The pregnancy test, which you can buy at the pharmacy and can do at home, is quite simple and very reliable, as long as it is done correctly, especially after the first day of your missed period.
The home pregnancy test assesses the presence of the beta hormone hCG in urine, which is only produced when a woman is pregnant, and which increases throughout the first weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, a positive pregnancy test means that the woman is producing beta hCG and, therefore, the chances of being pregnant are very high.
It is important that the woman does not take the pregnancy test before the delay, as it may give a false negative, as the amount of hormone in the urine is still very small and may not be detected by the test.
When to take a pregnancy test
O Pharmacy pregnancy test must be taken from the 1st day of the menstrual delay.
If the test result is negative and menstruation is late, or if there are symptoms suggestive of pregnancy, the test should be repeated after 3 to 5 days.
Read too: 14 first symptoms of pregnancy (week by week)
Currently, there are already some pregnancy tests, called “early” ones, which can detect a possible pregnancy up to 6 days before the delay. However, if the result is negative, the test must be repeated on the day of the delay.
Pregnancy Symptoms Online Test
To find out the chances of pregnancy, select the symptoms you present in the test below:
How to take a pregnancy test correctly
To take the pregnancy test, you must follow the following steps:
- Urinate into a clean container;
- Remove the test cap and dip the absorbent tip into the urine;
- Wait 5 seconds (or the time indicated on the packaging) and remove;
- Place the test on a flat surface, such as a table.
Finally, you must wait between 1 and 5 minutes (or according to the packaging), as this is how long it may take for the test result to appear.
The pregnancy test should preferably be done with the first urine in the morning, as this is more concentrated and therefore contains a greater amount of the hCG hormone. However, the test result is also reliable if it is carried out at any other time of the day, as long as you wait at least 4 hours without urinating.
It is important to remember that the way in which some tests are used may vary and, therefore, it is always important to read the product instructions.
Positive or negative pregnancy test?
Pregnancy test results may be:
Positive pregnancy test
The pregnancy test is positive when it presents:
- Two lines: the result is considered positive, even if one of the lines appears more “erased”;
- “+”: positive result, even if the “+” symbol seems a little “off”.
Read too: Positive pregnancy test: photos, how to read and what to do
Negative pregnancy test
The pregnancy test is considered negative if it shows:
- A risk: negative result, indicating that there is no pregnancy or that it is too early for it to be detected;
- “-“: negative result, indicating that it is not pregnancy or that it is too early for it to be detected.
Generally, after 10 minutes, the result can be changed by external factors, so it should not be taken into account if the result changes after this time.
How to know if the test is working
The test is working correctly whenever at least one risk appears within 10 minutes of starting the test. This risk appears in the “control” window, which is next to the result window and may be identified with the letter “C”.
In the case of digital tests, the control window is not visible and, therefore, the device will indicate if the test is not working, possibly showing an error on the screen or keeping the screen blank.
Whenever the test is not working correctly, regardless of the type, it is recommended to repeat the process, using a new test.
Worried about your exam results?
False negative result
The pregnancy test can give a “false negative” result when the test is done too early and there is not yet enough beta hCG in the urine. This happens especially when the test is done before a missed period.
Read too: 5 possible causes of false negative pregnancy test
False positive result
A “false positive” result occurs when a woman presents a positive result, repeats the test and then presents a negative result. This usually happens due to a miscarriage, which is a relatively common event in the first few weeks of pregnancy. If this happens, it is advisable to consult a gynecologist to confirm the test result.
Read too: False positive pregnancy test: 5 causes (and how to avoid it)
Do popular home tests work?
Popularly known home pregnancy tests, which use a needle, toothpaste, chlorine or bleach, should not be done because they are unreliable. See the main popular tests and why they don’t work.
To guarantee the result, the best choice to confirm the pregnancy is to take the pharmacy test or the blood test carried out in the laboratory, because they allow the amount of beta hCG in the blood or urine to be assessed, making it possible to confirm the pregnancy.
What if the man takes the pregnancy test?
If a man takes a pregnancy test using his own urine, there is the possibility of observing a ‘positive’ result, which indicates the presence of the beta hormone hCG in his urine, which is not related to pregnancy, but rather to a serious health change, which could be cancer. In this case, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible to carry out tests that can indicate his health status and start treatment promptly.
Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with exclusive news
that can transform your routine!
