Questions About Home Pregnancy Tests Answered

Home pregnancy tests are a viable option for predicting pregnancy. The tests measure the amount of hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin in urine as a means of positive or negative result. Home pregnancy tests are not 100% accurate, but that is just one of the many questions women may have when taking a home pregnancy test.

How accurate is the test? The accuracy of a home pregnancy test depends on various factors. If the test is taken after the first day of a missed menstrual cycle and all instructions are followed - leaving other factors out of the equation - they are highly accurate. When using a home pregnancy test, women should always use first morning urine. If testing at another time of day, urine should have been in the bladder for at least four hours and water intake should be limited during this time.

Can prescription drugs affect a home pregnancy test? Diuretics, medications containing hCG like fertility drugs and promethazine have been known to cause false positives on home pregnancy tests.

How early can a home pregnancy test be taken? Some pregnancy tests claim they work three to five days before a menstrual cycle is missed. Due to natural variations in menstrual cycles, the specific date a period was to start can change from month to month. It is best to wait at least one day after a period was supposed to begin before testing. If the test is negative and a period has not started in a week, retesting may be necessary.

How long will a home pregnancy test read positive? After a test is taken, the result should be read within 15 minutes. The positive result may last forever, but accuracy cannot be assumed if the test is left for hours before being read. If a home pregnancy test is taken anytime during pregnancy - no matter how far along - the test will read positive.

What is the difference between a home pregnancy test and a blood pregnancy test? A home pregnancy test detects hCG in urine. A blood pregnancy test measures how much hCG is in the blood. Blood tests can narrow down gestational age or predict multiple pregnancies quite accurately.

Will a home pregnancy test continue to show positive after birth or termination of pregnancy? After birth, pregnancy test results can remain positive for weeks. If the pregnancy was terminated, AfterAbortion.com states pregnancy hormones can affect the body for up to two years. If pregnancy hormones, especially hCG are still in the body, there is a chance a pregnancy test will read positive. The chance of a positive result may increase if dehydrated.

Post Abortion Healing and Help, Post Abortion Stress Syndrome Support. Web. 13 Sept. 2010.