How to do a pregnancy test correctly so that its results are reliable and objective? When will the pregnancy test show the result?

My hands are shaking, my head is foggy, there is an incomprehensible mix of emotions inside, and the reason for everything is a positive pregnancy test. Some women rejoice at it as if it were a miracle, others begin to panic, and others completely fall into a stupor. But within a few minutes/hours/days everyone has the same question - what next?

1. Calm down

It is better not to neglect this advice. Very often, women who really want or, conversely, are afraid to get pregnant, “think out” a second stripe. In any case, pulling yourself together will be an excellent decision.

You don’t have to try to be distracted by something else - it won’t work. Instead, deep, calm breathing or talking to your spouse will help.

2. Recheck the result

As soon as the ability to think clearly returns, it is advisable to begin rechecking the result. To do this, it is better to buy 2-3 tests, but of a different brand and type. Ideally, at another pharmacy. Reading the instructions for them is a must. Tests may produce false positive results due to improper use, storage, or expiration.

A false positive result also occurs in the following cases:

• recent abortion, miscarriage;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• ingress of organic particles into the test from the outside;
• treatment with hormonal drugs;
• menopause;
• oncology;
• some types of cysts, uterine fibroids and similar diseases.

You can repeat the procedure after 2-3 days if in doubt. If you are pregnant, the stripes will become brighter after this period. If the tests still show pregnancy, it’s time to move on to the third step.

3. Chat with mom

And not only for moral support and sharing joy. A conversation with your mother is needed to find out how her pregnancy and childbirth went. This information will subsequently help the doctor better understand how to manage the pregnancy of the expectant mother. A few questions to ask your parent:

• What weight and height was I born with?
• Were there any complications during pregnancy or childbirth?
• Have you suffered from high blood pressure during pregnancy?
• What childhood diseases did I have (rubella, chickenpox, etc.)?

It also makes sense to remember all your chronic or serious illnesses in the past, the presence of allergies. Perhaps mom can help with this too.

4. Make an appointment with a doctor

A logical and obvious step. However, as practice shows, many women postpone visiting the doctor or do not consider it necessary to go to the clinic at all. And in vain. The sooner future mom makes an appointment, the more chances the doctor has to prevent the development of pathologies in the fetus or complications during pregnancy.

If the test shows two lines not due to pregnancy or a faulty product, the doctor will determine the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

What can a doctor do during the first visits?

4.1. Send for a laboratory test for hCG

If the period is still short, even gynecological examination may not detect pregnancy. But a gonadotropin test will do an excellent job of this. There is much more of it in the blood than in the urine. If the pharmacy test showed wrong result, the laboratory will reveal this.

4.2. Carry out diagnostics

The doctor may order several blood tests, urine tests, and examinations. thyroid gland. He will probably recommend a general examination by a therapist, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist and several other specialists.

You will have to take tests frequently during pregnancy, almost before every visit to the gynecologist. However, it is better not to skip them as they are really important for maintaining healthy pregnancy. All procedures are aimed not only at monitoring the condition of the child, but also at caring for the well-being of the mother.

Low hemoglobin level, weak immunity, too strong hormonal fluctuations and discomfort in general - for all this, a gynecologist can prescribe vitamins. They will improve a woman's health and even make her more attractive.

4.4. Schedule an ultrasound

The first ultrasound will be scheduled no earlier than 2 weeks after the start of the delay. Its main goal is to exclude ectopic pregnancy. It will also be able to identify problems with the genitals, if any.

An ultrasound to determine the sex of the child and the characteristics of its development will be prescribed much later.

4.5. Agree on a visit schedule

You will have to see the doctor almost more often than your husband. If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, then the frequency of visits will most likely be equal to one visit per month, but not less often. Closer to the due date, a woman will have to visit the gynecologist even more often.

To avoid having to cancel plans later and rush to see a doctor, it is advisable to immediately discuss an approximate schedule of visits with the doctor.

5. Stock up on information

Books, reliable online sources, courses for pregnant women - all this will definitely come in handy. A woman who knows how her body and child changes during pregnancy feels more confident. And confidence and calmness make childbirth easier.

What is definitely better not to do is listen to adherents traditional medicine with dubious and often dangerous advice. These 9 months are not best period for experiments.

6. Enjoy your pregnancy

Almost every pregnancy is accompanied by discomfort. This is natural and quite tolerable. However, it is still better to try to provide yourself with the most comfortable environment possible.

Communication with nice people, visiting beautiful places, positive emotions have a good effect on nervous system baby and his health in general. And mom will only benefit from this.

And yet there is a “but”. Pregnancy is not best time For dramatic changes . Therefore, if a young mother:

• smokes, she can't quit this habit sharp. Better gradually reduce the number of cigarettes and then smoothly refuse them;
• lives according to a disrupted schedule, she'll have to try slowly restore it. It makes sense to ask the future dad about this;
, it is recommended to exclude strength and intense training. You can replace them with simple walks or yoga for pregnant women;
• loves fast food, it is advisable to reduce its amount. A woman’s tastes can change greatly, which often provokes cravings for junk food. You shouldn’t completely deny yourself pleasure, but seriously limiting the amount of such food is necessary. It is important to ensure that the main diet consists of mainly from healthy dishes.
• active personality who will not sit still, she may leave her old way of life. But she will definitely have to monitor her daily schedule and nutrition, and eliminate negativity and overwork.

A positive pregnancy test can be either the result of a defective product or an omen of motherhood. Regardless of this, it is better to play it safe and still visit the doctor's office. This step will help protect your health and that of your baby.

Regardless of whether a woman wants a child or, on the contrary, perceives its possible appearance negatively, each of them approaches the test with a certain excitement, awaiting the result. In order for him to be trusted, many nuances must be observed. There is nothing complicated in these rules, especially if you understand what the operating principle of the test itself is based on and what can affect the result.

So, how to do a pregnancy test correctly, when is it best to use it, can it be used during the day or in the evening, or should it only be done in the morning, how many days after the expected conception or missed period?

Operating principle

Immediately after the egg is fertilized, the woman’s body begins to produce a special hormone, which was not there before even in small quantities - human chorionic gonadotropin or the more familiar name to many - hCG.

This hormone is produced by the membrane of the embryo from the seventh day of conception, and its quantity increases daily by two to four or more times until a certain period, then begins to decline.

The operating principle of the tests is aimed specifically at detecting this hormone in a woman’s urine, without determining its quantity. In other words, It is possible to determine pregnancy, but only the laboratory research .

Detection possible conception occurs due to the fact that the test contains antibodies to hCG, therefore, if they are present in the test liquid, the color of the indicator immediately changes.

Types and instructions for use

Today, women are presented with a large number of a variety of tests that can be used to confirm or refute pregnancy. For a long time now, you no longer need to go exclusively to a pharmacy to purchase them, although some varieties still cannot be bought in a regular store.

Total exists four types of tests to help with this important issue: conventional strips coated with antibodies, inkjet strips that do not involve urine collection, as well as more reliable methods for determining pregnancy - tablet tests and reservoir systems.

All of them act on a similar principle (determine the presence/absence of hCG in the urine), but differ in sensitivity, method of implementation and, importantly, price. Therefore, every woman, having studied all the nuances of each of them, has the right to choose what to use.

Test strips

Without exaggeration we can say that this the most popular home pregnancy detection method. Firstly, it appeared much earlier than the others, secondly, it is quite easy to perform, and thirdly, it is very cheap compared to other varieties.

Using this pregnancy test is easy: you need to collect urine, lower the strip into the container to the marked level for the specified time and evaluate the result. The longer the period, the higher the probability correct result. As a rule, they are recommended to be carried out after a delay in menstruation (on the 6-7th day). In this case, if all conditions are met, the reliability will approach 99%.

Unfortunately, this wonderful method also has many disadvantages. For example, it is advisable to use a sterile container for collecting urine, otherwise foreign microflora may distort the results.

It is important to strictly comply with the conditions, because if the immersion time is too short, the reagent may not have time to interact with urine, and if the immersion time is too long, it will simply wash off the strip and not show the correct information.

Another drawback - strict adherence to storage conditions. Despite the fact that today you can buy a test in almost any supermarket, it is still better to go to a pharmacy, since an expired expiration date or violation of storage conditions makes it unsuitable.

Jet test

Easy to use and very reliable in terms of the results obtained. There are several main advantages.

Firstly, this extremely high sensitivity: Even if the level of hCG in the blood is still very low, the result will be positive. This allows you to find out about an existing pregnancy even before the onset of a missed period.

Secondly, conditions of use do not imply urine collection, which eliminates the influence of foreign microflora on the results: you just need to hold it during urination.

How to do a jet pregnancy test:

This use case eliminates the possibility of errors associated with non-compliance with the contact time of urine and the reagent, as in test strips. That is why it is most suitable for women who are not very good at waiting and are worried about the results.

Among the disadvantages of this method of determining pregnancy, representatives of the fair sex confidently name only one - this high price. However, given the fact that sometimes more than a dozen of them are required to confirm pregnancy using test strips, it is more profitable to purchase an inkjet one right away.

Tablet tests

Few people have encountered them at home, since They are most often used in hospitals. This method helps to find out about conception soon after it, even before the appearance of a delay in menstruation. However, according to those who have used it, the pros end there and the negatives begin.

The first of them is price. Tablet tests are by no means cheap, and therefore many prefer to wait 2-3 days for the results of a blood test for hCG. In addition, they not very convenient to use: there are two holes on their surface. Into one of them you need to drop 3-4 drops of urine, collected from a sterile container with a sterile pipette.

How to use this pregnancy test:

Failure to comply with these requirements can significantly distort the results, so if you nevertheless decide on such an expensive diagnostic method, study all the nuances of its implementation and follow them.

Test systems with reservoir

They are both a diagnostic test and a container for collecting urine. The advantages of this method are: high accuracy and minimal error rate due to the fact that everything is sterile, and the system itself takes the amount of test material required for the test from the container.

The result does not need to be interpreted– an inscription about the presence or absence of pregnancy will appear in the outer window (the language of the inscription depends on the manufacturer).

With all the doubts positive aspects can be distinguished two disadvantages of this method: firstly, the price is quite high, and secondly, it is cumbersome, which does not allow it to be carried out outside the home or hospital.

Despite the different principles of use and sensitivity, all these tests have one thing in common: compliance with the rules of use significantly increases the reliability of the results.

In order not to have to doubt the information received, it is recommended to diagnose the very first urine in the morning, since it contains the highest content of the hCG hormone.

This is the only recommendation that applies to all varieties. The rest concern each individual individually. For example, it is better to use test strips after a few days of missed menstruation; for tablet strips, it is important to maintain sterility conditions, etc. The most undemanding, perhaps, is the inkjet test..

FAQ

Of course, at the first suspicion of pregnancy, few people will run to the doctor, regardless of whether it is desired or not. Therefore, express methods are becoming increasingly popular, but the number of questions asked regarding their use is not decreasing.

Is there a possibility of a mistake?

Yes. Mostly false negative results (denial of pregnancy if there is one) caused by violations of the rules of use are popular. To avoid this, read the instructions carefully.

If the result is negative, is pregnancy possible? And vice versa?

The first option is more common; it is caused by an early attempt to determine pregnancy. Extremely rare, but also occurs false positive result, provoked either by poor quality of the test or by violation of the rules for its conduct. This is why recommendations for retesting are given.

When to take a repeat pregnancy test?

If you are sure that you are pregnant, but the result is negative, or vice versa, repeat the procedure after 2-3 days, if there is already a delay, or on the seventh or eighth day of the delay.

Do results depend on timing?

By and large, no. The test does not show hCG level, but only its presence. However, if the period is too short, the indicator strip may become very faintly colored. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the procedure after 3-5 days.

There is no delay, but pregnancy is possible. Is there any point in doing a test?

If your goal is to determine pregnancy as early as possible, you can conduct a test before the delay occurs, but then it is better to give preference to any other test strips.

Is a positive result possible before a missed period?

Yes. HCG is detected in the urine of a pregnant woman already from the 8th day from conception, therefore qualitative tests with high sensitivity they can easily determine the likelihood of conception even before the start date of the expected menstruation.

Can you conduct research at any time of the day?

Is it necessary to take a pregnancy test in the morning? It depends on the time frame. If it is already large enough, hCG will be determined in any case, but if it is only 2-3 days of delay, it is better to conduct the study early in the morning, with the first urine.

How to understand the stripes and how to interpret the results?

The stripes are the results. Study the packaging: it states that one of the strips is a control strip, i.e. its absence indicates the unsuitability of the test for diagnosis, and the second is an indicator, changing color upon contact with the test material containing hCG.

Two stripes - you are pregnant, one control strip - the result is negative, no control strip - the test is unsuitable.

How long does it take to get results?

As a rule, such information is indicated on the test packaging and must be strictly followed.

Fuzzy second line - what is it?

Perhaps there is a pregnancy, but the period is still short, which is why the concentration of hCG is insufficient for intensive staining of the indicator. Repeat the procedure after a few days. The second line may also be weak, since the concentration of hCG is lower.

Can a pregnancy test be reused?

Is it possible to determine an ectopic pregnancy in this way?

Yes, because with it the hCG hormone is also present, although in smaller quantities. That is why doctors warn that if you receive a positive result, you need to contact antenatal clinic as soon as possible to prevent incorrect placement ovum.

Despite the abundance of methods that allow you to diagnose pregnancy without the participation of a doctor, experts warn that they still remain nothing more than an alternative method. To establish exact date, as well as for timely detection possible pathologies professional medical involvement is required.

Women planning motherhood strive to find out about their pregnancy as early as possible. For this purpose, special tests are recommended, which are sold in pharmacy chains. When is it best to use them to get real results? You can usually do the test after the first day of your missed period. But for exact result you need to repeat it in a week.

Let's understand the principle of operation

To understand when it is better to study urine (in the case of home tests) or blood (laboratory tests), you need to understand the principle of operation of the instrument. The purpose of the analysis is to detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the test material. The body produces this hormone exclusively during pregnancy. Its minimum level appears at the moment the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. And the maximum is at 7-12 weeks.

HCG is a hormone produced by the placenta of the fetus. Blocks the function of the ovaries to produce new eggs to avoid re-fertilization.

Most tests that can be purchased at pharmacies can detect hCG at a level of 25 mIU/ml. This concentration is observed 7-10 days from the moment of conception (introduction of the fertilized egg into the uterine mucosa). These numbers are the first component of the answer - when you need to do a urine/blood test.

However, it should be remembered that ovulation occurs according to an individual schedule. In addition, a fertilized egg can move to the uterus for 8 or 10 days.

Ovulation refers to the release of an egg that has completed the maturation phase from the ovary. Normally occurs two weeks before the start of menstruation.

Features of the menstrual cycle

When deciding when it makes sense to take a pregnancy test, it is important to consider physiological characteristics woman's menstrual cycle.

Menstrual cycle - changes in female body, which are periodic in nature and aimed at creating favorable conditions for conception.

Short cycle

Some women experience menstruation at intervals of less than 24 days. Accordingly, the timing when the test detects hCG in the urine also changes.

However, the changes that occur are not pronounced, so the recommendations on when to do it remain the same - 2-7 days after a missed period.

Long cycle

In gynecology, it is not uncommon for the periodicity of menstruation to be 32 days or more. Women with such a cycle believe that in their case it makes sense to take the test a few days earlier. However, this opinion is wrong.

It should be remembered that when non-standard cycle Only the first half is lengthened, which accounts for the preparation of the endometrium, that is, the surface of the uterus, for implantation of the egg.

While the second part, which is directly responsible for the likely occurrence of pregnancy, remains within the normal range - from 12 to 14 days.

Cycle fluctuations

Every woman is under the influence various factors– stress, taking certain medications, various kinds diseases – cycle fluctuations may occur. This has a direct impact on ovulation, that is, the time the egg matures and is ready for fertilization.

For example, a woman can take a pregnancy test on the first or second day of a delay (non-occurrence of menstruation) and receive negative result.

Although a fertilized egg has already attached to the wall of the uterus, the level of hCG in the urine has not reached a level that can be diagnosed.

Manufacturers of pregnancy tests in the instructions for their products do not recommend doing the test too early, that is, before the day when pregnancy is due. another menstruation. It makes no sense to conduct a urine test for hCG before the third or fourth day of the delay - the level of the hormone has not yet reached its average value, detected by research instruments.

It should be remembered that hCG reaches high concentrations in the early stages of pregnancy primarily in the blood. IN in this case It makes sense to do laboratory tests.

Time of day matters

To get a real, valid result, it is better to study urine for hormone content in certain time days. Namely, in the morning, using the result of the first urination. It is the morning urine that is different maximum concentration HCG (if available).

This requirement must be observed in the first days after the delay. After 10-15 days, the test can be performed regardless of the time of day.

In addition, other rules apply to the test:

Types of tests

Knowledge about the types of tests will also help you figure out when it is optimal to do a home urine test for hCG.

Stripes

They are a cardboard strip impregnated with reagents that react to the hormone. It is lowered into a clean container with freshly collected urine and kept for 20 seconds.

Tablet

An improved version of the strips - a plastic cover is used to protect the reagents from external factors. They are supplied complete with a pipette, which collects urine and applies it to a special window.

Regardless of the type, the result is ready to read after five minutes.

Terms of use

Another one having important role factor. The dough should be handled this way.

For test strips

Collect in a container (clean and completely dry) made of glass. a small amount of urine. The strip is removed from the packaging and placed in the liquid to the level specified by the manufacturer. After 10 seconds, it is removed and laid out on a horizontal surface.

Cassette

Urine is collected using a pipette. Four drops of liquid drip into the cassette window. The result can be read in five minutes.

Midstream

No urine collection is required. A certain part of the test is placed directly under the stream so that the absorbent surface becomes wet, and is closed with a cap.

If after a repeat test the result is still negative and menstruation has not occurred, you should definitely contact a gynecologist.

We can talk about pathologies of pregnancy or diseases of the reproductive system.

Expectation have a good day When you become a mother, it can cause a huge range of feelings: from trembling excitement to anxiety. To quickly find out If conception has occurred, it will be useful to understand the question of when you can take a pregnancy test. Thanks to modern technologies in the field of medicine, now you don’t have to wait many months and sit in line to see a gynecologist to get news of an upcoming addition to the family.

Pharmacy options of this kind measure the amount of hormones in the blood, most methods for early detection of conception are aimed at indicating the amount human chorionic gonadotropin. Doctors often call it for short hCG, this abbreviation is familiar to many patients. Its level may change 10 days after fertilization. If a woman has an average cycle of 28 days, then she can confirm the birth of a new life using a test 5 days before menstruation. That is, even before it becomes clear whether there is a delay. As a rule, they indicate the presence of pregnancy when it cannot yet be seen during examination with an ultrasound machine.

In general, it is worth considering that from the moment of ovulation to the next menstruation in a cycle of 28 days, 14 days pass. So each woman can independently calculate from what day before the onset of regular bleeding she is able to recognize that the transition to a new state, the expectation of the appearance of an heir, has occurred.

It is easy to increase the accuracy of the check if you perform a number of simple steps:

• carry out the examination in the morning, before meals and before going to the toilet;
• check the sample after 5 minutes or after the amount of time specified in the instructions, no earlier and no later;
• 3 hours before the test you should not take diuretics.

The first tests for the presence of an interesting position can be made on the ninth day after contact with a man has occurred, insufficiently protected or aimed at targeted fertilization. By this time, the fertilized egg has already implanted into the uterus, and the chorion, which forms the placenta, begins to secrete the hCG hormone. Its presence in the blood and urine is considered the main sign of an interesting situation.

When conducting an inspection at the earliest stages, you need to be especially careful follow the instructions for use products. You can’t keep it in the urine for too long, and you shouldn’t take it out too quickly either. During this period, the concentration of hCG in the body is small, it is important use the most sensitive samples. The second stripe on them may be rather weakly expressed. The more time passes from the time of conception, the brighter the second stripe will be. And the easier it will be to detect the fact of motherhood using different brands, including not the most sensitive products.

Until 6 days after the birth of a new life, no method can reveal this fact. At this time the embryo not yet attached to the uterine cavity, is in free movement. Only after introducing it into the endometrium can you find out whether it is there. And this happens on the 21st, 22nd or 23rd day after last menstruation. The fertilized egg does not implant into the uterus until 6 days. But its fusion with sperm is possible not immediately after ovulation, but within a couple of days. This is where these come from approximate dates, when you can take a pregnancy test in order to understand whether the birth of a child has occurred. And is it worth it? prepare for the long-awaited arrival of your baby.

After ten days, the most sensitive and expensive brands they can already show two treasured stripes. If there great impatience, and they show the second stripe barely noticeable, you can donate blood for analysis concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin. This will have to be done by a doctor, but the data will be even more accurate.

However, if you have the opportunity to wait and there is no urgent desire to urgently find out whether the long-awaited miracle has occurred, you can wait until the fourteenth day after ovulation. Experts believe that at this stage all tests can already detect the presence of a fetus without errors.

If the test is carried out in the shortest period after conception, it is especially important to comply with the following conditions:

• carefully study the instructions on the packaging and follow them unquestioningly;
• do not take any medications on the eve of the procedure, if this is not possible, reschedule it;
• When consulting a gynecologist, pay attention to whether there is a disease that can lead to false positive or negative tests.

The exact parameters of pharmaceutical strips should be studied in the instructions that come with them. Usually 10 days after the release of a mature female reproductive cell, the most sensitive analogues already show whether conception. Their accuracy is 99%. Cheaper and less sensitive products can reveal a woman’s interesting position at the earliest stages with only an 80-90% probability.

Manufacturers recommend wait for the first days of delay menstrual flow and only then measure something.

Results may be affected external factors. Among them we can list several main ones:

• hormonal drugs can change the amount of hCG in the blood, if they were taken before conception, the data may be inaccurate;
• some fertility drugs lead to false positive tests;
• a previously terminated pregnancy, if it occurs recently, may distort the sample.

The ability of pharmacy products to determine the presence of an interesting situation before the delay is not the same. Important read the manufacturer's instructions so as not to make a mistake. It is also worth preferring the most sensitive options that measure the slightest concentrations of hCG in the urine. As a rule, they are not cheap, but they can indicate 5 days before the expected menstruation that fertilization has occurred.

The number of days before the delay, during which it is possible to understand when it is possible to take a pregnancy test and detect the presence of an embryo, must be calculated in depending on a woman's average cycle. So, for those whose cycle is the standard 28 days, the most early definition conception can take place in 5 days. And if the menstrual cycle is 24 days, then only 1 day before the delay.

Factors that can distort the picture have already been listed above. If you have them too, you should play it safe and test them several times over a number of days. Preferably use products different manufacturers and with different sensitivities. And sometimes you still have to go to the doctor to make sure that it is time to prepare for the birth of the baby.

Sometimes during an interesting situation menstruation does not stop, although they become less pronounced. So if the test comes back negative, this can sometimes be a cause for concern. For example, this happens when using type of dough with weak sensitivity to the concentration of hCG hormone in extremely early stages.

The degree of sensitivity of the product is indicated on the packaging. The more accurate it is, the more expensive it is, as a rule. How smaller number, the more sensitive the test is. For example, if two products are displayed on the display - 20 and 25 units, then you should choose the first one. He's for early periods is more suitable because it has a higher sensitivity to the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine. The most sensitive brands on the market help record hCG concentrations down to 10 mIU/ml.

The earlier the stage of pregnancy, the more important it is at what point in the day should the procedure be performed?. On long term The hormone content in the urine is high, so the test can be done without looking at the clock. And if you can’t wait to find out about interesting position, then it is better to diagnose in the morning after sleep. It is important to carry out this procedure before visiting the toilet. Because at this time hormone levels are highest for all times of the day.

If follow all the recommendations listed, use a sample of the required sensitivity, do not violate the instructions for use, then the appearance of a new life on early stages can be recognized unmistakably. And if time is of the essence and there is no acute impatience, then you can wait 14 days from the moment of ovulation to save on the purchase. At this time, most varieties, even inexpensive ones, are no longer mistaken. So you can get a reliable answer to a piquant question without unnecessary costs.

Do you now understand when you can take a pregnancy test? The forum will tell you. Read more about numerous cases.

A pregnancy test is an invention that helps a woman find out about her pregnancy in the early stages.

There are 4 types of test: test strip, tablet, inkjet, electronic

There are now many types of home tests. In this article we will look at each in detail. Let's find out how the test works and how to do it correctly so that the result is reliable.

It works on the principle of a litmus test, which determines the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine - a special hormone secreted by the placenta during pregnancy. Its quantity grows rapidly in the first weeks of pregnancy: it increases 1.5-2 times every two days. A special sensitive part of the test is coated with special proteins that react with hCG. If a reaction has occurred, then in the window with the result there will be two stripes, a plus sign or other marking provided by the manufacturer.

Types of tests

Among all the diversity of species, they can be distinguished by sensitivity and appearance or principle of use.

Sensitivity is expressed in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/ml) and is available at 10, 20 and 25 mIU/ml. The lower the number, the higher the sensitivity and the earlier the test can be used. Most of them have a sensitivity of 20-25 mIU/ml and give results from the first day of the delay. The most “advanced” (10 mIU/ml) will tell you about conception 7-10 days after fertilization. One way or another, all types give a reliable result after a seven-day delay with a 99% probability. Accuracy does not depend on price or appearance.
Let's look at them Various types depending on appearance.

Strip tests

Or test strips are the cheapest and therefore the most common. They can be purchased not only in pharmacies, but also in many supermarkets. They got their name due to their appearance and represent thin strip, which needs to be briefly lowered to a certain level in a container with morning urine, and then laid out on a horizontal surface. The result will appear in a few minutes. If one line appears, the result is negative, two - positive.

a) jet tester; b) strip tester

Inkjet tests

They belong to the third generation instruments. They are a plastic box, inside of which there is a fibrous rod through which urine reaches the reagent. Next is standard: if there is hCG in the urine, then you will see a positive result, if not, a negative result. The advantages of these devices are that urine does not need to be collected in a separate container, but simply placed under the stream, and that it can be done at any time of the day. However, such identifiers of interesting position are much more expensive.

Tablet tests

They belong to the second generation. Their operating principle is the same as the previous ones, however, the strip itself is enclosed in a plastic case and urine must be dripped onto it with a pipette, which is included in the kit. These tests are also used in hospitals. It will also be convenient if you want to keep it as a keepsake.

Electronic tests

The most modern and most expensive. But using them is a pleasure. These are improved inkjet tests. Instead of the resulting stripes, “pregnant” will be displayed on the unit’s LCD screen if you are soon to become a mother, or “not pregnant” if not. That is, you don’t need to check the stripes with the instructions and worry whether you did and understood everything correctly. In addition, these tests have a sensitivity of 10 mIU/ml and can indicate the occurrence of conception even before a delay in menstruation.

a) tablet tester; b) electronic tester

How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

The answer to this question depends on which device you decide to use. Electronic can be used a week after sexual intercourse, which could lead to conception. All others should be used 4-5 weeks after probable conception or after 1-2 weeks after a missed period. In general, if you don't have regular cycle, then it is better to count the time from unfinished sexual intercourse, rather than wait for a delay.

When is the best time to take the test?

To get the most reliable result, several conditions must be met: you need to use morning urine (in the case of strip testers), because it contains the highest hCG content and the test should be done 4-5 weeks after unprotected intercourse or 1-2 weeks of delay. Urine should be collected in a clean container, after performing hygienic procedures.

Is it necessary to take a pregnancy test in the morning?

Home pregnancy tests detect pregnancy by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a pregnancy hormone, in the urine. The concentration of hCG in urine is highest in the morning, so it is preferable to use morning urine. However, modern devices are able to diagnose fertilization using a lower concentration of hCG, at any time of the day.

Is it possible to take a pregnancy test during the day?

As already noted, the highest concentration of hCG in urine is in the morning. However, during the day you can also get a reliable result, just with less probability.

Is it possible to take a pregnancy test in the evening?

The level of hCG, to which all home “gadgets” react, decreases in the evening and the likelihood of reliable results in the evening is lower. However, when using electronic testers or after long term delay (about 2 weeks) even in the evening you will get accurate results.

Pregnancy test during menstruation

Of course, the most understandable sign of pregnancy is a delay in menstruation. But what to do if a woman is confident in her interesting position, and her period has arrived? Is it possible to do a test? Yes, you can. Menstrual bleeding will not affect its results in any way, because... it reacts to the level of hCG in the urine. However, if you decide to carry out the test during menstruation, then you need to do it correctly: in the morning, by performing a preliminary toilet of the genitals and inserting a tampon into the vagina so that blood does not get into the container with urine (the container, by the way, must also be sterile).

Regular cycle tests

The instructions of most of them are designed specifically for a regular cycle, because... It is recommended to carry out after a delay in menstruation. Please read the instructions carefully before use. Pay attention to the sensitivity of the tester and on what day it is suggested to use it to obtain reliable result. As a rule, this is 1-2 weeks after a delay in menstruation or 1-2 days (electronic types).

Unstable cycle tests

In fact, nowadays most women have cycles with some variation from month to month. However, there are no special pregnancy tests for them. In this case, you need to use the usual ones, only count from the date of unprotected sexual intercourse and use the device 4-5 weeks after it.

Tests for ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is dangerous pathology, which needs to be diagnosed as early as possible in order to begin prompt treatment. Unfortunately, the test will not help you here: in this case it will also show a positive result.

If your answer is positive, consult your doctor to confirm pregnancy and rule out ectopic

Sometimes it happens that in the case of ectopic pregnancy second stripe positive test not as bright as the first one. But this does not give a 100% guarantee. To exclude pathology, it is necessary to do an ultrasound as early as possible.

Negative pregnancy test result

In this situation, there can still be two answers:

1) You are not pregnant (in most cases).

2) You are pregnant. This happens if home diagnostics are carried out too early and the level of hCG in the urine does not reach a level that the tester can determine. In addition, it may be expired or defective.

In women suffering from kidney disease, the second line may appear much later. In any case, it is better to repeat the study after 2-3 days to clarify.

Positive pregnancy test

After you see positive results and the initial emotions have subsided, you will need to make an appointment with a doctor. He will prescribe an ultrasound and conduct an examination to confirm the fact of conception and diagnose the site of attachment of the fertilized egg (uterine or ectopic). After this, the doctor will discuss a pregnancy management plan, prescribe necessary tests and will give recommendations.

In any case, before using the test, read its instructions, because... they may differ in the waiting time for results and the time that you need to keep the tester in the container with urine. In addition, there may be some other features of the procedure, depending on the manufacturer.
We wish you positive results and easy pregnancy!