Reliability of folk pregnancy tests. Are pregnancy tests reliable? Almost all types of modern tests consist of two zones
Home pregnancy testing has been possible since 1971. It was one of the most useful and convenient inventions, according to women (and many men too). Of course, the first systems for testing were not distinguished by an extremely high degree of ease of use and highly accurate results. But over the years, the tests have gone through several stages of improvement, and today with their help we can get the result within a few seconds, being anywhere. But how can he be trusted?
Can a pregnancy test be wrong and how often does it happen? Let's discuss.
Pregnancy Tests: Reliability Percentage
The invention of test strips was a real breakthrough in medicine. But over time, the wave of enthusiasm faded slightly. No, the test systems more than justified themselves, only doubts began to arise about the reliability declared by their manufacturers. Increasingly, women began to complain about receiving false results, and gradually the percentage of reliability of pregnancy tests from the 99% declared in the instructions began to decline modestly: 97%, 96%, 95%.
Attempts to evaluate the reliability of the results obtained in the process of home testing have been repeatedly undertaken by various research organizations. But in reality, it turned out to be difficult to implement this idea due to the influence of a large number of objective and subjective factors on the final result of testing.
In general, the researchers agreed that the accuracy modern tests quite high, but it is slightly lower than stated in the instructions. According to some reports, approximately 16% of them are able to determine pregnancy on the first day of delay, but already on the 3rd day of delay in menstruation, the vast majority of pharmacy tests will cope with the task.
Meanwhile, firstly, even such a reliability of the result is very high, and secondly, most often not the test itself is “guilty” of obtaining false data, but other circumstances.
Can a pregnancy test lie?
Whatever diagnostic method is discussed, the probability of error always exists! And even ultrasound can be wrong. It is not uncommon for pregnancy tests to show false negative or false positive results, with the former being much more common.
There are many reasons why a test might “lie”:
- Low product quality. This includes violations not only in the production of such funds, but also in their storage. If the test is expired, stored in unsuitable conditions for this, or was damaged during operation (foreign substances got into the reagent or urine), the probability of an unreliable result increases.
- Violation of the rules of use. Even the cheapest strips contain step-by-step instructions for the correct testing, and for products from different manufacturers, it may have some differences. Therefore, before starting the manipulation, you need to carefully study the instructions: which end to lower the strip into the urine, to what level, how long to keep, when you can read the results.
- Testing too early. Admittedly, this is one of the most common reasons why girls who are already pregnant get a negative result. The explanation is very simple: the test is able to determine pregnancy only when the amount of a special hormone hCG (produced by a fertilized egg) in a woman’s body rises to a certain level. On average, this happens 15 days after conception, and therefore very often a test carried out already on the first day of the delay shows a reliable positive result. Meanwhile, it is never known for sure on which day of the cycle the conception took place (ovulation may be shifted, spermatozoa have different activities), how quickly this particular fetal egg develops and when exactly it is implanted in the uterus and begins to produce hCG.
- "Bad" urine. The hCG hormone is excreted along with urine, and therefore the more concentrated it is, the more reliable the result will be. For this reason, it is recommended to test in the morning with the first portion of urine: the reliability of the test in the evening is markedly reduced, especially at the most early dates. Diuretic foods and drinks taken the day before can also dilute urine. In addition, hCG in the urine may appear as a result of taking medications containing it, and as a result, a false positive test.
- Hormonal tumors. There are such formations that can produce the hormone hCG in the body of a woman, which has nothing to do with pregnancy. If the result was positive, but there are absolutely no reasons to suspect pregnancy, then it is better to be examined by a gynecologist to exclude the presence of such neoplasms.
- Diseases of the genitourinary tract and cardiovascular system. Since hCG is excreted from the body by the kidneys, disturbances in the functioning of these organs can cause inaccurate data. However, this does not mean at all that if a woman has polycystic ovaries, cystitis or pyelonephritis, then the test will not show pregnancy. It's just a matter of existing probability.
- Pathological pregnancy: frozen, ectopic, developmental delay gestational sac, risk of miscarriage. In all these cases, the production of hCG by the chorion may be insufficient, so the test will not respond to an increase in the concentration of this hormone in the urine.
Please note that no other diseases or conditions, whether diabetes, viral diseases, alcohol and medications, menopause, etc., do not affect the results. The reliability of pregnancy tests while breastfeeding and taking OCs is just as high if tested correctly. But any of these factors, including diet, stress, or a change in the climate zone, can affect the period of ovulation and the length of the cycle, that is, lead to its failure, and in this case, the test may show the onset of pregnancy later.
Reliability of pregnancy tests with soda, with iodine
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the tests themselves. They are different: both in cost and in the way they are carried out. The most modern (and by default - reliable) are the test systems of the latest generation: inkjet and digital. Such devices cost an order of magnitude more expensive than conventional strips, but they are more convenient to use and less likely to make mistakes.
Nevertheless, the simplest test strips available to any woman are able to cope with the task assigned to them no worse than expensive analogues. After all, the principle of operation of absolutely all pharmacy tests designed to determine pregnancy at home is the same. Each test system (from the primitive to the most advanced) contains a reactive substance that can react with hCG, displaying the result on the screen or on the strip. This is how we learn about pregnancy. But this reaction occurs only if the concentration of hCG in the test urine is high enough. The smaller the amount of the hormone the test is able to “respond to”, the more sensitive it is, and the sooner it is able to show a positive result. So, the most common tests show the second band already at a concentration of hCG in the urine of 25 Mme / ml (this threshold is indicated on the test packaging). The sensitivity of the test system, which is 10 Mme / ml, indicates that the reliability of such a pregnancy test will be high even before the delay of menstruation.
Despite this, gynecologists recommend not to force events and, in order to avoid receiving false data, test no earlier than the 3rd day after the delay in menstruation: the later, the more reliable it will be (the most accurate data can be obtained a week after the delay). Moreover, regardless of the result obtained, doctors advise repeating the test at least 1 more time after a few days: the level of hCG in the urine of a pregnant woman doubles every second day.
It should be recognized that in hotel cases, the test does not show the onset of pregnancy for quite a long time. This may indicate the development of the fetus with pathologies or ectopic. But also many of these pregnancies are quite safe, it's just that hCG in women does not grow as rapidly as usual.
In order not to worry in vain, in cases where the situation remains in question, it is better to immediately contact a gynecologist. Keep in mind that ultrasound very rarely “sees” a fetal egg in the uterus in the first days of delay, so it’s better not to rely on ultrasound in this sense. But if you want to make sure for sure whether you are pregnant or not, when the test result is in doubt, then the right decision would be to take a blood test for hCG: this study is considered the most accurate!
It is clear that folk ways in this case, generally unreliable. There can be no talk about their accuracy, the doctors are sure. Meanwhile, practice shows that in almost half of the cases the results of people's tests coincide with the real ones. Most often, girls discuss on forums the reliability of pregnancy tests with soda and iodine. And for half of those who tried these methods, the result was correct. So if knowing the real picture is not so important for you, then you can “tell fortunes” - on soda, iodine, or in another way. Otherwise, such methods cannot be trusted.
Be sure to visit a doctor if the test showed a positive result: you need to make sure that the embryo develops in the right place and there are no violations. It is also necessary to visit a gynecologist in the case when the test is negative, but there is still no menstruation.
Especially for - Ekaterina Vlasenko
Home pregnancy tests do not require special conditions and medical knowledge, they are easy to use ... and, apparently, this is why consumers distrust. There is a very common belief that all pregnancy tests are “lies”, results, both positive and negative, can be unreliable, and even that “home tests are pure scam”. And all because, according to the doubters, it is impossible to determine pregnancy with a stick soaked in urine for a period of just a couple of weeks. 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 in the urine of a pregnant woman of hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin. This highly specific protein is secreted exclusively by the tissues of the embryo and enters the maternal body with 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 found in the urine expectant mother enough to carry out the test. Usually this period corresponds to the first days of delayed 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 the stream of urine directly in the process of urination, others must be lowered into a container of urine for a few seconds. It should be noted that home tests are always supplied with detailed instruction with explanatory pictures.
Of course, like any other product, a pregnancy test can be defective. A control strip should be visible at one end of the test. By its presence, the suitability of the test is judged. Therefore, before use, you need to carefully examine the test and make sure that the control strip is present. If the result is positive, a second band appears next to the control or (on some imported tests) the color of the control band changes. If the second band (or color change - depending on the manufacturer) does not appear, the result is negative, and there is no hCG, which indicates the onset of pregnancy, in the woman's body.
With some features of the woman's health status, the test can give a false negative result, that is, it cannot determine the onset of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that chorionic gonadotropin does not always accumulate evenly in the blood of the expectant mother, and therefore there may be an 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 strip appears, or it appears only partially (half, third, or completely dotted). Sometimes, with a very low level of hCG, the cherished strip does not appear at all.
The reliability of the test result can be affected by diet errors (for example, a protein-free diet, against which the production of hormones is significantly reduced), the use of diuretics, kidney disease, accompanied by a violation of urine formation. Another reason for a false negative result (there is 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 the expected ovulation: after all, 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, on the contrary, the beginning of the cycle. In this case real term pregnancy at the time of testing may be less than a week, and the level of hCG in the urine will still be too small to be "captured" by a home test.
All of the above options for test errors are associated with hormonal disorders or too short a gestational age. According to statistics, they make up only 0.3% and cannot serve as a reason for “accusing” a home pregnancy test of being unreliable. With a normal regular menstrual cycle and the absence of diseases of the kidneys and endocrine system of a woman, 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 buying a product: unfortunately, by price, it is far from always possible to judge the quality of a product. As for the choice of test, the difference in price between them is usually not very significant. Different prices on the same, in fact, tests are explained by the usual marketing criteria: country of origin, brand popularity, shipping costs, taxes, customs duties, packaging format, discounts or changing prices for a batch when purchasing. The price of the test is also determined by the cost of production and the emphasis on usability: it is clear that a strip of paper should cost less than an electronic "tablet" (tablet test) - because 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 comfort factor and ease of use. However, none of these 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 - expensive and cheap, Russian or imported, paper and tablet, "submersible" (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 , which change the color of the main band - they all 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 nothing to do with it!
Myth No. 3. For the reliability of a pregnancy test, a large delay in menstruation is needed.
Many women do not believe that with a delay in menstruation of only two or three days, and even more so without a delay at all, you can get a reliable result. And they prefer to wait a week or two after the expected (and not come) menstruation before testing - so, so to speak, for sure! This idea is wrong for two reasons. Firstly, chorionic gonadotropin in the urine of a pregnant woman increases precisely during the first two to three weeks, which corresponds to the expected period 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 for not postponing testing for a long time: early “home” diagnosis of pregnancy using a test and, accordingly, early contact with a specialist allows timely detection and prevention of the development of various pregnancy complications, for example, ectopic pregnancy or threat of interruption in the early stages. So it’s not worth pulling hard with testing: this does not give a positive effect on the reliability of the method, but it “delays” more serious options for a medical examination. It is quite enough to use a pregnancy test, and especially impatient young ladies can start trying their luck a couple of days before the start of the expected menstruation!
Myth number 4. To conduct a pregnancy test, you need to “endure” until the morning
The instructions for the pregnancy test indicate that "it is best to conduct a study immediately after sleep: morning urine is more concentrated, and the content of hCG in it is higher." Based on this rational advice, some women draw 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 the morning urine to be concentrated, you can’t go to the toilet at night - you have to endure until the morning and accumulate “ good stuff" for research. Both conclusions are absolutely absurd, and the option with the "accumulation" of urine is also harmful to the health of the expectant mother. Testing in the morning increases the chances of an early diagnosis of pregnancy for those who are especially impatient - it is really easier to fix the very first, slight bursts of hCG, indicating the birth of a new life, in the morning. However, this does not mean at all that you cannot trust the second strip that appeared at a different time of the day.
As for the idea of not urinating the evening before the test to increase the reliability of the result, it is not only pointless, but really not healthy. The accumulation of urine during the night 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 termination of pregnancy. 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 on the night before the study - this will not reduce the concentration of the morning portion of urine. During sleep, we do not eat or drink, so the urge to urinate at night is, in principle, much less common than during the day - this is what provides the concentration of the morning portion of urine necessary for the study.
Myth #5: Don't Drink Before a Pregnancy Test
Another paragraph of the instructions for the pregnancy test says: 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 refuse to drink 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 “enduring” until the morning: since the concentration of urine affects the diagnosis, it is necessary to increase it as much as possible! And just like in the previous case, this logic is wrong - the complete restriction of fluid is very harmful to the health of any person, and especially to the health of the expectant mother!
For the normal functioning of the body, it is important not only the intake of fluid, but also its constant presence in a certain amount: insufficient intake of fluid can adversely affect health. The 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 waiting for the baby, the body's need for water changes: at the beginning of pregnancy, fluid consumption increases, so you need to consume it up to 2 liters per day.
You can drink on the eve of the pregnancy test - just to increase the reliability of the result, you should not drink too much liquid, especially at night, and also lean on drinks or foods that have a diuretic effect: this can lead to a decrease in urine concentration and make it difficult to diagnose pregnancy early using home test. Diuretic products include watermelons, melons, pineapple, green and black tea, as well as drinks from sour berries - red and black currants, lingonberries, cranberries, stone berries, cherries, cherries and rose hips. All of these berries are nephroprotectors, that is, they improve the filtration function of the kidneys and contribute to the removal of excess fluid from the body. Apples, plums, pears, apricots, quince, mulberry, shadberry and chokeberry have the same qualities.
Myth No. 6. 5 minutes is not enough for real results.
Manufacturers recommend evaluating the result 3-5 minutes after taking the pregnancy test. However, incredulous “users” often prefer to wait a little longer in the hope that the coveted strip will still appear. In fact, there is no point in waiting for the result for a long time: 5 minutes is the maximum time required for the chemical reaction of the indicator to the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine. Therefore, waiting beyond this period can in no way affect the reliability of the result, confirm it or, on the contrary, refute it. Having not appeared after 5 minutes, the coveted strip will not appear even after a few hours, and, having appeared, it will not disappear anywhere.
Myth #7: It's safer to "test" several times a day.
There is another phrase that often becomes a reason for embarrassment of potential expectant mothers. The instruction reads: "to confirm the result, the test is recommended to be repeated after 3-4 days." This refers to the exclusion of 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 pregnancy is suspected, it is worth repeating the test after a few days. During this time, with the development of pregnancy, the amount of hCG in the urine will increase significantly, and the next test will be positive. However, some women misunderstand the purpose of retesting and, without delaying the study, they test several times ... in one day, believing that this will increase the reliability of the result. There is no special meaning (as well as harm) in this action. If the cherished strip does not appear on the morning test, this can mean two scenarios: either there is no pregnancy, or the pregnancy has come, but the period is still too short, and hCG has not been developed enough to be determined using a home test. Since urine is most concentrated in the morning, the researcher has very little chance of getting a positive result with repeated tests during the day. And the very increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the body occurs unevenly, “jumps” with an interval of sometimes up to 1.5–2 days. Most likely, apart from disappointment and unnecessary grief, repeated repetition of the test in one day will not bring anything - it is better to follow the instructions and wait a few days before re-testing.
AnonymousTime: 23:55 The date: 17/06/03
Tell me, how reliable are the tests (such, in the form of a litmus test - you put it in a jar of urine, one stripe - pregnant, two - not)??
And then here I had a delay of only 2 days, but there is reason to worry about an unplanned pregnancy. I'm taking a test and I'm not pregnant. And menstruation does not begin (I will say, there are delays, but not often). What to do?!?! How to know for sure? Maybe for an ultrasound. So that it won't be too late!
Time: 01:57 The date: 18/06/03
For two weeks and a couple of days my friend had a delay, I was already preparing to become a dad, but they went today)))
Here's what I found out in two weeks. Yes, tests lie.
They don't show in a day.
Really shows only ultrasound (for sure, that is).
Two days is bullshit. The cycle gets lost from nerves, experiences. And also from physical stress.
If you have had sex without rubber bands, then the chances are high (I never do this, which I advise you).
If you are sure that you could not fly, then wait ...
Time: 02:14 The date: 18/06/03
The test will actually show in 2 weeks. It is better to go and donate blood - in any LCD.
Time: 04:18 The date: 18/06/03
The tests do not lie, but simply the amount of the hormone may still not be enough for such a period. You can try tests from different companies. False positive readings are quite rare, but the test may not show for a long time. But if there is at least a weak strip, IMHO there is a pregnancy. On ultrasound, too, a fetal egg may not yet be seen, so it is best to donate blood to the level of hCG.
Time: 07:35 The date: 18/06/03
uzi will not help, it is better to donate blood. If in a paid clinic, then the result is ready in an hour
Time: 08:45 The date: 18/06/03
Or maybe you got it wrong? Two stripes is just a pregnancy, but one is not.
Ultrasound in such a short period of time very rarely shows. It depends on the apparatus, and even on the uzist himself.
It is best to donate blood for hCG. It is guaranteed that pregnancy will already be determined at this time.
Time: 08:49 The date: 18/06/03
And my test showed that I was pregnant, while the ultrasound told me that there was nothing. But the test is not in the form of a cardboard box, but more expensive, in a plastic case. And when I did a second ultrasound a week later, the pregnancy was confirmed!
Time: 09:50 The date: 18/06/03
in general, the tests are quite reliable, but it’s better not to be greedy and buy more expensive. And if there is any doubt, then the blood should be donated for hCG
Time: 10:36 The date: 18/06/03
Quite reliable. If in doubt donate blood, there will be no questions.
Time: 10:53 The date: 18/06/03
It may be that during pregnancy it will show its absence. But with two stripes, it's always definitely pregnancy.
Depends on the sensitivity of the test.
If the test is good and you hormonal background was normal, then most likely two days after the delay, the test would have shown.
I strongly advise you, rather than worry, go to the doctor - a medical test is much more reliable.
AT.
Time: 12:31 The date: 18/06/03
My test showed on the 4th day of delay. An ultrasound won't show anything. The most reliable blood for hCG.
Time: 16:15 The date: 18/06/03
You need to donate blood for hCG - this is already 100% certainty. Ultrasound will not show anything at this time, at least from the 10th day of delay ...
My test didn’t show, although there was CG 151 in the blood, and after 2 days it only gave out 2 bands, when it was 530 in the blood ... Although it had a sensitivity of 25 units, i.e. theoretically should have been rinsed.
Valerie and little wonder girl 30 weeks
Time: 23:04 The date: 18/06/03
How many stripes do you have, one or two?
If there is only one band, then there is nothing to worry about, and if there are two, donate blood for HCG
Question hostess
Time: 00:05 The date: 19/06/03
I did the test twice (the second in 2 days). There was only one stripe.
And about my trouble. THIS happened somewhere on the tenth day of the menstrual cycle. So maybe the egg did not have time to ripen by that time?
And on what day of the delay will the ultrasound show for sure?
Time: 08:47 The date: 19/06/03
Do not wait for the ultrasound to show, they tell you to donate blood for hCG! This is a more reliable way to determine pregnancy at such a short time!
And by the 10th day, the egg might not have matured, especially if your cycle is more than 25 days, but the spermatozoa live inside for up to 5 days, so conception is theoretically possible.
Time: 10:18 The date: 19/06/03
It showed me that she was pregnant - but it turned out that she was not ... so sometimes they are not very reliable ... though I immediately did other tests - but they were all negative!
Time: 17:48 The date: 19/06/03
Pregnancy - 2 strips, not 1.
Question hostess
Time: 23:57 The date: 19/06/03
All two times there was one stripe, and at the beginning I just made a reservation: one stripe - not pregnant, you noticed everything right.
Time: 10:09 The date: 23/06/03
About the tenth day of the cycle. It all depends on the length of the menstrual cycle itself. And do you correctly define its beginning? Let's count together, I myself was in a similar situation)
Time: 11:30 The date: 23/06/03
You may just have delayed ovulation.
But for many of my friends, the test showed pregnancy only at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy .. so if the delay is more than a week .. then my advice is to go to the doctor
Time: 15:22 The date: 23/06/03
Yes Yes. The question "is the egg ripe or not ripe on the tenth day?" depends on the length of the cycle.
By the way, how regular sex life, from "interruptions" can the cycle go astray? Although, I'm not sure, it's more likely a psychological factor.
Time: 22:39 The date: 23/06/03
No. I think it's not about how regular sex life is. Rather, it all depends on the change of partners. For example, when changing a partner, I ALWAYS have a delay. And how are you?
Time: 09:41 The date: 24/06/03
Pregnancy tests lie. During the first two weeks of my pregnancy, the test was negative. And the inner sensation was like before menstruation. And descended or went to the gynecologist - pregnancy was found out So my council to you - do not trust tests. Donate blood - 100% guaranteed.
Time: 11:55 The date: 24/06/03
By the way, a blood test is more accurate .. and it can be done in the early stages, when the tests still show nothing
Time: 18:18 The date: 24/06/03
My test did not show an existing pregnancy after 3 weeks of delay. Here! Just such a hormonal background that pregnancy is not determined ... Since then, I have not used tests.
Time: 00:19 The date: 26/06/03
Reliable. You just need to wait for a certain level of hormones, for whom this happens immediately, then the test shows pregnancy at an early stage, and for someone later - then on the 2nd day of the delay it may not show.
Time: 08:18 The date: 29/06/03
Ultrasound will not show anything right away, after 4-5 weeks of pregnancy only.
With the invention of tests for early, and most importantly simple definition pregnancy, women can become happy earlier than the prescribed 6-8 weeks of an interesting situation, when the gynecologist confirms the fact of the development of a new life.
Two cherished stripes bring a lot of joyful emotions to future parents. In this article, we will talk about all the intricacies of home express pregnancy diagnostics, teach you how to do the test correctly and understand the result.
How does the test work?
All tests are based on a single mechanism - the determination of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin or hCG in the urine, the production of which begins from the moment the villi of the growing placenta enter the uterus, i.e. attachment of the embryo. Every day its quantity is growing, but at the very beginning, the growth of this hormone can only be determined special study venous blood (the result will be positive 5 days earlier than the most sensitive tests begin to strip).
The sensitivity level of most rapid tests starts at 25 mUI hCG. Some manufacturers write on the packages that the test is sensitive already at 10 mUI hCG, but this is difficult to prove. As pharmacists say, this is more of a publicity stunt than the truth. Another tricky advertising ploy is the inscription that the test has the highest probability of determining pregnancy before a delay, an accuracy of 99.5-99%, etc.
If you have a regular menstrual cycle
The release of a mature egg, ready for fertilization, falls in the middle of the cycle. With a 30-day cycle, this is the 15th day, with a 28-day cycle, the 14th day. Within the next two days, fertilization can occur. After the fusion of the egg with the sperm for another 4-5 days, it “floats” to the placentation site in the uterus. Those. at about day 22 of the cycle, a blood test can already see a growing hCG. The most sensitive and high-quality tests can show 2 strips even 4 days before the expected period, when the level of hCG in the urine becomes more than 25 mUI.
Thus, you can do a highly sensitive test on the 26th day of the cycle with a 30-day cycle, and on day 24 with a 28-day cycle!
If you have an irregular menstrual cycle
To determine when ovulation occurred, you can use:
- increase in the level of basal temperature;
- appearance .
Having designated for yourself the date of approximate ovulation, 12 days are added to this number - you can already detect an increase in hCG in the blood (see). 15 days after approximate ovulation, you can do a test with high sensitivity.
What time of day should you take a pregnancy test?
As a rule, the instructions for the test strips do not recommend what time of day to test. This means that during pregnancy, the test will show 2 strips at any time.
Gynecologists also advise doing the test in the morning, using night urine. In this case, the result will be reliable, especially in early pregnancy. If you test during the day, there is a possibility of an error, since the urine is not as concentrated due to the liquid consumed during the day. The same is possible if you do the test in the evening - the content of hCG in the urine will be less. If there is a need to test during the day, then it is better to do this after a four-hour abstinence from urination, while limiting fluid intake to obtain more concentrated urine.
General rules for the correct use of pregnancy tests
- The pregnancy test must be stored under the conditions specified by the manufacturer on the package;
- The packaging with the dough must not be damaged;
- Expired tests cannot be used;
- You cannot use the same test 2 times;
- It is best to test on night urine;
- The packaging with the dough is opened immediately before use;
- Before urinating, you should wash yourself and dry yourself with a towel;
- Urination should be carried out in a clean container;
- It is very important to strictly follow the instructions: dip the test into the urine exactly to the indicated level, keep it in the urine no less and no more than the recommended time, evaluate the result only at the indicated time.
Pregnancy test - instructions for use
Pharmacies sell a variety of tests. All of them have a different cost, but they promise the same exact result. We will figure out how to use them correctly and which ones will still be the most reliable.
- The most popular and reliable are Frautest and Evitest pregnancy tests. The tests of these German manufacturers occupy an average price niche (100-140 rubles), but do not sin with false results.
- All other tests can be considered equally reliable if used correctly, especially the time to delay. The most reliable result can be obtained by testing in the first 1-3 days of a missed period.
- The cheaper the test, the cheaper the reagent that is used in it.
Strip test
Popular and inexpensive tests in the form of a paper strip coated with a layer of antibodies in hCG. The hormone contained in the urine reacts with the impregnation of the strip, and a second strip appears on the test.
Instructions for using the test. For testing, you will need a clean container in which a few milliliters of urine is collected. The test is lowered with the tip into the urine to the designated mark and held for 10 seconds. The result is evaluated within 1-10 minutes (the less hCG in the urine, the later 2 strips will appear).
Reliability - from the first day of delay.
Pros: cheap.
Cons: not convenient to use, does not show the result before the delay, may be wrong.
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tablet test
Produced in a special box with two windows. The principle of operation is the same as the strip test. The kit includes a cup for collecting urine and a pipette.
Instruction. In one window you need to drip 4 drops of urine. The result is evaluated in the second window after 1-10 minutes (1 or 2 strips).
Reliability - from the first day of delay. Until the delay does not show pregnancy.
Pros: Inexpensive, easy to read result.
Cons: Requires a lot of work.
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Inkjet test
The name itself suggests that it can be placed under the stream of urine.
Instruction. The test is placed under the stream of urine or in a container with urine with a filter tip for 10 seconds. The result is evaluated in 1-10 minutes in a special window (1 or 2 strips).
Reliability - determines hCG 5 days before the delay. One of the best tests.
Pros: accurate, most convenient to use.
Cons: expensive.
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Electronic pregnancy test
Another name is digital. The most modern rapid test.
Instruction. The test is dipped into the urine with a filter tip until it is soaked. The result is evaluated after 3 minutes: in case of pregnancy, the “+” sign or the inscription “pregnansy” appears in the window.
Reliability. Can show pregnancy even 4 days before the delay. It is considered 99% accurate when tested 2 days before the expected period.
Pros : The result cannot be misjudged, the most highly sensitive.
Cons: the result is visible only for about a day, then the inscription disappears, it will not work to leave proof of pregnancy as a keepsake. The most expensive.
Can there be a negative pregnancy test result?
HCG levels rise differently for everyone. Within 2 weeks after the delay, the test may still be negative if the woman has endocrine dysfunction or a threatened miscarriage. It will also be a false negative test if it is used too early, some women start doing tests from the day of a possible conception. Well, there is nothing harmful in this, but is it worth tormenting yourself, expecting a miracle?
Another reason is non-compliance with the rules for using the test.
False positive test result
This happens in the following cases:
- in the first 2 months after delivery;
- ovarian dysfunction;
- the development of a hormone-producing tumor (chorioncarcinoma,);
- when using an expired test.
Is the result of a test carried out during menstruation reliable?
For some women, menstruation may continue even during pregnancy. However, menstrual blood in no way affects the sensitivity of the test, so the result will be reliable. Even if the woman did the test in urine stained spotting, if there is a proper level of hCG in it, the test will show bright 2 stripes.
Test results for ectopic pregnancy
With an ectopic pregnancy, as you know, the attachment of the fetal egg occurs outside the uterus, more often in the fallopian tube. But hCG begins to be produced in this case too. A feature is the lack of hCG growth or its slight increase.
Thus, a regular pregnancy test will show the same 2 strips. It is likely that the second stripe will be barely visible or more blurred than with normal pregnancy, and the test will become positive only after the onset of a delay in menstruation.
A special INEXSCREEN test allows you to suspect an ectopic pregnancy a couple of weeks after the delay. Diagnosis is based on the detection of the level of the modified isoform in the composition of hCG, which in ectopic pregnancy is significantly lower than the prescribed 10% characteristic of normal pregnancy.
Test results for a missed pregnancy
If a clear, positive result obtained several times within a week becomes doubtful, and then the test shows only one strip at all, it is highly likely that the pregnancy is frozen. You should immediately visit a doctor.
How to decipher a dubious result?
A doubtful result occurs when there is doubt whether there is a second strip. It can be faintly visible, blurry or slightly translucent as if from the inside. The reasons:
- a low level of hCG, borderline with a minimum, at which the test becomes sensitive;
- unusable test, non-compliance with testing rules;
- a woman's great desire to see 2 stripes. Too often we wishful thinking.
What to do if the test showed a questionable result? Repeat it after a few days, and preferably 1-2 days after the delay.
Pregnancy test anti-rating
Unfortunately, it also happens that, with strict adherence to the rules for conducting express diagnostics, a pregnancy test shows a result that does not correspond to reality. false positives and negative results tests fail:
Faith | rest assured | bee sure | Bebichek | Mon Ami |
A few days of delay in menstruation - and the question of pregnancy arises in the head of a woman. Where to go with him? For an examination by a gynecologist or still trust a home pregnancy test? Of course, running to the pharmacy yourself or sending your loved one there is more convenient and faster. But will two stripes always give you a reliable answer? Or can they still cheat?
You want to trust pregnancy tests and succeed until one day they lead you on the wrong track. To find out that you are still pregnant when the doubt is completely dispelled by testing, or vice versa, to be disappointed with the onset of early menstruation, you see, the surprise is not a pleasant one.
Why do some tests give an accurate result in the first days of pregnancy, while others do not work? The reasons may be different. For example, the test was carried out incorrectly or too early, spoiled due to the expiration date or improper storage.
A pregnancy test will not detect if a woman takes diuretics, has a kidney or cardiovascular disease that affects the excretion of the hormone in the urine. Will not determine testing and . Therefore, if you have a premonition of imminent motherhood, consult a doctor for a more serious examination. Do not wait for your period, take blood or urine tests. They are more reliable and able to determine pregnancy a week after fertilization.
Remember that hormonal changes in the body make themselves felt no earlier than two weeks after conception. And the effect of home pregnancy tests is based precisely on the determination of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin. It begins to be produced in the female body after fertilization. Sometimes, but this is extremely rare, human chorionic gonadotropin is produced by the tumor. Then the woman will also get a positive test result. It can cloud the situation and taking hormonal preparations containing hCG. But other drugs do not distort the results. The presence of alcohol or drugs in the body also affect the reliability.
Today, with the mass production of pregnancy tests, some of them may be of poor quality. Until recently, doctors confidently recommended such testing. But now they prefer medical examination women using ultrasound.
To protect yourself from false indicators, you can use several tests from different manufacturers at once. Plus, pay attention to your body's messages. The indicators of pregnancy primarily include a delay in menstruation, a slight increase in the breast and its aching, as well as an increase in rectal temperature of more than 37 degrees (you need to measure it in the anus in the morning while staying in bed), and increased urination. Also, the signal will be morning sickness and vomiting, irritability, a tendency to fatigue, a change in appetite, a desire to taste salty or sour.
But even these signs cannot give a 100% guarantee of pregnancy. Since most of them are present before the onset of menstruation or appear with a psychological mood for pregnancy.
Also, a delay in menstruation can be caused by stress, moving, illness, medication, travel, dieting with a sharp change in weight, physical activity.
And yet, if you don't want to give up taking a pregnancy test at home, as it is relatively cheap, fast, convenient and, importantly, anonymous, you need to do it right.
First, wait for the delay, don't rush. When choosing a test in a pharmacy, pay attention to the release date. Don't be confused by the variety of brands, as the principle of operation of all tests is the same. To enhance the result, the night before, do not drink a lot of fluids and do not take diuretics.
Read carefully. If you still have questions, ask for advice from a consultant on a toll-free number, which is most often indicated on the package.
For testing, take only morning urine. Dip the strip into it to the level and for the time indicated on the package. If you carefully follow all the instructions and instructions for the test, then it is guaranteed by 97% -99%.
Whatever the result of the test, remember that a child is a great gift, and pregnancy is the greatest miracle on earth!
Specially for - Maria Bilykovskaya