Urine pregnancy tests detect the hormone hCG in urine or blood after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. A woman can take a home test about a week after missing a period, but false positives or negatives can occur. Tests cost less than $20 and are available at drugstores or online.
A urine pregnancy test is a common method for a woman to find out if she is pregnant. You can take a urine pregnancy test at home or at your doctor’s office. Your doctor may choose to do a blood pregnancy test instead. Both tests look for a hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is formed in the urine or blood after a fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. While the blood test can detect the hormone earlier in a woman’s pregnancy, it takes longer to get the results. A urine pregnancy test provides nearly instantaneous results.
A woman can take a home urine pregnancy test about a week after missing a period. It is important that you do not test too soon, otherwise you may get a negative result when you are really pregnant. You also need to follow the instructions correctly to ensure you get an accurate reading. Home urine pregnancy tests are usually about 97% accurate.
To perform a urine pregnancy test, a woman must either hold a dipstick under her urine stream or place a dipstick in a cup filled with her urine. Results usually appear after a few minutes. In older tests, a blue or pink line appears if you are pregnant. Sometimes a plus sign or the word “S” appears, depending on the brand of test you use. Newer tests may feature a digital readout that displays the word “Pregnant” if the test is positive.
A urine pregnancy test can occasionally produce a false positive or false negative. It is important for a woman to repeat the test at home or follow up with a test at the doctor’s office. If a woman is taking certain medications, such as tranquilizers, she may get a false positive. If your urine is bloody, you may also get a false positive.
Medications such as antihistamines can cause a false negative. If the test is too old or if a woman hasn’t waited long enough after her missed period to get tested, she may also get a false negative result. A woman who receives a negative result but still thinks she may be pregnant should retest or see her doctor.
Urine pregnancy tests can usually be purchased at drugstores or supermarkets. A woman concerned about her privacy may wish to order a home test online. Tests usually cost less than $20 US dollars, depending on the style and brand of the test.
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