Home Pregnancy tests are a simple and affordable way for women to determine from home whether they are pregnant. This article will provide an overview of what a home pregnancy test is, how it works and how it compares to blood tests.
The Facts
A home pregnancy test (also known as HPT) displays the amount of pregnancy hormone in a woman's urine to determine whether she is pregnant. The name of this hormone is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and it is released into the body when a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining. This can happen from five to 10 days after conception. Home pregnancy tests are fairly accurate at detecting this hormone in the urine. However, different brands detect the hormone at different levels.
Time Frame
Many brands of HPT like to boast that they can detect pregnancy as early as the first day of a woman's missed period. Although this has been proven in a few cases to be true, most women will not produce enough hCG to be detected until at least a week after she has missed a period. Some brands do detect lower levels of the hormone in the urine, but you will receive a more accurate result by waiting at least a week for the hCG to build up in your system. By testing too early, you run the risk of getting a false negative result due to insufficient amounts of the hormone in your urine. If you test early and receive a negative result, it is wise to wait and test again in a week or so.
Type
There are a few types of home pregnancy test on the market, although they all work in a similar fashion. The most popular instructs the woman to hold a dipstick in her urine stream for 10 seconds, replace the cap and wait for the results. Still another says to collect urine in a cup and dip the stick into the urine, while another provides a dropper to put a few drops of urine into a collection well. The next step with all of these methods is always the same---to wait. Usually the instructions say to wait anywhere from two to five minutes and the results will appear in the test window. There is one line that will always show up; this is the control line and it is there to assure that the test is working properly. If you are pregnant, a second line will appear in addition to the control line (in some cases making a plus sign). In the early stages of pregnancy, this line may be very faint. No matter how faint the line, a second line means a positive result. Recently, companies have developed a digital test that gives a result on a digital screen of "pregnant" or "not pregnant." This takes the guess work out of reading the lines, but these tests tend to be much more expensive than their standard counterparts.
Benefits
Home pregnancy tests offer an affordable and simple alternative to receiving a blood test in a doctor's office. HPTs can be purchased in any drugstore or super store and cost from $4 to $20, depending on the brand and type. By taking a home pregnancy test, you can save yourself a trip to the doctor--as well as a co-pay.
Expert Insight
Although pregnancy tests are fairly accurate, you should always consult your doctor if you feel you may be pregnant; and if you do get a positive result, make an appointment as soon as possible for an exam. It is recommended to receive care as early as possible in your pregnancy to ensure the health of you and your unborn baby.
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