Pregnancy is a very delicate phase in a woman’s life. In fact, it is probably the most crucial nine months we will ever experience. Our lives are actually at stake as we carry our babies in our womb. Proper prenatal care makes all the difference! It is the best way to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy.
To make sure that you get the prenatal care you need and deserve, you need to know, as early as possible, that you are pregnant. Knowing so is the first step towards a healthy pregnancy!
The most convenient way to determine pregnancy is using home pregnancy tests. Let us take a look at how they work, what are the advantages of using one, and what are the best options in the market today.
Table of Contents
How Does A Pregnancy Test Work?
All pregnancy tests work the same way. Be it using your blood or urine sample, they detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your body. This is a hormone produced during pregnancy. Specifically, it is released immediately after the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of your uterus.
Usually, the production of hCG occurs about a week after fertilization. Once produced, the hCG level in your body increases steadily. In fact, it doubles every two to three days. So, a pregnancy test is likely to indicate the most accurate results then. Taking it too early might only lead to false-positive or false-negative results.
What Are Home Pregnancy Tests?
Home pregnancy tests are the most common pregnancy tests. Basically, they determine pregnancy by reacting to the presence of hCG in your urine.
Most women prefer buying home pregnancy tests. There are a lot of advantages to it. Let us name them one by one!
Advantages Of Home Pregnancy Tests
1. They Are Accessible.
The good thing about home pregnancy tests is that they are easily available. You can find them at your nearest drugstores and grocery stores. Nowadays, even 24/7 convenience stores have them!
If you badly want to know whether or not you are pregnant, you can simply run to the nearest convenience store— even at the wee hours of the night!
2. They Are Affordable
A home pregnancy test is also relatively cheaper than paying your physician a visit to get tested. Similarly, it is the most cost-efficient method of determining pregnancy if you are trying to conceive.
You can conduct the test every time you think you are pregnant or simply whenever you want to check; and it would not hurt your pocket.
On average, these kits just vary anywhere between $8 and $20. However, there are some kits cheaper than $8.
3. They Are Convenient
Most women prefer these kits over paying a visit to their physicians. It is a hassle-free method to check whether you are pregnant or not. All you have to do is pee on a stick! As simple as that and in a few minutes, you will already know whether or not you have conceived.
4. They Are Reliable
Another good thing about home pregnancy tests is that they are 99% to 100% accurate. The only chance they will provide inaccurate results is when you either failed to follow the instructions correctly or took the test too early.
There are certain factors affecting the accuracy of a home pregnancy test. First, of course, it depends on how accurately you followed the instructions. Another factor would be your ovulation cycle. How soon implantation occurs after intercourse may also affect accuracy. Also, the sensitivity of the stick is a factor!
To get accurate results, all you have to do is follow the instructions accordingly. The best time to take the test is about two to three days after a missed period. However, you could also take it immediately after missing your period.
5. They Ensure Your Privacy
Your privacy is your right, but you cannot prevent people from speculating or starting rumors. It is for this reason that many women hesitate visiting their physicians to get a pregnancy test.
To keep it as private as possible, it is best to conduct it at home. This is exactly what home pregnancy tests provide. You will be the first one to find out about the result, and it will be just around the people you want to have around.
6. They Provide Results Quickly
Unlike pregnancy tests in clinics, diagnostic centers, health centers, and hospitals, these kits provide you with the results in just a few minutes. The process is really simple and quick. Pee on a stick and wait for a few minutes to find out the results. Just like that, you will already know if you are going to become a mother!
How To Use A Home Pregnancy Test
As I have mentioned earlier, it is easy to use home pregnancy tests. Depending on what you have, generally, you can perform it through any of the following ways:
- Hold the pregnancy test stick in your urine stream;
- Collect your urine sample in a clean container and dip the pregnancy test stick into it;
- Pee in a clean container and use a sterilized dropper to either put some urine sample in another clean container, where you would dip the pregnancy test stick, or to put it directly on the stick.
Wait for a few minutes for the test result. Depending on the kit, the pregnancy test stick may show a color, line, or sign to indicate pregnancy. This is for the conventional ones. For the digital, you will see either “pregnant” or “not pregnant”. In some cases, the words “yes” and “no” are used— the former for pregnant and the latter for not pregnant.
5 Highly Recommended Home Pregnancy Test Kits
There are hundreds of options you can find the stores today. However, how do you know which are truly reliable and trusted? Here to make it all easier for you, I have listed five of the most trusted and widely used pregnancy test kits. The following are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
1. AccuMed Pregnancy Test Strips Kit
This kit is available in 25-strip, 50-strip, and 100-strip pack options. Prices range from $8 to $15.
It is one of the most reliable home pregnancy test kits, providing accurate results up to five days before the expected day of your period. You simply need to collect your urine sample in a clean container then dip the stick into it. The maximum waiting time is five minutes. You could even see the result in less than five minutes, depending on how fast the reaction is.
2. Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test
This home pregnancy test is one of those delivering the fastest results. You could know whether you are pregnant or not in as fast as one minute! It indicates the result using positive and negative signs.
It also has an innovative design. With a long, curved stick, wider tip, and a cap, it is more hygienic than most kits. It is also less messy and less likely to produce erratic results with the Floodguard technology, which prevents urine from entering the device.
For as low as $12, you can determine pregnancy up to five days before the start of your supposed period.
3. First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test
This is a well-known brand in the industry, having been around for decades. Six days before the expected start of your period, you can already use it to find out if you are pregnant.
It shows results in just three minutes or less! Two lines in the window indicate positive and one line indicates negative.
More importantly, it detects all types of pregnancy hormones. Most home pregnancy test kits only react to hCG. For $13, you can already have one pack with three strips.
4. MediTesti Ovulation And Pregnancy Test
This combo kit is available for just $20. It includes 50 ovulation test strips and 25 pregnancy test strips, all of which are wrapped individually. The waiting period for the result of both tests lasts for up to five minutes.
The ovulation test is helpful for those who are trying to get pregnant. It indicates the two days of the month when you are most likely to conceive. This happens by identifying the changes occurring in your body before your ovary potentially produces egg. One of these changes is the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, where LH levels in your urine rise.
5. TrueStick Early Pregnancy Test
You can get this kit with 25 strips for as low as $8. It will show accurate results up to four days before your anticipated period date. Simply collect your urine sample in a clean container and dip the stick in it for 10 seconds. The waiting time usually lasts from three to five minutes. If you are pregnant, you will see two lines appear in the window. Otherwise, you will see just one.
To Wrap It Up…
Knowing that you are pregnant is the first step towards a healthy pregnancy. Some women do not even exhibit common symptoms during the first few weeks or even months, so it is really hard to tell.
Using home pregnancy tests every time you miss a period is one healthy practice. They are cheap, convenient, and reliable. They also guarantee your privacy along with quick results.
A lot of options can be found at your local drugstores and grocery stores, but make sure that you opt for those approved by the FDA. Generally, to get accurate results, you just have to follow instructions carefully. The test strip should not be expired as well.
I hope you have learned something new from today’s discussion! Do you have any topic in mind that you wish for us to discuss here? Feel free to let us know!
More Tips and Tricks from TheWiseMum.Com Lists:
- The Signs You May Be Pregnant
- What are the Risks of IUD Pregnancy?
- All You Need to Know About False Pregnancy!
Sources:
- https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/pregnancy-tests
- http://www.clearblue.com/pregnancy-tests/rapid-detection
- https://accumed.com/pregnancy-tests-and-fertility-ovulation-tests/accumedr-pregnancy-hcg-test-strips-kit-clear-and-accurate-results-fda-approved-and-over-99-accurate-50-count.html
- https://accumepregnancy-testsd.com/products.html/
- http://www.firstresponse.com/Products/Pregnancy/Early-Result-Pregnancy-Test#nested_tab_how_to_read_results
- https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/
