, it may not determine whether pregnancy has occurred. This is due to the fact that human chorionic gonadotropin does not always accumulate evenly in the blood of the expectant mother, and therefore there may be insufficient concentration in the urine - if the amount of the hormone is lower than usual, testing will be unsuccessful. As a rule, in this case, a very weak second stripe appears, or it appears only partially (half, a third, or even dotted). Sometimes, with a very low level of hCG, the coveted strip does not appear at all.
The reliability of the test result may be affected by dietary errors (for example, a protein-free diet, which significantly reduces the production of hormones), taking diuretics, and kidney disease accompanied by impaired urine formation. Another reason for a false negative result (there is a pregnancy, but the test “does not see it”) is associated with closer to the end of the menstrual cycle, and not in the middle, during expected ovulation: for a number of reasons, among which the most common are stress, acclimatization, viral diseases and hormonal imbalance, ovulation may shift towards the end or, conversely, the beginning of the cycle. In this case, the actual gestational age at the time of testing may be less than a week, and the level of hCG in the urine will still be too low to be “caught” by a home test.
All of the above test error options are associated with hormonal imbalances or too short a pregnancy. According to statistics, they make up only 0.3% and cannot serve as a reason for “accusations” home test for pregnancy in uncertainty. With a normal, regular menstrual cycle and the absence of diseases of the woman’s kidneys and endocrine system, the test gives a 100% correct result.
Myth No. 2. The price of a pregnancy test determines its quality.
This is a common consumer misconception, not only in the matter of choosing a pregnancy test, but also in general as a guide when purchasing a product: the price, unfortunately, cannot always judge the quality of the product. As for the choice of test, the price difference between them is usually not very significant. Different prices for essentially identical tests are explained by the usual criteria for marketing: country of origin, brand popularity, transportation costs, taxes, customs duties, packaging format, discounts or changing prices per batch during purchase. The price of the test is also determined by production costs and an emphasis on ease of use: it is clear that a strip of paper should cost less than an electronic “tablet test” (tablet test) - after all, it is much easier, faster and cheaper to produce. It is safe to say that the price of a pregnancy test is related to the factor of comfort and ease of use. However, none of the listed factors in any way affects the quality and reliability of the main factor - the result of the pregnancy test itself. After all, absolutely all tests are expensive and cheap, Russian or imported, paper and tablet, “immersion” (which must be lowered into a container with urine) or “jet” (placed under a stream of urine), those that have a second strip, and those , in which the color of the main stripe changes - all of them diagnose short-term pregnancy using a patented medical indicator that reacts to the presence of hCG in the urine of the expectant mother. And the price has absolutely nothing to do with it!
Myth No. 3. For a pregnancy test to be reliable, you need a long delay in menstruation.
Many women do not believe that if menstruation is delayed by just two or three days, much less without a delay at all, they can get a reliable result. And they prefer to wait a week or two after the expected (and did not come) menstruation before testing - just to be sure, so to speak! This idea is wrong for two reasons. Firstly, human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine of a pregnant woman increases precisely during the first two to three weeks, which corresponds to the expected period of menstruation and the first week of delay, but later its amount can fluctuate significantly, which can lead to unreliable results. However, there is another, more serious reason not to delay testing for long: early “home” diagnosis of pregnancy using a test and, accordingly, early contact with a specialist allows you to timely identify and prevent the development of various complications of pregnancy, for example, pregnancy of an ectopic location or threat of interruption early stages. So you shouldn’t delay testing too much: it doesn’t have a positive impact on the reliability of the method, but there are more serious options medical examination"delays". To use a pregnancy test, it is quite enough, and especially impatient young ladies can start trying their luck a couple of days before the start of their expected period!
Myth No. 4. To take a pregnancy test, you need to “be patient” until the morning.
The instructions for the pregnancy test indicate that “it is best to conduct the test immediately after sleep: morning urine is more concentrated and the hCG content in it is higher.” Based on this rational advice, some women make too radical conclusions. Conclusion one: only the morning test is reliable; at other times of the day there may be an error. Conclusion two: in order for morning urine to be concentrated, you should not go to the toilet at night - you need to wait until the morning and accumulate “ good material" for research. Both conclusions are absolutely absurd, and the option with “accumulation” of urine is also harmful to the health of the expectant mother. Testing in the morning increases the chances of early diagnosis pregnancy for those who are especially impatient - it is really easier to record the very first, slight bursts of hCG, indicating the birth of a new life, in the morning. However, this does not mean that you cannot trust the second stripe that appears at a different time of day.
As for the idea of not urinating the night before testing in order to increase the reliability of the result, this is not only pointless, but also really not healthy. The accumulation of urine overnight will cause discomfort and sleep disturbance, and the pressure of a full bladder on the uterus can lead to an increase in its tone and the threat of miscarriage. In addition, urine contains many harmful substances formed as a result of metabolic processes and requiring timely removal from the body. Of course, you can urinate if necessary the night before the test - this will not reduce the concentration of the morning urine. During sleep, we do not eat or drink, so the urge to urinate at night is, in principle, much less frequent than during the day - this is what ensures the concentration of the morning portion of urine required for research.
Myth #5: You shouldn't drink before taking a pregnancy test.
Another point in the instructions for the pregnancy test states: on the eve of the test, it is advisable not to drink a lot of liquid. Many women, based on this recommendation, conclude that drinking on the eve of the test is harmful in principle, and decide to completely stop drinking liquids during the evening or even the whole day before testing. The logic is the same as that of the authors of the idea of “bearing it” until the morning: since the concentration of urine affects the diagnosis, it is necessary to increase it as much as possible! And just as in the previous case, this logic is incorrect - complete fluid restriction is very harmful to the health of any person, and especially for the health of the expectant mother!
For the normal functioning of the body, it is important not just the supply of fluid, but also its constant presence in a certain amount: insufficient supply of fluid can have a detrimental effect on health. Water balance is especially important during pregnancy, when the growth and development of the fetus depends on the normal exchange of fluid in the body of the expectant mother.
The average daily fluid requirement before pregnancy is 1.5 liters. While expecting a baby, the body's need for water changes: at the beginning of pregnancy, fluid consumption increases, so you need to consume up to 2 liters per day.
On the eve of the pregnancy test, you can drink - just to increase the reliability of the result, you should not drink too much liquid, especially at night, and also indulge in drinks or foods that have a diuretic effect: this can lead to a decrease in the concentration of urine and make it difficult to diagnose pregnancy early using home remedies test. Diuretic products include watermelons, melons, pineapple, green and black tea, as well as drinks made from sour berries - red and black currants, lingonberries, cranberries, stone fruits, cherries, sweet cherries and rose hips. All of these berries are nephroprotectors, that is, they improve the filtration function of the kidneys and help remove excess fluid from the body. Apples, plums, pears, apricots, quince, mulberry, serviceberry and chokeberry have the same qualities.
Myth No. 6. 5 minutes is not enough for real results.
Manufacturers recommend assessing the result 3-5 minutes after using the pregnancy test. However, distrustful “users” often prefer to wait longer in the hope that the coveted strip will still appear. In fact, there is no point in waiting for a long time for the result: 5 minutes is the maximum time required for the chemical reaction of the indicator for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine. Therefore, waiting beyond this period cannot in any way affect the reliability of the result, confirm it or, on the contrary, refute it. If the coveted strip does not appear after 5 minutes, it will not appear even after several hours, and once it appears, it will not disappear anywhere.
Myth No. 7. It is more reliable to “test” several times a day.
There is another phrase that often becomes a reason for embarrassment for potential expectant mothers. The instructions read: “to confirm the result, it is recommended to repeat the test after 3-4 days.” This means excluding a false negative result (a negative test result in the presence of pregnancy) due to an insufficient amount of hCG in the urine at the time of the first test: if the result is negative, but menstruation does not begin and the suspicion of pregnancy remains, it is worth repeating the test a few days later. During this time, as pregnancy progresses, the amount of hCG in the urine will increase significantly, and the next test will be positive. However, some women misunderstand the purpose of repeated testing and, without delaying the study, conduct testing several times... in one day, believing that this will increase the reliability of the result. There is no particular meaning (as well as harm) in this action. If the coveted line does not appear on the morning test, this may mean two scenarios: either there is no pregnancy, or pregnancy has occurred, but the period is still too short, and the hCG has not been produced enough to be determined using a home test. Since urine is most concentrated in the morning, the researcher has very little chance of recording a positive result during repeated testing throughout the day. And the very increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the body occurs unevenly, “intermittently” with an interval of sometimes up to 1.5–2 days. Most likely, repeating the test multiple times in one day will bring nothing but disappointment and unnecessary grief - it is better to follow the instructions and wait a few days before retesting.
Every woman is destined to experience the first suspicion of conception. Before visiting a gynecologist, the easiest way to check your suspicions is with a simple pharmacy determinant. When is the best time to take a pregnancy test? People are interested in this not only when there is a delay, but also after unprotected sexual intercourse. For some, learning about impending motherhood is touching and exciting; others do not know what to do next if the test is “streaked.” In any case, you cannot do without testing, and it is important to know all the nuances so as not to get a false positive or false negative answer.
How does a pregnancy test work?
Girls who have sexual intercourse must understand that on the days of ovulation, every unprotected sexual intercourse should result in pregnancy. The more sensible ones try to clarify after each “suspicious” sexual intercourse when it is better to take a pregnancy test in order to avoid inaccuracies. Most manufacturers guarantee 99% accuracy, but it is important to read the instructions first.Conception is quite physiological for two sexually mature partners. If fertilization does not occur, there must be some reason. But the majority, having felt changes in the body after the meeting of the egg with the sperm, are surprised possible pregnancy, but they are in no hurry to check.
Any pharmacy has several varieties of “striped girls’ friends.” But not from pharmacists, but from female forms People often ask what to buy and when is the best time to check a pregnancy test at home.
Pharmacy tests differ in a number of parameters:
- verification method;
- analyzer type;
- sensitivity level;
- cost, which includes the popularity of the brand and the reputation of the manufacturer.
Chorion is the developing membrane of the embryo or future placenta, developing in the fertilized egg when fixed in the uterus. But it happens that it stays in the fallopian tubes, and during menstruation you can check a pregnancy test if in doubt.
Attention: The development of an embryo in the tubes or outside the uterus is an ectopic pregnancy that is dangerous to a woman’s health. In the early stages, its detection using conventional tests is problematic!
The molecular level of the hormone increases every day. There are special tests that determine this particular indicator - ask them at pharmacies. Numerical markings 10, 20, 25 or 30 indicate the level of concentration of the “pregnancy hormone” in the urine, expressed in international units or mIU/ml.
The sensitivity threshold of the test is their ability to react to the minimum concentration of hCG. When to take a pregnancy test depends on its “competence”. In the first days, it is better to buy highly sensitive rapid tests. The smaller the digital indicator, the more sensitive the determinant.
The accuracy of the analyzer does not depend on its shape, design and cost - only the reagent on a highly sensitive matrix or an impregnated strip of paper in a special capsule is responsible for this. A symbol, colored stripe or inscription should appear in the result evaluation sector after the reaction. Usually the Latin letters “pregnon” (pregnant) or “non pregnon” (not pregnant) are used.
How many days later and when can you take a pregnancy test?
Entering sex life, every girl or married woman must know what is happening in her womb. It is important to be aware of the peculiarities of your physiology in the first months after fertilization. Then it will be clear when it is better to use a pregnancy test.Implantation of an actively dividing egg into the uterine mucosa occurs approximately on days 7-11, counting from the days of ovulation. This is the release of a mature egg from the follicles in the middle of the cycle. The growth of the hormone level increases to the point at which the active substance of the pregnancy test applied to a strip of paper begins to react to it.
Accordingly, before checking the pregnancy test, you need to wait some time. Immediately after fertilization, nothing will be visible, although a woman may intuitively understand that this is the “X” hour! After 15 days, most tests will streak. But you need to wait at least 10-15 minutes for the analyzer to complete its work.
Attention: How to check a pregnancy test correctly? Read the instructions for use or ask the pharmacy who offers it to you.
In the early stages, inkjet and electronic tests are suitable. The most sensitive reagent used prematurely may be mistaken. And 100% accuracy can be expected from pharmacy testing at approximately 7-12 weeks of pregnancy, when hCG levels are at their highest. This is the answer for ladies who are interested in when does a pregnancy test start to “strip”?
Is it possible to take a pregnancy test in the evening?
Most tests are best done in morning hours, on an empty stomach, when the level of hormones and chemical compounds in the blood is unchanged. This is important when short term pregnancy. Young women are wondering if it is possible to take a pregnancy test in the evening or at other times of the day? It is important to understand that morning urine is the most concentrated, and not every reagent is designed to recognize the minimum amount of the hormone.Attention: Particularly sensitive tests can detect even small concentrations of a substance, so the time of day does not matter.
High-precision inkjet tests are labeled “10 mIU/ml” on the package. They are very convenient to use under any conditions, for example, in a hotel or on the road - after another romantic meeting or honeymoon. To do this, you do not need to look for a suitable container; you can simply urinate on the indicated part of the device. That is why they are called “jet”, and within a week such a pregnancy test will show the result.
Sometimes girls (or their boyfriends) buy 2-3 tests different types, so that if one makes a mistake, check again. How many pregnancy tests should you take? How to find out which reagent did not lie? Any instructions say that the reliability of the analysis is 95–99%; therefore, an error is possible. There is also a false positive answer - the test “streaked”, but there was no pregnancy. And what to do if the test shows pregnancy, but this is a false positive result? Don’t rush to conclusions, get checked again, and later have an ultrasound scan at the clinic.
There are several reasons for erroneous answers:
- drank the night before a large number of fluids (blood and urine are very diluted);
- the gestational age is insufficient for testing;
- there are traces of fertility drugs with hormones in the body or tumors that produce complex molecules like hCG;
- the test was used incorrectly or on the wrong side (read the instructions);
- test with low sensitivity;
- pregnancy test - not morning urine, hCG level is not high enough to determine the hormone;
- pharmacy test with expired expiration date (check before purchasing) or broken seal;
- violation of storage conditions (pharmacy kiosk on the market, sales in the cold);
- there are remains of biomaterial in the uterus after an abortion, spontaneous miscarriage or premature birth.
In girls who have had problems with the frequency of menstruation, a false negative result may be affected individual characteristics. With pathologies, it is even more difficult to answer what time to take a pregnancy test. The hormonal levels “jump” when paired female organs do not work synchronously. It happens that mature eggs leave the follicles in different days, then it is difficult to determine the exact days of ovulation.
Low tubal patency can increase the embryo's travel time by several days. The mobility of the fertilized egg in the tubes also varies. In this case, it is difficult to say how early you can take a pregnancy test, especially with an irregular cycle.
You can read interesting remarks on women's forums. For example, “I’m afraid to take a pregnancy test, it’s suddenly negative” or “I took a test this morning, but I’m afraid to look, it’s suddenly positive.” If it comes to suspecting conception, feel free to go all the way to the last point. Have an easy pregnancy, safe birth and happy motherhood!
So, you saw the coveted two stripes on the test, but doubts creep into your head - what if there was an error? We've collected answers to the 10 most common questions about pregnancy tests.
1. How does a pregnancy test work?
All pregnancy tests operate on the same principle - they recognize a special hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine (tests for home use) or blood (laboratory tests). It is produced only during pregnancy. A non-pregnant woman simply cannot have it. The level of hCG in the body from the moment the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus doubles approximately every 2-3 days and reaches a maximum at 7-12 weeks of pregnancy. Its presence in the blood and urine persists until approximately the third week after the birth of the child.
2. Can a pregnancy test be taken during the day? What time of day is best to do it?
Usually, morning urine is used to perform a pregnancy test, as it is more concentrated. But there is a test that can be done both during the day and in the evening - exact time doesn't matter. This is a jet test. They are especially sensitive (look for the 10 mIU/ml mark on the package), and when using them, there is no need to collect urine anywhere - just put the test under the stream.
3. Are pregnancy tests wrong?
All instructions say that pregnancy tests are 95–99% accurate. This means that there is a chance that the result will be incorrect. So, false negative the result (the test does not show pregnancy, although there is one) is possible if:
you performed the test too early and the level of hCG in the urine is still too low;
the test has expired (read the packaging carefully before buying the test);
you performed the test incorrectly (read the instructions carefully, everything is extremely simple there);
Drinking too much liquid the day before the test can dilute the urine and reduce the concentration of hCG.
The test can also show false positive result (there is no pregnancy, but the test says that there is).
This happens if you are taking fertility drugs that contain hCG (usually in the form of injections);
In the presence of malignant tumors;
A positive pregnancy test result may also mean that remnants of the fertilized egg remain in the uterus after premature birth or miscarriage.
4. On what day of delay should I test? Does it make sense to take a pregnancy test before your delay?
The sensitivity of pregnancy tests plays a big role. In general, most tests have a sensitivity of 20–25 mIU/mL (international units per mL). They are able to recognize pregnancy only from the first day of missed menstruation. Whereas there are more sensitive (10 mIU/ml), but also more expensive tests that determine pregnancy before the delay - already 7-10 days from the moment of expected conception. And after a week of delay, any tests will show pregnancy (if there is one). The level of hCG in the blood grows faster than in the urine, so pregnancy can be determined even before the expected menstruation (but not earlier than 7 days from the date of expected conception) - using a blood test for hCG, which can be done in antenatal clinic or in commercial laboratories.
5. How to use a pregnancy test correctly?
There are different types of pregnancy tests, and they must be used in accordance with the instructions for each of them. For example:
Strip tests (test strips)
These are the simplest, cheapest and most common tests. The strip needs to be lowered for 10–20 seconds to a certain mark in a container with morning urine (it is the most concentrated). After this, the test should be placed on a horizontal surface and after a few minutes the result can be assessed. One line means you are not pregnant, the test showed two lines - pregnancy has occurred.
Tablet tests
They are designed in the same way as strip tests. Only the paper strip is placed in a plastic case. And the previously collected morning urine needs to be dropped into a special hole with the pipette included with the test. One or two stripes on the test will also tell you about the result.
Inkjet tests
Their convenience is that there is no need to collect urine anywhere - just place the test under the stream. In this case, urine does not have to be morning. Inkjet pregnancy tests are usually more sensitive. Again, a positive test result means two lines, and if only one line appears, then the test shows a negative result.
Electronic tests
These tests have a special strip - a sample receiver, which can optionally be lowered into a container with urine or placed under the stream. The result is read in 3 minutes. If “+” or the inscription “pregnant” appears on the test, you are pregnant, but if “–” or “not pregnant”, you are not.
6. Why is there a weak second stripe?
Even if the test shows a weak second line, this still means that you are pregnant, it’s just that the level of hCG in your blood is not that high yet. If in doubt, retest in 3-4 days. The hCG level will become much higher, and then the strip will be much brighter.
7. The best pregnancy test - what is it?
The answer to this question may vary depending on what you need. If you want to find out as early as possible whether you are pregnant, it is best to donate blood in a laboratory (no earlier than 7 days after the expected conception). If convenience is important to you, then some people prefer jet tests, which can be used during the day and for which you do not need to collect urine anywhere. For some, on the contrary, putting the test under the stream seems labor-intensive, and it is easier for them to collect the urine in a special jar, and then put the cheapest paper test (strip test) in there.
8. Online test for pregnancy - what is it?
IN best case scenario- just a hoax. At worst, it’s a way for scammers to make money (when, for example, to pass a test you first need to send an SMS to a specific number). There are different types of tests. Some suggest placing your finger on the blue square on the screen, and if within a few minutes it turns red, you are pregnant. However, even if you don’t put your finger on the screen, the square will turn red on its own after a while. Other tests ask you to answer a series of questions before making a verdict. For example, “Have you had unprotected sex recently?” and “Do you feel engorgement in your breasts?”
9. Does the test indicate an ectopic pregnancy?
If the fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, a regular pregnancy test will still be positive. True, if you do not intervene in time, the ectopic pregnancy will terminate on its own at 7-8 weeks, and all this will be accompanied by significant blood loss, pain and serious problems for the woman’s health. To avoid this, early signs ectopic pregnancy It is better to detect in advance and terminate such a pregnancy in a hospital. An ectopic pregnancy may be indicated, in particular, by nagging pain in the lower abdomen and spotting in the background. positive test for pregnancy. If you notice these symptoms, immediately go to the gynecologist. It will carry out, and if the pregnancy is ectopic, then there will be no fertilized egg in the uterus, but there will be growth of the epithelium, as with normal pregnancy. If you belong to a risk group (adhesions, inflammation of the appendages, or have had an ectopic pregnancy before), it is better to do a qualitative blood test over time. During an ectopic pregnancy, the level of hCG in the blood is lower than during a normal pregnancy, and the test will immediately show this.
10. What stage of pregnancy does the test show? Will the test show the week of pregnancy?
Neither a strip test, nor a tablet, nor an inkjet, nor an electronic test will tell you your gestational age. They are exclusively qualitative in nature - “yes” or “no”. But you can still find out the approximate gestational age. If you do a quantitative blood test in the laboratory. He will determine the exact level of hCG in the blood, after which the doctor will be able to tell which week of pregnancy it corresponds to. Doing such a test is, in particular, useful to recognize a frozen pregnancy in the early stages. If the embryo freezes in development, the hCG level stops growing, which will be seen in this analysis.
Aglaya Jaermund