How Pregnancy Tests Work
Do you think you might be pregnant? Have you missed your menstrual cycle or have early symptoms of pregnancy? If so, you may want to purchase one of the many over the counter pregnancy tests on the market. They have definitely come a long way from the original tests our mothers used. They are also more accurate with advanced technology.
How Pregnancy Tests Work
When your egg is fertilized, it will travel to your uterus and implant itself in the lining. Once this happens, the fertilized egg starts secreting the pregnancy hormone called human chronic gonadotrophin (HCG). Pregnancy tests that are bought over the counter today are made with monoclonal antibodies that detect traces of HCG. When you take a pregnancy test, you urinate on a stick. Your urine sample will then move up the stick until it reaches the control window, which tells you the test is working. The sample will then continue to go up until it reaches the second window, which tells you if you are pregnant. When your urine reaches this portion of the test, if you are pregnant, your urine will react with the monoclonal antibodies creating a distinct change in color causing a line or a color to appear in the window, depending on the brand pregnancy test. The density of the positive result will depend on the amount of HCG you have in your urine. If you are not pregnant, then you will get a negative result.
Different Pregnancy Tests To Choose From
There are many different pregnancy tests on the market that promise 99% accuracy one day after your first missed period. Some pregnancy tests can even predict pregnancy as early as five day before missing your actual period. When choosing to take a test, one to five days before your missed period, you should perform the test first thing in the morning and follow the manufacturer instructions of the to get the most accurate result. However, you could still be pregnant, even if you get a negative reading. If you are pregnant and you get a negative reading, it could be that you didn’t have enough HCG in your urine when you tested and you should repeat the test at a letter date.
Tips
Remember to read the manufacturer’s directions and follow them closely to ensure an accurate reading. Healthcare providers normally recommend waiting at least a week after your first missed period, just in case you miscalculated the days to your next period.
