Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Is There An Error Proof Pregnancy Test?

Pregnancy testing has come a long way. It no longer takes a doctor visit and waiting days for the results. You can now purchase an over the counter pregnancy test and have your results in as little as five minutes. But do you know how home pregnancy test work? Do you know the best time to take a test? This article will answer these questions and give some good advice about error proof pregnancy tests.

The home pregnancy tests that you can buy today work by detecting hCG, which stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This is a hormone that is secreted by the placenta shortly after a fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine lining. This implantation takes place about six days after fertilization. Then the amount of hCG starts to increase very rapidly. In fact, it doubles every two days. By the time you miss your period, the amount should be detectable in your urine. But if you want to increase your chances of an accurate result you should wait at least a week after you miss your period to take a pregnancy test.

It is important that you read all of the instructions thoroughly before you take your pregnancy test. These tests were designed to be very simple to use, but you should be familiar with the testing process and how long you should wait before you read the test. Some test require that you pee into a cup and then place a few drops of urine on the testing stick, while others let you pee directly onto the testing stick. It is very important that you follow the testing instructions to the letter if you want an accurate result.

All home pregnancy tests will have a control box that shows that the test is working properly. This should not be confused with a positive result. Make sure that you know where the control box or control line should be. If your control line does not show up on your test, throw your test out and get another one. The absence of a control line means that the test is not working properly and will not give you an accurate result. Always check the expiration date on the box. If it is expired throw it away and get a new test.

It is always a good idea to test the first morning urine. This is when your urine is the most concentrated and would have the highest levels of hCG. Over the counter pregnancy tests will say that you don't have to wait for the first morning urine to get a result, but if you want to be absolutely sure, testing the first morning urine is a good idea. The hCG could be diluted at other times during the day, especially if you drink a lot of water or other liquids.

If you have a negative result and still think you might be pregnant, wait a few days and do another test. Sometimes ovulation may have occurred later in your cycle. If the test is still negative and you don't have a period, see your doctor.

The most important things to remember when using an over the counter pregnancy test is to read the instructions and make sure that enough time has passed since your missed period. If you do these two things, your home pregnancy test can really be an error proof pregnancy test.

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