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Facts you should know about pregnancy tests
Image showing a woman holding a home pregnancy test showing results.
Home pregnancy tests are a cheap and effective way of learning when you should see the doctor about your pregnancy.
*Facts you should know about pregnancy tests medically edited by: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone in a woman's blood or urine: hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is produced when an egg implanted in the uterus.
There are two types of pregnancy tests, one uses blood and the other uses urine (home tests); a quantitative blood test detects hCG earlier than a qualitative blood or urine test.
Most home pregnancy tests detect hCG in a urine stream when, after a few minutes, a line or symbol appears if the test is positive (indicating pregnancy); most urine pregnancy test instructions urge a second test in a few days no matter what were the first results; follow package instructions – if a control indicator does not appear, the test result should not be trusted.
Home tests are accurate, some better (more sensitive in showing early pregnancy) than others.
Home pregnancy tests may test positive on the first day of a missed period, but almost all detect pregnancy 1 week after a missed period.
Call your doctor for an appointment if you test positive for pregnancy with a home test.
It is possible to be pregnant and have a negative home pregnancy test; that is why you should wait about a week to repeat the test. Most medicines and other compounds (alcohol, drugs) do not interfere with pregnancy tests; however, any drug containing hCG (some fertility drugs) may give false test results.
Any questions or problems with pregnancy tests should be discussed with your doctor.
How soon can I use a home pregnancy test?
Some home pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken before your missed period. But you may get more accurate results if you wait until after the first day of your missed period.
This is because the amount of the pregnancy hormone, called human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, in your urine increases with time. The earlier you take the test, the harder it is for the test to detect the hCG.
hCG is made when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This usually happens about 10 days after conception (when the man's sperm fertilizes the woman's egg).
My pregnancy test says I am pregnant. What should I do next?
If a home pregnancy test shows that you are pregnant, you should call your doctor to schedule an appointment.
Your doctor can use a blood test to tell for sure whether you are pregnant. Seeing your doctor early in your pregnancy also means you can begin prenatal care to help you and your baby stay healthy.
My pregnancy test says I am not pregnant. Could I still be pregnant?
Yes, it is possible you could still be pregnant. It's possible to be pregnant and to have a pregnancy test show that you are not pregnant.
The accuracy of home pregnancy test results varies from woman to woman because:
Each woman ovulates at a different time in her menstrual cycle.
The fertilized egg can implant in a woman's uterus at different times.
Sometimes women get false-negative results when they test too early in the pregnancy. False negative means the test says you are not pregnant when you are.
Problems with the pregnancy can affect the amount of hCG in the urine.
If a test says you are not pregnant, take another pregnancy test in a few days. If you are pregnant, your hCG levels should double every 48 hours. If you think you are pregnant but more tests say you are not, call your doctor.