What is a negative pregnancy test (NPT)?

A negative pregnancy test is the pregnancy test result which shows that you are not pregnant.

What is a false negative pregnancy test (PT)?

A false negative pregnancy test is when you are pregnant, yet you get a negative PT result.

How does a pregnancy test work?

Let’s first understand how a pregnancy test works to know the reasons for a negative pregnancy result.

• A pregnancy test has antibodies for hCG hormone particles.
• The hCG hormone comes in the urine of a woman after she is pregnant.
• The antibodies are detector particles, and they can detect hCG in your urine.
• Color indicates the presence of hCG, and if hCG is not present, then one gets a negative pregnancy test.

How to read a negative pregnancy test?

A negative pregnancy test is only a single line which shows that you’re not pregnant. If you see a single line or a minus sign, then it is a negative pregnancy test.

Some kits show minus sign in the result window. Others don’t have a test line to show negative pregnancy test.  

Top 20 Reasons For A Negative Pregnancy Test

The reasons for getting a negative pregnancy test are:

1) Low levels of hCG

If your body is producing low levels of hCG even after implantation then you will get a negative pregnancy test.

There is nothing to worry about unless you have other symptoms like breakout bleeding or cramps. All of us are different and so our bodies.

Some women keep ovulating and getting their periods even after three months during their pregnancy.

2) Using Diluted urine

If you use a dilute urine sample, then your hCG levels will get diluted. Hence, you will get a negative pregnancy test result.

If you use your afternoon or evening urine sample, the hCG will not be enough in it, and therefore you will get a negative pregnancy test. It will be a false negative pregnancy test if you are expecting.

3) Defective pregnancy test

If the pregnancy test is faulty or damaged,  it will give a negative pregnancy test. The absence of the control line shows that the pregnancy test is not working.

A defective pregnancy test doesn’t produce a control line.

4) Not following the instructions on a pregnancy test

A pregnancy test needs your attention and a minimalistic skill for testing your pregnancy. Every pregnancy test is different, and so are its instructions for testing pregnancy.

The time for reading tests, dipping the hCG strip, etc. differ slightly. Hence, it is probable that if you miss out any steps during taking the pregnancy test you can get a negative pregnancy test.

5) Chemical pregnancy

A tubal pregnancy or chemical pregnancy is the condition when your pregnancy is not sustainable. It happens when the embryo doesn’t get implanted in your womb and instead moves to other places.

Implantation of the embryo in the womb is essential for its survival. So you might be chemically pregnant, but hCG won’t be enough. It will give you a negative pregnancy test.

6) Use of certain medications and drugs

Medications such as anti-epileptic drugs, diuretics, promethazine, etc. interfere with the pregnancy test. They give you a false pregnancy test.

These drugs block the normal reactions of the pregnancy test and hence can show both false negative or positive pregnancy test.

7) Misinterpretation of evaporation lines

If you confuse a faint positive pregnancy test as an evaporation line then you will assume that it is a negative pregnancy test. However, evaporation lines appear only as a result of errors and are not normal.

8) Using an expired pregnancy test

An expired pregnancy test has crossed its lifespan, and the antibodies have expired. Once the antibodies are not functional, then they won’t be able to detect hCG resulting in a negative pregnancy test.

9) Reading the results after the time gives a negative pregnancy test

One has to read a pregnancy test within a given time slot. Once the result reading time has crossed, then the results of the pregnancy test are no longer reliable. Sometimes after the reading time is over the pregnancy test results might disappear. It means a false negative pregnancy test.

10) Hormonal imbalance

Hormones influence the level of one another. There is a complex feedback mechanism involved. If a woman has a high level of other reproductive hormones or prolactin, then she will get a negative PT.

After all, a pregnancy test works relying on the presence of the hCG hormone in your urine. A hormone imbalance will not allow proper functioning of the pregnancy test and give a negative pregnancy test.

11) Taking the test too early

Taking the pregnancy test at the right time is the first thing for getting an accurate PT result. If a woman takes her pregnancy test too early after having sex, then she can get a negative pregnancy test. This can head to become a false negative pregnancy test is she had conceived or a true negative pregnancy test if she did not.

12) Not applying enough sample of urine

If you don’t put a sufficient amount of urine then again there won’t be enough hCG, and the test result will be negative.

13) Improper orientation of pregnancy test kit

It is essential to place a pregnancy test in the right orientation. Pregnancy tests need different directions like horizontal or vertical. If you don’t place the pregnancy test correctly, then the urine will not rise resulting in a negative PT result.

14) Improper storage of pregnancy test kit

Never refrigerate a pregnancy test. If you place it in a refrigerator, the functioning might get hampered. The moisture in a fridge will affect the pregnancy test. So an improperly stored pregnancy test can give you a negative pregnancy test.

15) Contaminating the hCG strip by touching

An hCG strip has extremely sensitive antibodies. These detect the hCG hormone in your urine. If hand touches the strip, you may get a false pregnancy test result.

If the strip gets contaminated and breaks the capillary action, urine won’t rise properly.

16) Not being pregnant

The most obvious reason for getting a negative pregnancy test is that you are not pregnant. You might be mistaking the symptoms of some other medical condition as pregnancy.

It is vital that you can differentiate between PMS and early pregnancy symptoms for making the right conclusions.

17) Infertility

An infertile woman cannot normally conceive without any artificial assistance. So if you are infertile, then you will get a negative pregnancy test. If you are between 25 – 30 years and are not able to conceive normally even after trying for a year, then you need to consult an infertility expert.

18) Taking caffeine

Caffeine and some illegal drugs might affect your urine contents. The liver detoxifies these substances and then the waste and toxins which pass off for excretion. If these come along with your urine, then you may get a negative pregnancy test.

19) Using a less sensitive pregnancy test

A pregnancy test is sensitive to a particular minimum concentration of hCG. The lower the level of hCG hormone detectable by a pregnancy test the higher sensitivity it has. If you use a less sensitive pregnancy test, then you will get a negative pregnancy test.

20) Continual use of birth control

A birth control doesn’t affect your pregnancy test, but it does alter your hormonal balance. So while birth control might not interfere with your PT result but it will influence pregnancy.

The post Top 20 Reasons For A Negative Pregnancy Test appeared first on Pregnancy.

What is the Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

A Vinegar Pregnancy Test is a homemade pregnancy test that uses vinegar. Vinegar is a dilute acid and hence can react with the proteins of the hormone hCG.

What are the different types of vinegar pregnancy tests (PT)?

Two vinegar pregnancy tests are traditional vinegar PT  and Tuna oil vinegar PT.

1. The traditional vinegar test only uses plain vinegar and gives a change in color only when you are pregnant.
2. Pregnancy test with Tuna oil and vinegar has a color diversion and gives a different color for both negative and positive pregnancy test.

How to do the Vinegar Pregnancy test?

Taking a pregnancy test with vinegar is very easy, and the results are easy to read.

What do you need for taking the Vinegar pregnancy test?

You need the following things for taking pregnancy test with Vinegar:

Things needed for Conventional Vinegar Pregnancy Test

1. Fresh white vinegar: Don’t use any other vinegar like apple cider vinegar because they already have color. Hence the change of color will be less evident in them.
2. Two transparent clean bowls that can stand without toggling
3. Morning urine sample
4. A clean stirrer
5. A white sheet or a white cloth

Things needed for taking the Tuna Oil and vinegar Pregnancy Test

1. Fresh white vinegar
2. Two transparent clean bowls
3. Morning urine sample
4. A clean stirrer
5. A white sheet or a white cloth
6. Measuring cups
7. Tuna oil

How to do the vinegar pregnancy test?

Steps for taking pregnancy test with vinegar

1. Collect your early morning urine sample.
2. In a bowl pour and fill half of it with white vinegar.
3. Now gently go on adding urine.
4. Stir using a clean stirrer.
5. After you’ve added an equal volume of urine to the vinegar stop adding more urine.
6. Wait for some time but don’t leave the pregnancy test unattended.
7. Place it on a clean white sheet.
8. Observe for any color changes in the bowl.

How to do the Tuna oil and vinegar PT?

Steps for taking a Tuna Oil and Vinegar Pregnancy Test

1. Collect your morning urine sample.
2. Take a measuring cup and take 1/4th volume Tuna oil and 1/4th vinegar.
3. Pour this mix into the bowl.
4. Add 1/2 volume of urine to the mix of Tuna Oil and vinegar.
5. Now place the bowl on a white clean sheet.
6. Observe the color changes and draw results of Tuna Oil and vinegar Pregnancy Test.

How to read Vinegar pregnancy test?

How to read a traditional vinegar pregnancy test?

1. In a traditional vinegar test, color changes show that you are pregnant.
2. If there is no color change, then you are not pregnant.

How to read the Tuna oil and vinegar Pregnancy Test?

The Tuna oil and vinegar pregnancy test shows a color change for both the PT results.

1. If the solution changes the color to orangish yellow, then you are not pregnant.
2. If the solution turns to green hues, it indicates that you are pregnant.

How does Vinegar Pregnancy Test work?

1. Vinegar is chemically acetic acid and is a diluted concentration. It is an acid so it can react with the proteins of the hormone hCG.
2. A Vinegar PT involves a complex reaction of hCG and vinegar.

This is the reason why it is so difficult to generalize the ratio of vinegar and urine.

One has to use hit and trial skills for coming to know the amount of urine and vinegar for doing the pregnancy test in the right manner.

The Tuna oil and vinegar PT is an improvisation of this and has a better performance.

What are the pros of using a Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

Pros of Vinegar Pregnancy Test

1. Homemade pregnancy test with vinegar is almost free
2. Allows you to repeat the test many times
3. It is a basic pregnancy test
4. Your pregnancy state remains confidential
5. No harmful fumes or substances evolved
6. Faster homemade pregnancy test

Pros of Tuna oil and vinegar pregnancy test

1. It is an improvisation of the traditional vinegar PT
2. There is a color change for both positive and negative pregnancy test

What are the Cons of Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

Cons of Vinegar PT

1. One cannot figure out the right ratio of urine to vinegar in the first go
2. One cannot take a very early pregnancy test

Cons of Tuna oil and Vinegar PT

1. Tuna oil might not be available easily

Why should I take the Home Made Pregnancy Test With Vinegar?

A pregnancy test with Vinegar is the most popular homemade pregnancy test. It is the easiest homemade test and gives the results within few moments.

What to do after taking Pregnancy test with Vinegar?

A Vinegar Test is just a preliminary homemade pregnancy test.

After taking the home made Pregnancy Test, you need to take a doctor’s appointment and get yourself tested.

Homemade pregnancy tests are interesting. You can read about 23 different homemade pregnancy tests and decide which one suits you the best.

The post Vinegar Pregnancy Test appeared first on Pregnancy.

A home pregnancy test is all about lines. Various alignments of lines display the results of a pregnancy test. There are different kinds of symbols used in a pregnancy test. There are different dyes used, and every brand differs in the display of pregnancy test lines.

One thing to note is unlike other items you must not buy two pregnancy tests of different brands. Pregnancy test lines have a specific design and color. They even have a particular manner of estimating hCG.

That is why to get accurate results the basis of comparison should be uniform. Two different pregnancy tests have different sensitivities, accuracy, timing, etc.

Duplicating a pregnancy test means repeating the pregnancy test twice with the same kit and same procedure. If you took a dip strip then again take a dip strip next morning. After that, you may change the method of taking the pregnancy test.

Here we have discussed all the possible pregnancy test lines:

Control line in pregnancy test

A control line is a pregnancy test is like a verification checkpoint. If a control line shows in a pregnancy test, then it indicates that the pregnancy test is working. Also, the absence of a control line in a pregnancy test is an indication of a defect in the pregnancy test.

Again in cases where you get a test line but not a control line it is an invalid pregnancy test.

Where does control line appear in a pregnancy test? A control line appears either in a separate control window or the same result window as the test line.

How does control line appear in a pregnancy test? Control line merely appears by reacting with the urine components. It doesn’t need any special reaction to occur for its appearance.

Interpretation of control line in pregnancy test: A control line in a presence test shows that the test is working and that you’ve followed the instructions rightly.

Test line in pregnancy test

 A test line in a pregnancy test is the line that is read for deciding your medical condition with respect to pregnancy.

A test line appears in a pregnancy test only when you are pregnant. If a test line is not visible even if you are pregnant, then it is a false negative pregnancy test.

If a test line appears without you being pregnant, it is a false positive pregnancy test.

Where does a test line appear in a pregnancy test? A test line appears in a pregnancy test in the result window. It may be a result window with two slots or a single slot window.

Usually, the test line appears at a position after the control line in the direction of movement of urine.

This means it is to the opposite side where you dipped the hCG strip in urine.

How does test line appear in a pregnancy test? A test line appears because of a chemical reaction that gives a color to the hCG strip. This is because the hCG antibodies (detector particles of pregnancy test) and hCG particles in urine react.

Interpretation of test line in pregnancy test: A test line is pregnancy under normal circumstances shows that you are pregnant.

If the line appears or doesn’t appear contrary to the pregnancy state, then it is a false pregnancy test result.

Evaporation line in pregnancy test

An evaporation line (evap line) in a pregnancy test is a mark left by urine after it gets evaporated. The appearance of this line is not a common in a pregnancy test. It appears because of human errors or limitation of the pregnancy test.

How does evaporation line appear in a pregnancy test? An evaporation line surfaces once urine evaporates completely. It is because urine has a natural pale yellow color.

Interpretation of evaporation line in pregnancy test: An evaporation line showing up indicates that the result reading time has passed.

Indent line in pregnancy test

Indent line in pregnancy test are the marks of pregnancy test hCG antibodies. They are the particles attached to the hCG strip that can detect hCG hormone in urine. This hormone comes in your urine after few days from implantation.

How does indent line appear in a pregnancy test? An indented line comes up when the test strip comes in contact with moisture. It can be deliberately done by the manufacturer to show the sensitive area of the pregnancy test.

Interpretation of indent line in pregnancy test: There is no interpretation of the indent line in terms of pregnancy testing.

However, if it is not supposed to be there as mentioned on the pregnancy test pack, then it can be indicating that the pregnancy test has got corrupted.

Horizontal line in pregnancy test

Horizontal lines turns up in pregnancy tests having a separate window for test results.

The horizontal line appears only in case of those pregnancy tests that have a result for the negative pregnancy test results.

How does horizontal line appear in a pregnancy test? The horizontal line is the only test line that develops even when you don’t have hCG in your urine.

It is a color acquired by the result window particles when they don’t detect hCG.

Interpretation of horizontal line in pregnancy test: The horizontal line in a pregnancy test is a minus sign. It indicates that the pregnancy test result was negative.

The conclusion after getting a horizontal pregnancy test line is that you are not pregnant.

Crossed lines in pregnancy test

Crossed lines appear only the pregnancy tests that have a symbolic result display.

How do crossed lines appear in a pregnancy test? The crossed lines are test lines that show up together.

They show up just like any other pregnancy test line due to a reaction between the hCG strip and the urine sample.

Interpretation of crossed lines in pregnancy test: The crossed lines are like a plus line. They are symbolic of a positive pregnancy test result.

The conclusion of crossed lines in a pregnancy test is that you are pregnant.

Other cases may involve the occurrence of closely spaced lines or very thick lines or thin lines.

Thick line in pregnancy test

A thick line may be due to excess of a sample of urine dropped on the pregnancy test. It can also be if the pregnancy test has a gradient display of results then the lines appear like the big fat positive pregnancy test.

A big fat positive pregnancy test confirms pregnancy. Women keep repeating the tests every day until they get a BFP.

Faint line or thin line in pregnancy test

I see faint line pregnancy test, am I pregnant? A faint line on a pregnancy test appears when the hCG hormone is not available in sufficient amounts.

No matter how thin a positive pregnancy test is, it shows that you are pregnant. An extremely thin line or a barely visible line of pregnancy test is no exception, and even that means a positive pregnancy test.

Can a faint line be negative? Difference between positive pregnancy test, indent and evap line is not stark for a newbie.

A faint line can be negative if it is an evaporation line. A colorless line because of urine evaporation is evap line.

Closely spaced lines in pregnancy test

Closely spaced lines in pregnancy test that might be merging happen when you keep the test for more than the allotted time. It may also be because of a defect in the particular pregnancy test.

Closely spaced pregnancy test lines create a lot of confusion while reading pregnancy test results. For this reason, you should be very careful while taking the pregnancy test. Follow every line mentioned in the instructions manual.

And in case even after being careful you find ambiguity in the pregnancy test results then duplicate the test next morning.

Blue lines and Pink lines of pregnancy test

Which one is better for a pregnancy test pink lines or blue lines?

• It depends on your choice. Both have their limitations and advantages.
• Pink lines are being replaced by blue lines probably to bring something new.
• Pink dyes are easier to read.

What do two lines on a pregnancy test mean?

A frequently asked question by first-timers to pregnancy test is “What do two lines on a pregnancy test mean?”

Two pregnancy test lines on a pregnancy test are the control and the test line. When both of them appear, the result is positive. Two lines on a pregnancy test mean that a woman is pregnant.

The combination of these pregnancy test lines and knowledge about them will lead you to make the right conclusion about your pregnancy.

The post Pregnancy Test Lines appeared first on Pregnancy.

Egyptian and Greek philosophers discovered the first homemade pregnancy tests. They are also called natural pregnancy test or ‘Do It Yourself – DIY homemade pregnancy test.’

It was only after 1968 when Margaret Crane discovered hCG strips that homemade pregnancy test became obsolete.

Homemade pregnancy tests are helpful just in case you have to take a pregnancy test at odd times. And the need for a homemade pregnancy test can happen to anyone on this earth.

So you need to have an idea of all the homemade pregnancy tests one can use for taking a quick pregnancy test.

What is a homemade pregnancy test?

A homemade pregnancy test is a do it yourself pregnancy test (DIY pregnancy test) which you prepare, use and read it. Homemade pregnancy test uses any household stuff which can detect pregnancy.

Ancient Egyptians used bizarre urine homemade tests ¹ such as rusting of nail when dipped in pregnant women’s pee.

Well they’re bizarre to us! For the people of that age they were the only way to know they’re carrying a baby. No elaborate tests, ultrasound and all that you have.

Unlike home pregnancy test kits you don’t have to reveal it to the retailer and can easily take a natural pregnancy test.

There are many things women use to perform a pregnancy test from the time of our grannies.

Reasons for taking a homemade pregnancy test

1. A woman might not want to reveal the news to anyone before getting a little assurance for herself. In such a case homemade pregnancy test is a pro for you.
2. In cases where the woman is not supposed to be pregnant, buying a pregnancy test can be embarrassing. A homemade pregnancy test will keep your status undercover.
3. If the pregnancy testing lab is far from your house and even a chemist shop isn’t nearby. You might not want to wait until you get the time from your busy schedule. A homemade pregnancy test can be helpful is such a situation.
4. If you cannot afford pregnancy test. A homemade pregnancy test is virtually a free pregnancy test.
5. When you cannot hold your excitement then again a homemade pregnancy test is to your rescue!!

What can things be used as a homemade pregnancy test?

There are many things such as salt, sugar, soap, Dandelion leaves, bleach, etc. which make a pregnancy test.

When can I take a homemade pregnancy test?

One should take a homemade pregnancy test after she sees the symptoms of early pregnancy in her.

A homemade pregnancy test is most accurate after you have missed your periods.

For scheduling your pregnancy test at the right time, you can read ‘How soon after sex can I take the pregnancy test?’ and ‘When to take a pregnancy test?’

Top 23 homemade pregnancy tests

Now we will give you a detailed description of each of the top 23 homemade pregnancy tests:

1) Dandelion Pregnancy Test

Dandelion grows easily in your home garden, and they can detect pregnancy hormone in your urine.

How to take the Dandelion Pregnancy Test? 

1. Take some fresh Dandelion leaves.
2. Clean them with distilled water.
3. Then place them in a clean transparent container.
4. Either pee in this container or collect your early morning urine and pour it in.
5. Wait for around 3 – 5 minutes. Do not leave it unattended.

How to interpret Dandelion Pregnancy test?

If the leaves get some small red patches, then you are pregnant. If there is no change, then you are not pregnant.

2) Pine Sol Pregnancy Test

Pine Sol is something we all have at our house.

How to take the Pine Sol Pregnancy Test? 

1. Take the standard Pine Sol of golden brown color and not the scented variety.
2. In a cup add this Pine Sol to about 1/3 volume.
3. Take your early morning urine sample and add it gradually. The amount of urine required will depend on how far your pregnancy has proceeded as hCG levels increase as days pass after you’ve conceived.

How to interpret Pine Sol Pregnancy test?

If the Pine-Sol from the golden brown shade turns to some bluish green, then you are pregnant. If the Pine Sol doesn’t change the color, then you are not pregnant.

3) Vinegar Pregnancy Test

Vinegar is the essential ingredient of Chinese cuisine. Chemically vinegar is a diluted acid. This acid can detect hCG in your urine and tell you whether you are pregnant.

How to take the Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

1. In a clean container collect your early morning urine sample.
2. In another glass bowl add plain white vinegar.
3. Pour your urine sample into the vinegar and observe the changes.

How to interpret Vinegar Pregnancy test? 

A color change indicates you are pregnant. If there is no observable change, then you are not pregnant. Tip for vinegar pregnancy test: Never pour the urine rapidly to froth the mix. And if you see any frothing don’t take it as a positive pregnancy test.

4) Mustard powder Pregnancy Test

Mustard powder has many medicinal uses. One of them is for regulating the menstrual cycle.

How to take the Mustard powder pregnancy test?

This test is slightly different and takes longer. You will have to wait for another 24 hours for getting your results.

1. In lukewarm water in a bathtub add mustard powder.
2. Add about 1/2 – 3/4 spoon full of mustard powder.
3. Then soak yourself in this water for some time. Wait for a day.

How to interpret Mustard powder Pregnancy test?

If you get your normal periods, then all the early pregnancy symptoms were in fact PMS. If you don’t get your periods, then you might be pregnant.

5) Bleach Pregnancy Test

Bleach is used for so many things such as cleaning clothes and even your loo. But Bleach is a chemical compound that can detect hCG. You have to remember that the fumes from a Bleach and urine reaction are poisonous.

How to take the Bleach Pregnancy Test?

1. Take liquid Bleach or Bleach powder in a cup and collect your urine in it.
2. Take your early morning urine.
   

How to interpret Bleach Pregnancy test?

If there is a lot of frothing and fizz, then you are pregnant. If there is no significant frothing and it all gets settled, then it shows that you are not pregnant.

6) Tuna oil and vinegar Pregnancy Test

This is a slight variation of vinegar pregnancy test. The Tuna oil and vinegar pregnancy test is the only homemade pregnancy test which has a color change for a negative pregnancy test.

How to take the Tuna oil and vinegar Pregnancy Test?

Take Tuna Oil and Vinegar in the ratio 1:1. Add an equal amount of urine to this mix. Observe the color changes.

How to interpret Tuna oil and vinegar Pregnancy test?

If the mix turns orange, then you are not pregnant. If the color changes to green or bluish then you are pregnant.

7) Urine homemade Pregnancy Test

Urine itself tells a lot about the pregnancy. The composition of urine changes once you have conceived a baby.

How to take the home urine Pregnancy Test?

1. Collect your early morning urine in a clean cup.
2. Allow it to stand for around 10 minutes.

How to interpret home urine Pregnancy test?

If you see a layer of something on the top of urine, then you are pregnant. If you don’t see any such separation, then you are not pregnant. This is a historical method of testing pregnancy.

8) Toothpaste Pregnancy Test

Toothpaste can be found in every bathroom, and there is no chance that you run out of it.

How to take the Toothpaste Pregnancy Test?

1. The Toothpaste Pregnancy Test is simple to do. Just take a small pea-sized amount of Toothpaste in a bowl.
2. Spread it uniformly all over the surface of the bowl.
3. Now pour the urine sample in this toothpaste coated bowl.

How to interpret Toothpaste Pregnancy test?

A color change indicates pregnancy.

Tip for Toothpaste Pregnancy Test: Use a white toothpaste for taking the pregnancy test as color changes will be easier to distinguish.

9) Sugar homemade Pregnancy Test

Sugar pregnancy test is different from Glucose Pregnancy Test. This pregnancy test is based on the change of solubility of sugar in urine.

How to take the Sugar Pregnancy Test?

1. Take sugar crystals and not powdered sugar.
2. Collect your early morning urine sample.
3. Pour the urine into the bowl having sugar.

How to interpret Sugar Pregnancy test?

If sugar forms clumps then your pregnancy test is positive. If the sugar dissolves, then a pregnancy test is negative.

10) Shampoo Home Pregnancy Test

The shampoo has detergents that can react with your urine contents. This test is a variation of the dishwasher pregnancy test. You can even use soap homemade pregnancy tests.

How to take the Shampoo Pregnancy Test?

1. Take a small amount of shampoo in a bowl.
2. Pour your early morning urine in this bowl.
3. Wait for around 7 minutes.

How to interpret Shampoo Pregnancy test?

If there is a change in color and look of the mixture, then you are pregnant. No change means you’re not pregnant.

11) Red Cabbage Pregnancy Test

It is a famous old wives tale that Red Cabbage Pregnancy test can tell the gender of the baby. It is a homemade pregnancy plus a baby gender test. 

How to take the Red Cabbage Pregnancy Test?

1. Take a red cabbage and chop it.
2. Boil it in water.
3. Take the broth of the red cabbage.
4. Collect your morning urine.
5. Add urine to the broth and observe.

How to interpret Red cabbage Pregnancy test?

If the solution turns pink or purple, then you are expecting (pregnant). If the color remains unchanged, then you are not pregnant.

12) Salt Home Pregnancy Test

Salt is crystalline and hence is a pure chemical. It can detect hCG in your urine and test whether you are pregnant.

How to take the Salt Pregnancy Test?

1. Take salt crystals in a bowl.
2. Pour your early morning urine in this bowl.
3. Carefully observe the changes.
4. Wait for 3 minutes before making the conclusions.

How to interpret Salt Pregnancy test?

If there is clumping and changes happening, then you are pregnant. No change means that the homemade pregnancy test is negative.

13) Baking Soda Pregnancy Test

All baking lover readers know how crucial baking soda is for cooking. But do you know that the Baking Soda is an ingredient for homemade pregnancy tests also?

How to take the Baking Soda Pregnancy Test?

1. Take a ½ spoon full of baking soda.
2. Collect you early morning urine in a disposable cup.
3. Add baking soda to it.
4. This is a mild homemade test that doesn’t yield poisonous fumes like the bleach pregnancy test.
   

How to interpret Baking Soda Pregnancy test?

If there is frothing, then you are pregnant. If there is not much frothing, then your pregnancy test is negative.

14) Tylenol and Peroxide Pregnancy Test

We all have these two chemicals for cleaning and other purposes. They can even test pregnancy.

How to take the Tylenol and peroxide Pregnancy Test?

1. Take peroxide
2. Add few tablets of Tylenol to it.
3. Pour your early morning urine after the tablets get dissolved.

How to interpret a Tylenol and peroxide Pregnancy test?

If there is an observable change in color and frothing, then you are pregnant. In the other case where nothing changes you are not pregnant.

15) Wine Pregnancy Test

The alcoholic beverage ‘wine’ has a composition that can test pregnancy. The wine homemade pregnancy test was the regular pregnancy test in olden days.

How to take the Wine Pregnancy Test?

1. Take your early morning urine and mix it with wine.
2. Wait for five minutes and observe the changes that occur.

How to interpret Wine Pregnancy test?

If there is a change in color, then you are pregnant. If there is no such change, then there are slim chances that you might be pregnant.

16) Dettol Pregnancy Test

Dettol is the antiseptic solution we all use for any minor cuts and abrasions. Who knew that it could test pregnancy?

How to take the Dettol Pregnancy Test? 

1. Pour Dettol in a plastic cup and add your early morning urine sample to this.
2. Keep the ratio 1:3 for Dettol is to urine.
3. Wait for around 5 minutes.
4. Carefully observe the changes that have occurred.

How to interpret a Dettol Pregnancy test?

If you get a separate layer of urine on the top of Dettol, then you are pregnant. If the separation of urine and Dettol doesn’t happen, then it is a negative pregnancy test result.

17) Latch Pregnancy Test

The latch pregnancy test is a long homemade pregnancy test, but it has reasonable accuracy. It is an ancient physician’s homemade pregnancy test.

How to take the Latch Pregnancy Test?

1. Put the latch on in a basin.
2. Pee in the basin.
3. Let the urine stand in it and later remove the latch.

How to interpret Latch Pregnancy test?

If you see a mark formed around the point of the latch, then you are pregnant.  If there is no such mark, then chances are less favorable for your pregnancy at the present moment.

18) Wheat and Barley Home Pregnancy Test

The Distaff Gospels have talked about the homemade pregnancy test using wheat and barley grains. There was a 70% increment in their growth when supplemented with a pregnant woman’s urine.

How to take the wheat and barley Pregnancy Test?

1. Take a bowl filled with a mix of wheat and barley grains.
2. Pee in this bowl and allow it to stand for 2 – 3 days.

How to interpret the wheat and barley Pregnancy test?

If the seeds germinate, then you may be expecting.

19) Chlorine Homemade Pregnancy Test

Chlorine is the powder or liquid additive we use for cleaning our swimming pools. The same chlorine tests pregnancy.

How to take the chlorine Pregnancy Test?

1. Taking the chlorine pregnancy test is very simple.
2. Simply collect your ere is a change in color and frothing in the morning urine sample and add chlorine to it.
3. If you have a cup filled with urine, then add about 1/2 – 3/4 spoon full of chlorine.

How to interpret the chlorine Pregnancy test?

If there is a change in color and frothing, then you may be having the bun in your oven. If there is no change, then you are not pregnant for now.

20) Boiling Urine Pregnancy Test

Boiling urine pregnancy test is a little messy homemade pregnancy test. However, those women who love experimenting can even try this one.

How to take the boiling urine Pregnancy Test?

1. Collect your early morning urine sample.
2. Get an old pan that has not lost its coating.
3. Heat the pan and gradually fill it with your urine.
4. Make sure you don’t splatter urine.
5. Let the urine boil.
6. Observe the changes.

How to interpret boiling urine Pregnancy test?

If the urine boils with froth like milk and other translucent fluids, then you are pregnant. If the urine doesn’t show any milky froth, then you are not pregnant.

21) Onion Pregnancy Test

The food ingredient that makes you cry can even give you your tears of joy. Ancient Egyptian and Greek used onions for testing pregnancy.

How to take the Onion Pregnancy Test?

The steps for taking the onion pregnancy test remain the same as recommended by the Egyptian physicians.

1. One has to insert a piece of onion in her vagina and sleep with it overnight.
2. A tip for onion pregnancy test is that you can even use other pungent smelling stuff other than onions.

How to interpret the Onion Pregnancy test?

If your mouth smells of onion the next morning, then you are not likely to be expecting. However, if you don’t have the onion breath, then there is a probability that you are pregnant.

22) Soap Water Homemade Pregnancy Test

Soap water is readily available compared to bleach or other detergents. This pregnancy test reacts within a few minutes and doesn’t need preparation.

How to take the soap water Pregnancy Test?

1. Simply collect your morning urine sample.
2. Take soap and foam it and create a bubble solution.
3. Add a ¼ volume of soap solution to a ¾ volume of your urine sample.

How to interpret soap Pregnancy test?

If there is a change in color to greenish, then you may be pregnant. If there is no change, then you are not pregnant.

23) Dishwasher Homemade Pregnancy Test

Dishwasher homemade pregnancy test is a variation of the above pregnancy test.

How to take the Dishwasher Pregnancy Test?

1. Collect your morning urine sample.
2. Take dishwasher solution and add in a cup of water and foam it.
3. Then to a small amount of dishwasher add morning urine.

How to interpret the dishwasher Pregnancy test?

If there is a change in color and look, then you are pregnant. If there is no change, then you might not have conceived.

How accurate are homemade pregnancy tests?

A homemade pregnancy test is only as accurate as a hit and trial method. There is no proper standard percentile for the accuracy of any homemade pregnancy test.

Dr. Pedro Pinheiro ² in his detailed analysis of DIY tests favors drugstore kits above them.

However, as a general opinion, a homemade pregnancy test is reasonably accurate as a preliminary pregnancy test.

How can I make a homemade pregnancy test accurate?

You can make a homemade pregnancy test by taking the particular ingredients in a clean container and adding urine to it.

Mostly homemade pregnancy tests involve mixing of urine in substances that are easily available at home. Change of color or texture of urine is the basis for reading homemade pregnancy tests.

How sensitive are DIY pregnancy test?

A homemade pregnancy test is sensitive for decent hCG levels. This hCG level shoots after you see all symptoms of early pregnancy in you.

Homemade pregnancy test’s sensitivity is greatly affected by your handling of the ingredients.

What are the other signs of pregnancy?

Some of you might want to know how you can come to know that you are pregnant without taking a test. That is the rough and ready method for detecting a pregnancy – looking for the early symptoms of pregnancy.

Symptoms of early pregnancy are:

1. Missing your periods
2. Vomiting, nausea, and headache
3. Cramps and implantation bleeding
4. Mood swings and irritability
5. Breast tenderness
6. Dilating of vagina and cervix
7. Frequent urge to pee
8. Increased and fluctuating appetite
9. Feeling lethargic all the time
10. Morning sickness

Advantages of homemade pregnancy test

• Homemade pregnancy tests are free.
• Home made pregnancy tests keep your pregnancy secret.
• DIY pregnancy tests are easy and cheap to duplicate.
• You have the benefit of choice as you can always take a second opinion after taking a homemade pregnancy test.
• Those of you who believe in naturopathy might prefer a homemade pregnancy test.

Disadvantages of homemade pregnancy test

• Not as accurate as latest commercial pregnancy test kits.
• Cannot detect special medical conditions like chemical pregnancy.

How does a homemade pregnancy test work?

• A homemade pregnancy test can detect hCG in your urine.
• This hormone starts coming into your urine once your placenta forms. The placenta is the tissue that nourishes a developing baby.
• The ingredients used for making a homemade pregnancy test can react with hCG hormone.
• The homemade pregnancy tests react with hCG and show a change in color or texture or frothing.

What to do after taking a homemade pregnancy test?

• After taking a homemade pregnancy test, you should first repeat the same test next morning.
• If you get your desired results, then see your doctor otherwise take another kind of homemade pregnancy test.
• Try to get a pregnancy test kit and take a home pregnancy test.
• After that, you should get a doctor’s appointment and get a proper medical examination.

Tips for taking a homemade pregnancy test

• Always use a sufficient amount of urine while taking a homemade pregnancy test.
• Be extremely vigilant of slight color changes while taking a homemade pregnancy test.
• Place the container on a white sheet or a white cloth while taking a homemade pregnancy test.
• See the color change in a homemade pregnancy test from every angle.
• Always use a transparent container for taking a homemade pregnancy test.
• Take a homemade pregnancy test following every instruction carefully. Do not take usual frothing and frizz as a positive pregnancy test.
• Always get your homemade pregnancy test duplicated.
• Never rely on a single kind of homemade pregnancy test and take different types of a homemade pregnancy test.
• Use morning urine sample and wait for at least 5 – 10 minutes before jumping to conclusions.
• Get yourself tested by a doctor after taking a homemade pregnancy test.

Top homemade pregnancy test myths

• A homemade pregnancy test can tell you the sex of your baby: No sex hormones come in your urine and so no homemade pregnancy test can tell you the sex of your baby.
• Homemade pregnancy tests are always positive: No, it is not the case with color changing homemade pregnancy test. The frothing in homemade pregnancy test might show a false pregnancy test. But they it settles for giving the correct pregnancy test result.
• DIY pregnancy tests are 100% accurate: No over the counter pregnancy test or a homemade pregnancy test is 100% correct. Only a doctor can give a 100% precise pregnancy test.
• Homemade pregnancy tests tell you about your pregnancy condition: No. Homemade pregnancy tests only tests your pregnancy and do not tell you anything about how well your pregnancy is progressing. This is the reason why you should visit a doctor.
• DIY homemade pregnancy tests are way cheaper than a home pregnancy test kit: No, they are not. They are cheap or free only in the sense that they don’t buy it in the name of a pregnancy test. However one has to get a pregnancy test done after taking a homemade pregnancy test. So that is like doubling the cost. There are cheap pregnancy tests available in the market, inexpensive as a homemade pregnancy test.

Are there any scientifically proven DIY pregnancy tests?

Scientifically proven homemade pregnancy tests include none. Are these DIY steps reliable for detecting pregnancy at any stage? No, you absolutely cannot rely on them. ³

Our last word, homemade pregnancy tests are an only good alternative to an urgent pregnancy test need out of curiosity. Otherwise, we won’t ever support your decision for relying entirely on a homemade pregnancy test and not even a pregnancy test kit. One has to visit a doctor for the good of you and your little one who may be there with you now or in future.

The post Top 23 Homemade Pregnancy Tests – DIY Pregnancy Test List appeared first on Pregnancy.

What is a qualitative pregnancy test?

• A qualitative pregnancy test only detects hCG hormone and shows that you are pregnant based on its presence or absence.
• A qualitative pregnancy test is popularly known as a home pregnancy test. The stick pregnancy test you take is a qualitative pregnancy test.

When to take a qualitative pregnancy test?

• A qualitative pregnancy test is the first preliminary pregnancy test a doctor recommends. It is the step before doing a quantitative pregnancy test.
• You have to take the qualitative pregnancy test after you experience early pregnancy symptoms.
• The early pregnancy symptoms include tender breasts, missing your periods by more than a week, cramps, mood swings, etc.

How is a qualitative pregnancy test performed?

• A woman takes a qualitative pregnancy test as instructed by the particular pregnancy test kit.
• It is a basic procedure of exposing the pregnancy test to urine and then allowing the pregnancy test to develop results.

How to read a qualitative pregnancy test?

• A qualitative pregnancy test displays the result in the form of lines or symbols.
• If the test line appears, then the pregnancy test is positive, and otherwise, it is negative.
• Some pregnancy test use symbols such as a plus sign for a positive pregnancy test and minus sign for a negative pregnancy test.
• Digital pregnancy test shows the results as written phrases ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant.’

What does a qualitative pregnancy test tell?

• A qualitative pregnancy test simply tells you whether you are pregnant or not.
• It doesn’t differentiate between a healthy pregnancy and an unsustainable pregnancy.
• It might be that the qualitative pregnancy test detects hCG present due to other medical conditions such as ovarian cysts. In this case, it will give a false positive pregnancy test.

What is a quantitative pregnancy test?

• A quantitative pregnancy test is a test which estimates and quantifies hCG present in your blood. A quantitative pregnancy test validates healthy progression of your pregnancy.
• A doctor performs the quantitative pregnancy test using advanced medical assays.

When to take a quantitative pregnancy test?

A quantitative pregnancy test comes after taking a qualitative pregnancy test. You’ve to go to the doctor whether you get a negative pregnancy test in spite of pregnancy symptoms or a positive pregnancy test.

How is a quantitative pregnancy test performed?

• A blood test is done for performing the quantitative pregnancy test.
• Doctors withdraw a small volume of blood for performing the quantitative pregnancy test.
• He will insert a needle into the superficial vein of your arm near the elbow and then cover the puncture.
• You don’t have to follow any particular instructions like fasting.
• Then your blood will go for testing, and you will get the reports after a day or two.

How to read a quantitative pregnancy test?

Usually, you don’t have to interpret a quantitative pregnancy test as the results are written in the report.

However, if you want to know what does a particular hCG level indicate you can refer to these ranges:

• If hCG levels are below 5 mIU/ml then you are not pregnant.
• If the hCG level is between 5 mIU/ml to 25 mIU/ml then repeat the test.
• Levels of hCG above 25 mIU/ml show that you are pregnant.

A minimum 66% increase occurs within 48 hours. When hCG level is between 1200 – 6000 mIU/ml then it doubles in 72 hours. If the hCG level is higher than 6000 mIU/ml, it takes about four days to double. 

The hCG level goes on increasing with the progression of pregnancy.

What does a quantitative pregnancy test tell?

Depending on the hCG level obtained a quantitative pregnancy test estimates the stage of pregnancy.

Levels of hCG during pregnancy week wise:

From the 3rd week of pregnancy hCG levels are considerable

[table id=2 /]

What do high hCG levels indicate?

A high level of hCG indicates

• Molar pregnancy
• Multiple pregnancies
• Ovarian cysts or tumors

What do low hCG levels indicate?

• Wrong prediction of pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancies

Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Pregnancy Tests

It is always recommended by medical professionals to verify the results of a qualitative pregnancy test.

The post What Are Qualitative and Quantitative Pregnancy Tests appeared first on Pregnancy.

It is crucial that you know everything about a home pregnancy test before taking it for the first time.

20 best pregnancy test tips

1) Always chose the pregnancy test brand based on your comfort level

The market has a vast number of pregnancy tests with everyone claiming to be better than the other. You should read reviews of all major brands of PT. After researching, you can select the one according to your budget, condition and comfort level.

2) Take the pregnancy test at the time when your urine is concentrated

The reason for taking the pregnancy test early morning is that it is a concentrated sample. hCG levels are low during early pregnancy, so you need to take the test with concentrated urine. 

3) Follow the instructions given in the instructions manual

The instructions provided on the box of a pregnancy test are general instructions. Some details are not present there. Hence you need to read the entire the instructions manual insert before using the pregnancy test.

To enhance the accuracy and perhaps for distinguishing itself from other brands, every brand’s pregnancy test has slight variations. 

4) Be very vigilant of the timing of pregnancy test

A major part of the accuracy of the pregnancy test depends on the timing. Expose the test to urine, allow the results to develop and read the results within the allotted time.

5) Keep the pregnancy test on a clean counter in the correct position for allowing the results of pregnancy test to develop

It is essential to keep the pregnancy test on a clean counter. Some pregnancy tests work with upper side facing upwards. Others require the tip pointing towards the ground. Some of them would instruct you to place the cap on the pregnancy test while the results are being developed.

6) Never eat any foodstuff that has coloring agents or is naturally coloring before taking the pregnancy test

Eating foods like carrots, beetroot, saffron, food color can color your urine. In this case, there will be color in evaporation lines. Your chances of getting a false positive result will be very high. Hence don’t eat such things before the test. 

7) Always duplicate a pregnancy test after one day

Your body is producing hCG at increasing rates. Every day the amount doubles. So you might get a negative result even if you are pregnant. It is a false negative pregnancy test result. It happens because your body needs time to generate hCG hormone.

8) For midstream test place the kit at the right position

It is critical that one keeps the pregnancy test kit at the right place. A wet pregnancy test is unfit for use. Hence you need to place the kit in the correct position and then pee. Don’t keep the kit before your stream comes out. In this case, the chances are that you will wet the entire kit.

9) While taking the dip strip test never leave the strip touching the cup

You have to dip the strip only till a particular depth and also in the center of the cup. If the strip comes in contact with the cup, then the capillary action of the hCG strip is blocked. As a result, the urine doesn’t rise properly, and the result gets corrupted.

10) Always take a standard pregnancy test before taking a digital pregnancy test

We recommend taking the dip strip or midstream pregnancy test before an expensive digital pregnancy test. If the result is negative, then you need not spend on a digital pregnancy test.

11) Use a disposable cup for collecting the urine sample

Always use a fresh disposable cup for urine sample instead of a used one. This will ensure totally contamination-free pregnancy test. A disposable cup is also ideal because you can throw it away after the pregnancy test is over. 

12) Store urine in a cup with a lid in the refrigerator

When you have to store urine sample for the test later, then you should use a cup which has a lid. This stops the urine sample from getting contaminated from the fridge moisture. Also, this prevents spills and other issues.

Most of us might not feel like keeping urine in our refrigerator. So it is advisable that you take the test then and there. 

13) If you’ve any vaginal infections, then wash with medicinal soap before taking the pregnancy test

Yeast infections or any other inflammation might affect the pregnancy test. Before a pregnancy test, you should wash your vagina with an intimate wash in case of any diseases. Hygiene plays a crucial role in the accuracy of a pregnancy test.

14) Set stopwatch alarms which will ring after every time slot for a pregnancy test

Set your mobile phone to beep after every time slot. This way you can concentrate on the procedure of the pregnancy test. You won’t have to spend your time toggling between multiple things.

A big fat positive pregnancy test result can spread to cover the entire result window. The chances of getting a wrong pregnancy test result minimize.

15) Never refrigerate your pregnancy test

Refrigerating will harden the hCG strip making the pregnancy test kit unfit for use. The refrigerator has a lot of moisture and that is not good for the pregnancy test.

16) Stock pregnancy test which are six months away from the expiry date

Once a pregnancy test expired it is no more usable. The detector hCG antibodies have a life and become nonfunctional after a time. Hence if you get a big pack of pregnancy test strips then use them as soon as possible.

For this always buy a pregnancy test that is six months younger than the predicted expiry date of it.

17) Always get your pregnancy test result cross-checked with a doctor

No matter how lazy you feel, doctor’s appointment is mandatory. A plastic kit solely detects a hormone. It doesn’t even quantify the hCG hormone. Certainly, it cannot be more accurate than a careful and full-fledged medical examination.

Always double check the pregnancy test result with a doctor for your and your little one’s safety.

Be careful of the evaporation lines

After urine evaporates from the hCG strip, marks appear as evaporation line. Evaporation line comes after the urine has completely dried up. The result reading time for the pregnancy test is over by the time.

Women who are not vigilant of the timing read it as a positive pregnancy test. And that later turns out be a false positive.

19) Always hold the pregnancy test from the tip of the handle

Try to get a pregnancy test that has a handle. A grooved handle is thus a better feature. A grooved handle is thus a better feature. So hold the pregnancy test from the tip of the handle, allowing you to move the pregnancy test easily. Clasping the entire pregnancy test kit will restrict your movement.

20) Never touch the hCG strip of the pregnancy test

The hCG strip of the pregnancy test is the most sensitive part of the pregnancy test kit. The more sensitive is a pregnancy test, the lower level of hCG is detectable.

If you touch the hCG strip, the microbes and enzymes present on your hand will degrade the hCG bodies. These are detector particles that sense and estimate the hCG present in your urine. 

21) Never keep the pregnancy test on the pot lid

Even if you have the cover on the toilet seat, it is thriving with bacteria. It can risk the credibility of your pregnancy test result.

Hope you won’t find it difficult to take the pregnancy test if you will follow these tips.

The post 20 Best Pregnancy Test Tips appeared first on Pregnancy.

A single miss can cause a false pregnancy test. A false pregnancy test will make you take the wrong steps following it, and this will be a hazard for your baby.

What are pregnancy test instructions?

• Instructions for a Pregnancy test are the set of protocols given in the instruction leaflet that is inside a pregnancy test. They are the steps for taking a pregnancy test.
• It is extremely important that you read them before taking a pregnancy test.
• Every brand and even every variant of a pregnancy test have a different set of pregnancy test instructions.

What are the important pregnancy test instructions?

The most important instructions of a pregnancy test are about:

1. The time for which you have to keep the hCG strip dipped in urine: It is crucial  to dip the hCG strip of a pregnancy test for exact recommended time. An excess sample will cause the hCG strip to tear off. On the other hand, an insufficient amount of urine will prevent it from reaching the pregnancy test result window.
2. The result reading time slot: This is even more important than the previous pregnancy test instruction. The result reading time slot is the only guaranteed time for display of reliable pregnancy test results. Once the time passes then the pregnancy test results are not reliable.
3. The PT instructions for reading results: Every pregnancy test has a way of presenting the pregnancy test results. Hence it is critical to take the pregnancy test correctly and also read the results correctly. You need to read about what symbols or phrases are going to appear and what will they indicate about your pregnancy.

Where can I read the pregnancy test instructions?

• You can read a general set of instructions for a pregnancy test on the Web.
• However specific PT instructions are inside the pregnancy test box.
• Other than that you can find pregnancy test instructions in pregnancy test reviews.
• You can even search the phrase ‘how to take a pregnancy test?‘ to learn pregnancy test instructions.

What if I did not follow pregnancy test instructions?

• Not following instructions will give wrong or unreliable pregnancy test result.
• Do assume any other reason for getting that particular pregnancy test result. It is only because you did not follow the pregnancy test instructions properly.
• Repeat the pregnancy test next morning with a new pregnancy test kit. Next time read the instructions before proceeding with the pregnancy test.

How to follow pregnancy test kit instructions?

• It is not very difficult to follow pregnancy test instructions. All you need to do is follow the pregnancy test instructions booklet.
• Do not try to make any modifications in it and do as instructed in the pregnancy test.
• Don’t mix match steps like you follow the half procedure of a dip strip pregnancy test and another half of a midstream pregnancy test.
• Follow a single sequence of pregnancy test instructions.
• Also read the instructions every time you get a pregnancy test no matter how many times you’ve taken the same pregnancy test before. You never know when they make a slight change in pregnancy test instructions. One may get a false pregnancy test due to following old pregnancy test instructions.

What are the basic instructions?

 Step by step basic pregnancy test instructions are:

1. Exposing the hCG strip of pregnancy test to urine either by dipping it in urine or bringing it in the urine stream
2. Allowing the pregnancy test the time to develops the pregnancy test results
3. Reading the pregnancy test results within the prescribed result reading time slot

You can read specific pregnancy test instructions from our reviews of different pregnancy tests.

We highly recommend you to read every line of the instructions in a pregnancy test box for getting the right results. This will help one attain an appreciable pregnancy test accuracy.

The post Pregnancy Test Instructions appeared first on Pregnancy.

A home pregnancy test is very accessible, easy to use and affordable. One doesn’t need to think much before taking one even for clearing the slightest doubt.

But all this seems good until you get your desired results. Once you get an unexpected pregnancy result till the time the confusion gets resolved, believe me when I say this that it feels hell.

What is implantation and how it affects pregnancy?

Implantation is the process of attachment of your baby’s cells to the wall of your womb. It is the first step before your baby starts developing.

Implantation is the most crucial step because if the embryo doesn’t attach in the right place, then pregnancy won’t sustain.

Why is Pregnancy Test taken after implantation?

As you may know, a home pregnancy test kit detects the presence of hCG in a woman’s body. A home pregnancy test is a plastic device with an hCG strip in it. This strip has detector particles which are hCG antibodies and can detect hCG in urine.

After implantation occurs, the placenta formation begins. The placenta is the layer responsible for the connection between you and your baby.

The placenta is also a temporary gland which secretes hCG hormone. hCG hormone is the primary hormone that controls the entire pregnancy processes.

This hormone starts coming in your urine once you’ve conceived. This hormone too takes around a week to rise to a detectable concentration. 

So now it must be clear that implantation is the first step for production of the hormone hCG. Pregnancy test kit detects this hCG hormone for testing pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of implantation?

1. Implantation bleeding: A moderate bleeding occurs when implantation occurs which is like any other spotting.
2. Implantation cramps: During implantation, you might experience mild cramps, but this is not universal.
3. Tender breasts: Breasts become tender after implantation. They may even swell a bit and nipples will become sensitive.
4. Appetite changes such as craving for things which are sour.
5. Increased Basal Body Temperature: Body temperature elevates after an ambiguous implantation dip in basal body temperature.
6. Fatigue
7. Acne outbreak
8. Frequent urge to urinate
9. Morning sickness
10. Hot flashes and mood swings

When to take a pregnancy test after implantation?

If you are wondering how long after spotting to take a pregnancy test then here is what you should know. The hormone hCG takes a week after implantation to reach up to a detectable concentration. Hence even after seeing symptoms of implantation bleeding, you need to wait for another week before taking a pregnancy test.

A doctor might be able to detect hCG in your blood soon after implantation. But home pregnancy tests won’t be able to do it as efficiently.

Levels of hCG and pregnancy

• A woman with an hCG level below 5 mIU/mL is not pregnant
• A woman with an hCG level between 5 mIU/mL and 25 mIU/mL is a borderline case
• Only an hCG level above 25 mIU/mL is indicative of pregnancy

Negative pregnancy test after implantation

As said earlier, implantation is not the reason for a pregnancy test to show a positive result. Only until the hormone hCG starts coming in your urine, a pregnancy test will show a negative reading.

Causes of Negative pregnancy test after implantation

1. Use of dilute urine or low levels of hCG
2. Taking the test too early after implantation
3. Chemical pregnancy
4. Not following the pregnancy test procedure properly
5. Using a defective or expired pregnancy test
6. Miscalculation of implantation
7. Certain medications like antibiotics or antiepileptic drugs

When Can I get a positive pregnancy test after implantation?

A positive pregnancy test after implantation appears only after hCG is present in your urine with a concentration 25 mIU/mL or above.

What does a negative pregnancy test after a week of implantation mean?

If you continue to get a negative pregnancy test a week after implantation, then you need to see the doctor. You should be sure that what you believe as implantation is definitely not periods. But going to doctor is a better option than retrospection of your self -diagnosis.

1. It could be most probably that you’ve taken your period as implantation.
2. In some cases, it can even be that your pregnancy is proceeding comparatively slowly.
3. If the implantation has occurred at places other than the uterine line, then it is known as chemical pregnancy. Again this is a cause of negative pregnancy test after a week of implantation.

Pregnancy tests sound easy but involve a lot of mind-boggling tactics. One has to be very careful about timing, method, interpretation and the brand of pregnancy test.

The post Pregnancy Test After Implantation appeared first on Pregnancy.

What is reading a pregnancy test?

A pregnancy test only detects hCG hormone and shows the results. A home pregnancy test is a qualitative pregnancy test. A home pregnancy test detects only hCG hormone and doesn’t figure out the reason for elevated hCG level.

Reading a pregnancy test is drawing conclusions from the pregnancy test results.

How to read a pregnancy test?

Reading a pregnancy test is not merely looking at the lines that show up in the result window of a pregnancy test. One has to consider all other changes such as missed periods, tenderness of breasts, dilation of the cervix, cervical mucus changes, etc. A home pregnancy test is best used when the user is aware of herself.

Pregnancy test reading is the last step of taking a pregnancy test. However, if someone wants to detect pregnancy using a single test then she should pay close attention from the beginning.

Reading a pregnancy test from the start will help you to avoid missing on the time slots.
When you keep your eye on the pregnancy test, you don’t have to make any assumptions.

If anything goes wrong later, you’ll be aware of what happened from the beginning.
You will see how the urine rises in the pregnancy test and also the gradual darkening of control and test lines.

How to read an hCG strip?

Reading an hCG strip is very easy. It has two lines that should appear after taking the pregnancy test.

1. The first line is the control line, and it will appear first in the direction of urine movement.
2. The second line is the test line, and it will appear second and only when you are pregnant.

How to read a pregnancy test with a symbolic representation?

Some pregnancy tests have a symbolic display of results:

• The first line that appears, in this case, is also the control line. It only shows that the pregnancy test is in working condition.
• Either a minus or a plus sign shows the second part of the result
  • A single horizontal line appearing in the test window will be a minus sign. This minus symbol is only for a negative pregnancy test result. It shows you are not pregnant.
  • A symbol with double lines crossed making a plus sign shows a positive pregnancy test result. It shows you are pregnant.

How to read a pregnancy test with two result windows?

A pregnancy test with two result windows has a window for control line and other for test line. This will assure that you don’t have to worry about spreading of a single line covering the entire window.

A dual result window in pregnancy test prevents big fat positive pregnancy test.

How to read a digital pregnancy test?

A digital pregnancy test is twice as easy as a standard pregnancy test because it itself interprets the results itself.

A digital pregnancy test displays pregnancy test results as symbols or as phrases ‘pregnant” or ‘not pregnant‘.

All you have to do is that you read the results as soon as they appear because they might vanish after some time.

Some digital pregnancy test might show a symbolic representation:

• A plus sign represents a positive pregnancy test, and it shows you are pregnant.
• A minus sign represents negative pregnancy test, and it shows you are not pregnant.

How to read a positive pregnancy test?

• A second line or a plus symbol indicates a positive pregnancy test.
• You have to wait for a little less than the complete time as it will show up earlier.
• For a negative pregnancy test, you’ve to wait until the end for final confirmation.

How to read a negative pregnancy test?

• A minus sign or absence of any test line shows a negative pregnancy test result.
• For reading a negative pregnancy test you need to wait until the last second of reading pregnancy test result passes.

How to read a false positive pregnancy test?

A false positive pregnancy test is self-detectable when the woman knows and is confident that she has not conceived.

How to read a false negative pregnancy test?

A false negative pregnancy test is detectable if one continues to experience early pregnancy symptoms.

How to read a faint positive pregnancy test?

A faint positive pregnancy test is a positive pregnancy test no matter how frail the test line is.

For knowing how to read particular brands of pregnancy test you can read our reviews of different pregnancy tests.

It is important to know that nothing is universal about pregnancy tests as they all differ a bit from each other. The key to getting accurate pregnancy test results is follow up of the particular instructions.

The post How To Read A Pregnancy Test? appeared first on Pregnancy.

Once you have missed periods, you have endless questions about pregnancy tests. These could be anything from how to take the pregnancy test, how does a pregnancy test work or even how much is a pregnancy test?

While the earlier questions have general answers, the costs of pregnancy tests vary a lot as different kinds of pregnancy tests flood the market. 

How Much Is A Pregnancy Test?

Where can I get the cheapest pregnancy test?

Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests are every woman’s friend. As the name suggests these pregnancy tests come only for a Dollar. The bigger brands too give their pregnancy tests for sale at the Dollar store. If there is a sale at the Dollar Store, then you might get the pregnancy test for cents.

Walmart Pregnancy tests too are very cheap. They come as sets of 2 or 3 and hence become furthermore pocket-friendly.

Are cheaper pregnancy tests worth it?

Dollar Store Pregnancy Test or Walmart Pregnancy test is perfectly reliable. They are within expiry duration, accurate and sensitive pregnancy tests.

Is there a brand that sells duplicate pregnancy tests?

This is a question we receive very often. The brand Equate manufactures pregnancy tests that are mimics are features of high-end brands. They are cheap like the less expensive ones.

It brings the best of two and gives you a midway to get through.

They have labels like ‘compared to first response’ or ‘compared to EPT’. That indicates the respective features of that particular brand.

Here is the complete review of Equate Pregnancy test.

You should not think much about the affordability of a pregnancy test if you want to detect an unwanted pregnancy. But if you need to take a pregnancy test every day, then the price of pregnancy test can be a big issue. In such a case when you are trying to get pregnant, a question like, how much is a pregnancy test is valid. 

However, in either case, the accuracy of the pregnancy test is the first priority and only then comes the price.

The post How Much Is A Pregnancy Test? appeared first on Pregnancy.