Home pregnancy tests have certainly made the lives of women today easier! There is no more waiting, no more expensive trips to a doctor, and no more wondering and worrying. They are inexpensive, and available nearly everywhere. But the question remains, just how reliable are they? Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
Home pregnancy tests claim to be anywhere between 97 and 99 percent accurate at detecting pregnancy, but the real determining factor is you. Yes, you. How you use an at home pregnancy test will be the true factor that can alter the accuracy of at home pregnancy tests.
Some at home pregnancy tests claim to be able to detect pregnancy from the first day of your missed period. However, this isn’t always accurate. The truth is that most home pregnancy tests aren’t sensitive enough to detect pregnancy hormones on the first day of a missed period.
However, when you wait a week from the time you are supposed to start your period, the accuracy of home pregnancy tests dramatically improve! So, bottom line: try to wait as long as you possibly can before testing at home. Waiting a week after your missed period can greatly increase your chances of getting an accurate result.
There are some other factors that also hurt the accuracy of using at home pregnancy tests. One factor that can hurt your test results is testing at the wrong time. Always try to take a pregnancy test using your first morning urine, since that will be where the highest concentrations of pregnancy hormones lie. Also, not following directions can be a real detriment to the accuracy of the test.
Make sure you read all the instructions, test exactly as the test instructions tell you to, and wait the allotted amount of time. Important: do not leave the test in the trash or on the counter for a couple of hours, come back and re-read the test results. After the allotted amount of time that the test instructions state, the results of the test should be considered null and void and should not be read again.
The most important thing to remember when taking an at home pregnancy test is that if you are not satisfied with the results, wait a few days or a week, and re-test. Don’t assume that a negative test means that you are not pregnant.
Test again, and if you are still not seeing your period within a few weeks, visit your doctor to see what could be causing your problems. Even if you’re at home test is positive, you will still need to follow up with your doctor to get the proper prenatal care that you will need.
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