Pregnancy Test Information
You can either buy a home pregnancy test (a urine test) from a local pharmacy without a prescription, or you can have a pregnancy test (urine or blood tests) in a doctor’s office. Home pregnancy tests involve urinating on a strip or collecting your urine in a cup to measure the level of hCG, a pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta. You will be looking for a change in color, a line, or a symbol (such as a plus or minus) to appear on the strip, which will indicate whether or not you are pregnant. When done correctly, both types of urine pregnancy tests (home vs doctor) have about the same accuracy (99% effective when used as instructed). Here’s a bit more information about home pregnancy tests:
Top Home Pregnancy Tests
1. First Response Pregnancy Test Kit
2. Clear Blue Easy Pregnancy Digital Test
3. e.p.t. Pregnancy Test
4. Answer Pregnancy Test
5. Fact Plus Pregnancy Test
6. Equate Pregnancy Test
Cost = $7.99 – $19.99
Things to Consider:
1. Wait at least 10 days after the date of unprotected sex to reduce the risk of a false negative response. The urine pregnancy tests measure the levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a pregnancy hormone, which becomes detectable about 10 days after conception if you are pregnant. Experts recommend waiting at least 5-10 days after your period is officially late in order to ensure accuracy of the tests. If the test is negative, wait a few days to see if menstruation begins. If you don’t get your period, take the test again, and see your doctor if you have any questions or are unsure about the test results.
2. Note that different pregnancy tests detect different levels of hCG. The smaller the amount of hCG the test can detect, the eariler it can detect a pregancy.
3. It’s best to take the test in the morning, which is when hCG levels are most easily detected. If you take it later in the day, try to make sure that urine has been in your bladder for at least 4 hours. Don’t drink excessive amounts of water before taking the test since that will dilute your urine.
4. Read the instructions of the test fully BEFORE starting the test, and follow all of the steps exactly.
5. Some fertility drugs and medications may interfere with the accuracy of the test results. Problems with the pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnany, may alter the test results as well. See your doctor if you have questions about your test results.
6. Blood tests are more expensive than urine tests and are rarely done as a routine procedure, but they are slightly more sensitive than urine tests since they can detect very small levels of hCG. It may take several hours to a day to obtain test results since the blood sample must be sent to the lab. Blood tests can be done if a woman is undergoing fertility treatment or if the doctor suspects a problem with the pregnancy.
