How pregnancy tests work
Feel like you may be pregnant?
There is always a possibility for mistake, even with the most reliable birth control techniques. After all, only one sperm is required to fertilize an egg. Using an over-the-counter (OTC) pregnancy test is a simple way to determine whether or not that has occurred.
Typically, over-the-counter pregnancy tests check for the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine (HCG). Only when you are pregnant will HCG be present. Only if a fertilized egg attaches externally or to your uterine lining does the hormone come into play.
Your urine can be collected in a variety of methods for the test. You may need to: Depending on the exam you select:
- put your pee in a cup and test the substance with a tester stick.
- use an eyedropper to transfer a little bit of the pee you’ve collected in a cup into the designated container.
- such that it will collect your pee midstream, insert the testing stick into the region of your anticipated urine stream.
If conducted after a missed period, the majority of tests are 99 percent accurate. The fact that you can do it in solitude at home is the nicest part. Simply start the test, adhere to the directions, and watch the findings when the advised period of time has passed.
The tests will show your findings when the advised amount of time has passed in one of the following ways:
- a change in color
- a line
- a symbol, such as plus or minus
- the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant”
How soon can you take a pregnancy test?
For the best reliable result, you should wait to take a pregnancy test until the week after your missing period.
You should wait at least one to two weeks after having sex if you don’t want to wait till you’ve missed your period. Your body requires time to produce measurable quantities of HCG if you are pregnant. Following the successful implantation of an egg, this normally takes seven to twelve days.
If the test is administered too early in your cycle, you might get a false-positive result.
Here are several indications that a pregnancy test is in order.
