Regardless of whether a woman wants a child or, on the contrary, perceives its possible appearance negatively, each of them approaches the test with a certain excitement, awaiting the result.

In order for him to be trusted, many nuances must be observed. There is nothing complicated in these rules, especially if you understand what the operating principle of the test itself is based on and what can affect the result.

So, how to do a pregnancy test correctly, when is it best to use it, can it be used during the day or in the evening, or should it only be done in the morning, how many days after the expected conception or missed period?

Operating principle

Immediately after the egg is fertilized, the woman’s body begins to produce a special hormone, which was not there before even in small quantities - human chorionic gonadotropin or the more familiar name to many - hCG.

This hormone is produced by the membrane of the embryo from the seventh day of conception, and its quantity increases daily by two to four or more times until a certain period, then begins to decrease.

The operating principle of the tests is aimed specifically at detecting this hormone in a woman’s urine, without determining its quantity. In other words, It is possible to determine pregnancy, but only laboratory tests will help determine its duration.

Detection possible conception occurs due to the fact that the test contains antibodies to hCG, therefore, if they are present in the test liquid, the color of the indicator immediately changes.

Types and instructions for use

Today, women are presented with a large number of a variety of tests that can be used to confirm or deny pregnancy.

For a long time now, you no longer need to go exclusively to a pharmacy to purchase them, although some varieties still cannot be bought in a regular store.

Total exists four types of tests to help with this important issue: conventional strips coated with antibodies, inkjet strips that do not involve urine collection, as well as more reliable methods of determining pregnancy - tablet tests and reservoir systems.

All of them act on a similar principle (determine the presence/absence of hCG in the urine), but differ in sensitivity, method of implementation and, importantly, price. Therefore, every woman, having studied all the nuances of each of them, has the right to choose what to use.

Test strips

Without exaggeration we can say that this the most popular home pregnancy detection method. Firstly, it appeared much earlier than the others, secondly, it is quite easy to perform, and thirdly, it is very cheap compared to other varieties.

Using this pregnancy test is easy: you need to collect urine, lower the strip into the container to the marked level at specified time and evaluate the result. The longer the period, the higher the probability of a correct result. As a rule, they are recommended to be carried out after a delay in menstruation (on the 6-7th day). In this case, if all conditions are met, the reliability will approach 99%.

Unfortunately, this wonderful method also has many disadvantages. For example, it is advisable to use a sterile container for collecting urine, otherwise foreign microflora may distort the results.

It is important to strictly comply with the conditions, because if the immersion time is too short, the reagent may not have time to interact with urine, and if the immersion time is too long, it may simply wash off the strip and not show the correct information.

Another drawback - strict adherence to storage conditions. Despite the fact that today you can buy a test in almost any supermarket, it is still better to go to a pharmacy, since an expired expiration date or violation of storage conditions makes it unsuitable.

Jet test

Easy to use and very reliable in terms of the results obtained. There are several main advantages.

Firstly, this extremely high sensitivity: Even if the level of hCG in the blood is still very low, the result will be positive. This allows you to find out about an existing pregnancy even before the onset of a missed period.

Secondly, conditions of use do not imply urine collection, which eliminates the influence of foreign microflora on the results: you just need to hold it during urination.

How to do a jet pregnancy test:

This use case eliminates the possibility of errors associated with non-compliance with the contact time of urine and the reagent, as in test strips. That is why it is most suitable for women who are not very good at waiting and are worried about the results.

Among the disadvantages this method representatives of the fair sex confidently name only one definition of pregnancy - this is his high price. However, given the fact that sometimes more than a dozen of them are required to confirm pregnancy using test strips, it is more profitable to purchase an inkjet one right away.

Tablet tests

Few people have encountered them at home, since They are most often used in hospitals. This method helps to find out about conception soon after it, even before the appearance of a delay in menstruation. However, according to those who have used it, the pros end there and the negatives begin.

The first one is price. Tablet tests are by no means cheap, and therefore many people prefer to wait 2-3 days for the results of a blood test for hCG. In addition, they not very convenient to use: there are two holes on their surface. Into one of them you need to drop 3-4 drops of urine, collected from a sterile container with a sterile pipette.

How to use this pregnancy test:

Failure to comply with these requirements can significantly distort the results, so if you nevertheless decide on such an expensive diagnostic method, study all the nuances of its implementation and follow them.

Test systems with reservoir

They are both a diagnostic test and a container for collecting urine. The advantages of this method are: high accuracy and minimal error rate due to the fact that everything is sterile, and the system itself takes the amount of test material required for the test from the container.

The result does not need to be interpreted— an inscription about the presence or absence of pregnancy will appear in the outer window (the language of the inscription depends on the manufacturer).

With all the doubts positive aspects can be distinguished two disadvantages of this method: firstly, the price is quite high, and secondly, it is cumbersome, which does not allow it to be carried out outside the home or hospital.

Despite the different principles of use and sensitivity, all these tests have one thing in common: compliance with the rules of use significantly increases the reliability of the results.

In order not to have to doubt the information received, it is recommended to diagnose the very first urine in the morning, since it contains the highest content of the hCG hormone.

This is the only recommendation that applies to all varieties. The rest concern each individual individually. For example, it is better to use test strips after a few days of missed menstruation; for tablet strips, it is important to maintain sterility conditions, etc. The most undemanding, perhaps, is the inkjet test..

FAQ

Of course, at the first suspicion of pregnancy, few people will run to the doctor, regardless of whether it is desired or not. Therefore, express methods are becoming increasingly popular, but the number of questions asked regarding their use is not decreasing.

Is there a possibility of a mistake?

Yes. Mostly false negative results (denial of pregnancy if there is one) caused by violations of the rules of use are popular. To avoid this, read the instructions carefully.

If the result is negative, is pregnancy possible? And vice versa?

The first option is more common; it is caused by an early attempt to determine pregnancy. It is extremely rare, but a false positive result also occurs, caused either by poor quality of the test or by violation of the rules for its conduct. This is why recommendations for retesting are given.

When to take a repeat pregnancy test?

If you are sure that you are pregnant, but the result is negative, or vice versa, repeat the procedure after 2-3 days, if there is already a delay, or on the seventh or eighth day of the delay.

Do results depend on timing?

By and large, no. The test does not show the level of hCG, but only its presence. However, if the period is too short, the indicator strip may become very faintly colored. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the procedure after 3-5 days.

There is no delay, but pregnancy is possible. Is there any point in doing a test?

If your goal is to determine pregnancy as early as possible, you can conduct a test before the delay occurs, but then it is better to give preference to any other test strips.

Is a positive result possible before a missed period?

Yes. HCG is detected in the urine of a pregnant woman already from the 8th day from conception, so high-quality tests with high sensitivity can easily determine the likelihood of conception even before the start date of the expected menstruation.

Can you conduct research at any time of the day?

Is it necessary to take a pregnancy test in the morning? It depends on the time frame. If it is already large enough, hCG will be determined in any case, but if it is only 2-3 days of delay, it is better to conduct the study early in the morning, with the first urine.

How to understand the stripes and how to interpret the results?

The stripes are the results. Study the packaging: it states that one of the strips is a control strip, i.e. its absence indicates the unsuitability of the test for diagnosis, and the second is an indicator, changing color upon contact with the test material containing hCG.

Two stripes - you are pregnant, one control strip - the result is negative, no control strip - the test is unsuitable.

How long does it take to get results?

As a rule, such information is indicated on the test packaging and must be strictly followed.

Fuzzy second line - what is it?

Perhaps there is a pregnancy, but the period is still short, which is why the concentration of hCG is insufficient for intensive staining of the indicator. Repeat the procedure after a few days. The second line may also be weak, since the concentration of hCG is lower.

Can a pregnancy test be reused?

Is it possible to determine an ectopic pregnancy in this way?

Yes, because with it the hCG hormone is also present, although in smaller quantities. That is why doctors warn that if you receive a positive result, you need to contact the antenatal clinic as soon as possible to exclude incorrect placement ovum.

Despite the abundance of methods that allow you to diagnose pregnancy without the participation of a doctor, experts warn that they still remain nothing more than an alternative method.

To establish exact date, as well as for timely detection of possible pathologies professional medical involvement is required.

Almost every woman at some point in her life has faced doubts about pregnancy, which could occur during unprotected intercourse. In the case when the probable date of conception is known, only one task remains - to determine after what time a pregnancy test can be taken.

The principle of determining pregnancy test

All known pregnancy tests work the same way. A reagent applied to a certain area of ​​the device, interacting with a woman’s urine, determines the presence in it of the hormone responsible for pregnancy - human chorionic gonadotropin (abbreviated as hCG). This substance is present only during a woman’s pregnancy or, in rare cases, during certain organ dysfunctions.

The chorion (placenta) begins to produce hCG only when the fertilized egg is fixed inside the woman’s uterus, and when ectopic pregnancy beyond. This happens only a certain number of days after the probable conception. During this period of time, the embryo moves from the ovary through the tube into the uterine cavity. During the period of its movement, no significant changes occur in the woman’s body, and the “pregnancy hormone” is also not yet produced.

Based on the above, it makes no sense to carry out a test in the very first 7–10 days of probable pregnancy. His result during this period will always be negative.

You also need to know that conception does not necessarily occur during sexual intercourse. Sperm can remain in a woman’s body without dying for several more days, waiting for ovulation. So, when determining how long after conception testing will be indicative, this fact must also be taken into account.

Which test to choose

An important criterion when assessing the likelihood of which day after conception the test will show pregnancy is the choice of the test itself. The difference in this case is the sensitivity of the device to the hCG hormone. This value usually ranges from 10 to 25 mIU/ml and means the lowest level of the hormone in the urine that the test can detect.

The lower the sensitivity value, the more accurately the test can determine the presence of pregnancy. If the value of 10 mIU/ml is indicated on the package, this is the most accurate device, since no test shows a lower hormone content.

This was not done by chance - the urine of a non-pregnant woman may contain a small amount of hCG. If tests could detect any small amount of it, the result would often be positive even without pregnancy.

When choosing a high-precision test, the study can be carried out on the 7th – 10th day of the course possible pregnancy, and if its sensitivity is low, only after 12–14 days. These deadlines are the minimum for testing.

If the test is negative during the procedure in the first weeks after ovulation, this may not be definitively correct. In this case, it is necessary to repeat the procedure with another test, waiting 3–5 days after the first one.

If the test is positive, even early stages There is a 99% chance that there is a pregnancy. If at the same time its first signs began to appear, there can certainly be no doubt. Even if the second stripe is very light and barely visible, this can also be considered a positive answer, it’s just that the period is still short, and the hCG hormone is present in small quantities.

Impact of the menstrual cycle

To more accurately determine the best period for the test, it is also necessary to take into account the characteristics of the body. All women have length menstrual cycle different:

• Short cycle (lasting less than 24 days). In this case, ovulation occurs less than 12 days before the start of menstruation. And conception also occurs around the same period. Such women generally should not try to determine pregnancy before the delay occurs, because the period will still be too short. And after the delay, you still need to wait 3–4 days, and only then carry out the test.
• Average cycle (from 24 to 32 days). This is the average parameter that most women fall under. In this case, it is possible to determine pregnancy from the first days of waiting for your period.
• Long cycle (more than 32 days). It would seem that with a long cycle, the pregnancy period before the delay will already be sufficient. But, basically, ovulation in such women does not occur in the middle of the cycle, as is usually the case, but occurs with a slight delay. Thus, it is also advisable to carry out the test no earlier than the first day of the expected menstruation.
• Uneven cycle. Sometimes the number of days between periods can be inconsistent. In such a situation, it is difficult to correlate the timing with the delay, since predicting menstruation is not possible. Here, of course, it is easier to start from the expected date of conception and conduct research at least two weeks after it.

In any case, it is advisable to carry out the test as late as possible to avoid incorrect results. It is not necessary to do it in the very first days, when this is already possible - the shorter the period, the lower the likelihood of the reliability of the answer received.

How to do the test correctly

If you do not follow the basic instructions, then even taking into account all the factors, you may get the wrong result. Basic rules you need to know:

1. The most indicative is urine collected in the morning. Its concentration is usually higher.
2. Before testing, you should not drink a lot of fluids or take diuretics to prevent your urine from being diluted.
3. Before using the test, be sure to read the instructions.
4. It is necessary to ensure that the test liquid gets only onto the required area of ​​the test, without affecting its main part.
5. The device should not be expired; if so, its use does not guarantee the correct result.
6. All tests are intended for one-time use; the same one cannot be used again.

If these instructions are not followed, the test may result in either a false positive or a false negative. This can be misleading and the interpretation of the response received will be incorrect.

conclusions

Summarizing all of the above, it is worth identifying the main factors that influence how many days after conception the test will show pregnancy. Here is their list:

• After sexual intercourse has occurred, conception can occur within a period of several hours to 5–7 days.
• In the first 7–8 days after the expected conception, tests are not indicative, because the “pregnancy hormone” has not yet appeared in the urine.
• If you focus on menstruation and their delay, you need to take into account the length of the menstrual cycle.
• It is imperative to take into account the sensitivity of the selected pregnancy test.
• If used incorrectly, the device may show unreliable results at any time.

Based on average statistical data, it is possible to determine pregnancy with a test 12 to 15 days after conception. Typically this period occurs in the first days of the menstrual cycle. For greater efficiency, you should not test before the delay begins. If the results are negative in the short term, it is recommended to repeat the study after 3 to 5 days.

How to use a pregnancy test correctly

10 popular questions about pregnancy tests

1. How does a pregnancy test work?

All pregnancy tests operate on the same principle - they are recognized in urine (tests for home use) or blood (laboratory tests) a special hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). It is produced only during pregnancy. A non-pregnant woman simply cannot have it. The level of hCG in the body from the moment the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus doubles approximately every 2-3 days and reaches a maximum by 7-12 weeks of pregnancy. Its presence in the blood and urine persists until approximately the third week after the birth of the child.

2. Can a pregnancy test be taken during the day? What time of day is best to do it?

Usually, morning urine is used to perform a pregnancy test, as it is more concentrated. But there is a test that can be done both during the day and in the evening - exact time doesn't matter. This is a jet test. They are especially sensitive (look for the 10 mIU/ml mark on the package), and when using them, there is no need to collect urine anywhere - just put the test under the stream.

3. Are pregnancy tests wrong?

All instructions say that pregnancy tests are 95-99% accurate. This means that there is a chance that the result will be incorrect. So, false negative the result (the test does not show pregnancy, although there is one) is possible if:
you performed the test too early and the level of hCG in the urine is still too low;
the test has expired (read the packaging carefully before buying the test);
you performed the test incorrectly (read the instructions carefully, everything is extremely simple there);
Drinking too much liquid the day before the test can dilute the urine and reduce the concentration of hCG.

The test can also show false positive result (there is no pregnancy, but the test says that there is).
This happens if you are taking fertility drugs that contain hCG (usually in the form of injections);
In the presence of malignant tumors;
A positive pregnancy test result may also mean that remnants of the fertilized egg remain in the uterus after premature birth or miscarriage.

4. On what day of delay should I test? Does it make sense to take a pregnancy test before your delay?

The sensitivity of pregnancy tests plays a big role. Typically, most tests have a sensitivity of 20-25 mIU/mL (international units per mL). They are able to recognize pregnancy only from the first day of missed menstruation. Whereas there are more sensitive (10 mIU/ml), but also more expensive tests that determine pregnancy before the delay - already 7-10 days from the moment of expected conception. And after a week of delay, any tests will show pregnancy (if there is one). The level of hCG in the blood grows faster than in the urine, so pregnancy can be determined even before the expected menstruation (but not earlier than 7 days from the date of expected conception) - using a blood test for hCG, which can be done in antenatal clinic or in commercial laboratories.

5. How to use a pregnancy test correctly?

There are different types of pregnancy tests, and they must be used in accordance with the instructions for each of them. For example:

Strip tests (strip test)
These are the simplest, cheapest and most common tests. The strip should be lowered for 10-20 seconds to a certain mark in a container with morning urine (it is the most concentrated). After this, the test should be placed on a horizontal surface and after a few minutes the result can be assessed. One line means you are not pregnant, the test showed two lines - pregnancy has occurred.

Tablet tests
They are designed in the same way as strip tests. Only the paper strip is placed in a plastic case. And the previously collected morning urine needs to be dropped into a special hole with the pipette included with the test. One or two stripes on the test will also tell you about the result.

Inkjet tests
Their convenience is that there is no need to collect urine anywhere - you just need to place the test under the stream. In this case, urine does not have to be morning. Inkjet pregnancy tests are usually more sensitive. Again, a positive test result means two lines, and if only one line appears, then the test shows a negative result.

Electronic tests
These tests have a special strip - a sample receiver, which can optionally be lowered into a container with urine or placed under the stream. The result is read in 3 minutes. If “+” or the inscription “pregnant” appears on the test, you are pregnant, but if “-” or “not pregnant” - you are not.

6. Why is there a weak second stripe?

Even if the test shows a weak second line, this still means that you are pregnant, it’s just that the level of hCG in your blood is not that high yet. If in doubt, retest in 3-4 days. The hCG level will become much higher, and then the strip will be much brighter.

7. Best test for pregnancy - what is it like?

The answer to this question may vary depending on what you need. If you want to find out as early as possible whether you are pregnant, it is best to donate blood in a laboratory (no earlier than 7 days after the expected conception). If convenience is important to you, then some people prefer jet tests, which can be used during the day and for which you do not need to collect urine anywhere. For some, on the contrary, putting the test under the stream seems labor-intensive, and it is easier for them to collect the urine in a special jar, and then put the cheapest paper test (strip test) in there.

8. Online test for pregnancy - what is it?

At best, it's just a hoax. At worst, it’s a way for scammers to make money (when, for example, to pass a test you first need to send an SMS to a specific number). There are different types of tests. Some suggest placing your finger on the blue square on the screen, and if within a few minutes it turns red, you are pregnant. However, even if you don’t put your finger on the screen, the square will turn red on its own after a while. Other tests ask you to answer a series of questions before making a verdict. For example, “Have you ever Lately unprotected sexual intercourse? and “Do you feel engorgement in your breasts?”

9. Does the test indicate an ectopic pregnancy?

If the fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, a regular pregnancy test will still be positive. True, if you do not intervene in time, the ectopic pregnancy will terminate on its own at 7-8 weeks, and all this will be accompanied by significant blood loss, pain and serious problems for the woman’s health. To avoid this, early signs It is better to detect an ectopic pregnancy in advance and terminate such a pregnancy in a hospital. An ectopic pregnancy may be indicated, in particular, by nagging pain in the lower abdomen and bloody issues on the background positive test for pregnancy. If you notice these symptoms, immediately go to the gynecologist. He will perform an ultrasound, and if the pregnancy is ectopic, then there will be no fertilized egg in the uterus, but there will be epithelial growth, as with normal pregnancy. If you belong to a risk group (adhesions, inflammation of the appendages, or have had an ectopic pregnancy before), it is better to do a qualitative blood test over time. During an ectopic pregnancy, the level of hCG in the blood is lower than during a normal pregnancy, and the test will immediately show this.

10. What stage of pregnancy does the test show? Will the test show the week of pregnancy?

Neither a strip test, nor a tablet, nor an inkjet, nor an electronic test will tell you the gestational age. They are exclusively qualitative in nature - “yes” or “no”. But you can still find out the approximate gestational age. If you do a quantitative blood test in the laboratory. He will determine the exact level of hCG in the blood, after which the doctor will be able to tell which week of pregnancy it corresponds to. Doing such a test is, in particular, useful to recognize a frozen pregnancy in the early stages. If the embryo freezes in development, the hCG level stops growing, which will be seen in this analysis.

Like

Manufacturers of popular pregnancy detection systems advise conducting the test in the morning. This stereotype scares women. Expectant mothers planning to conceive are afraid of getting a negative result, and therefore postpone the long-awaited study until the morning hours.

Most gynecologists believe that you can take a pregnancy test in the evening. It is permissible to carry out diagnostics at any time of the day, in contrast to a blood test, which is carried out exclusively in the morning on an empty stomach. If a woman gets a questionable result in the evening, it is recommended that she take a pregnancy test again in the morning. Additional testing will help determine if she is pregnant.

How the test works

Regardless of the manufacturer, type of device and its sensitivity, the test diagnoses pregnancy by detecting a specific hormone. After the merger of male and female cage a fertilized egg is formed. Over the course of several days, it makes its way to its future location - the uterus. Having attached itself to the mucous membrane, the embryo provokes the production of the hCG hormone. This substance is unique in its structure and is found in healthy body only during pregnancy. The purpose of the test is to search for this substance and recognize it.

The structure of the test is quite primitive. The manufacturer applies two reagents to the paper strip. One of them appears when correct implementation manipulations and informs the woman that the device is working properly - a control strip. The second reagent is colored only when human chorionic gonadotropin is detected in the biomaterial. Brightness directly depends on the concentration of the new substance in the urine. The second stripe, located parallel (less often perpendicular) to the first one, can only be seen by pregnant women.

They work in a similar way. electronic devices. They determine the presence of the hormone in the test material and show the result: positive or negative. Tests that can determine the gestational age detect the concentration of a unique substance in the urine. The higher it is, the more time has passed since conception.

If the test shows a clear positive result, then there is no doubt that conception has occurred. The reagent designed to detect does not appear upon contact with other substances and ignores them. The only task of the diagnostic device is to search for the “pregnant” hormone and indirectly determine its level. - these are two bright stripes, not inferior in color intensity to each other. Despite manufacturers' recommendations, you can do the test at any time of the day. It is important to adhere certain rules to obtain a reliable result.

When is it better to take the test - in the morning, afternoon or evening

The question of when to take a pregnancy test worries millions of women. If you believe the instructions for use included with the device, then the study must be carried out in the morning. However, not all tests are annotated. Inexpensive strip strips are sold in waterproof packaging, which only indicates the method of use. This gives planning women reason to believe that a pregnancy test in the evening can also be done. The result of the study largely depends on the timing and sensitivity of the test system.

Manufacturers of diagnostic devices, when they say that a pregnancy test should be taken in the morning, rely on biological processes human body. During a night's sleep, a healthy woman does not urinate. Accumulated urine in bladder in 6-9 hours, has a high content of human chorionic gonadotropin. The concentration of the hormone is also maximum because its increase occurs at night. In the evening, on the contrary, the saturation of urine becomes less, since constant metabolism occurs during the day, and the expectant mother consumes food and liquid. By recommending testing only in the morning, manufacturers want to provide to the expectant mother the most accurate result.

The sensitivity of the device is of no small importance for the study. The test could be:

• highly sensitive (10 mIU);
• moderately sensitive (from 15 to 20 mIU);
• low sensitive (from 25 to 30 mIU).

About a week after conception, implantation occurs. From this moment on, an active increase in the hCG hormone begins. In this case, the unique substance first rises in the blood. Only after a few days the same value of hCG is detected in the urine. A highly sensitive device will first show two bars (or a plus sign if the device is digital). Such tests are often used by women even before a missed period, and they are carried out at any time of the day.

It is assumed that low-sensitivity tests must be done after a delay, since their use before the day of the expected menstruation is likely to show a negative answer. Such devices should really be used in the morning so that the concentration of hCG is higher. Otherwise, the reagent simply will not determine low values this hormone.

If a woman decides to conduct a diagnosis in the evening, then it is necessary to follow some rules to help determine the result most accurately:

• do not drink a lot of fluids before the examination;
• choose the time of urination so that you do not visit the toilet for 3-4 hours before;
• use highly sensitive devices.

If there is already a delay in menstruation or pregnancy is more than 5 weeks, then it is permissible to use devices of any sensitivity in different time day. The concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine is already so high that it cannot decrease to the level of a negative result.

Pregnancy test in the afternoon or evening: should you believe the results?

It is believed that the test can be done in the evening only after a delay. From 4-5 weeks of pregnancy, the levels of the hCG hormone increase so much that they cannot be reduced even with constant fluid intake. You can trust such an accurate and irrefutable result. The situation is different when the study is carried out before the delay or the pregnancy test during the day shows a questionable result.

If you take the test in the evening or daytime, then you can get a false negative result that cannot be trusted. A negative response appears because the woman consumes a lot of fluid. If you urinate 1-2 hours before the test, the urine will be less concentrated. Is the test reliable in this case? Definitely not. You can refute a false result if you donate blood for hCG. The analysis will show not only a positive answer if pregnancy is present, but will also tell you about the approximate period, based on hormone level indicators.

Less often during the day you can get a false positive answer. If the device shows two stripes, but there is actually no pregnancy, then the cause of this result may be tumor processes. It is impossible to say unequivocally whether to believe or not such an answer. If a questionable result is obtained during the daytime, the test should be repeated after 24-48 hours or the next morning. For a pregnant woman, the device will show a brighter second stripe.

You can take a pregnancy test in the evening if you can’t wait to find out the result. However, you should be prepared for the fact that the answer may turn out to be unsatisfactory. The device gives questionable indications even during ectopic pregnancy. Attachment of the fertilized egg outside the cavity reproductive organ causes the body to produce less hCG. If even in the morning the test strip is less bright than the control line, then an evening test may show no pregnancy at all. Confirmation of the ectopic location of the fetus can be done using a blood test or during an ultrasound scan.

Often, when planning a pregnancy, a woman is prescribed injections of human chorionic gonadotropin. Its elimination period is about 2 weeks. If you conduct the study earlier, the diagnosis will show a positive result. You shouldn't trust him. After all, women are often deceived and later disappointed. Using hormonal treatment To conceive, you must wait the time specified in the instructions for using the test, and conduct the test after the delay - in the morning, afternoon or evening.

A pregnancy test can be taken during the day - it will not cause any harm. It is important to understand the essence of the study and be prepared to receive an unreliable result. If in doubt, you need to repeat the test in the morning the next day.

Content

To home test pregnancy test showed accurate results, it must be done correctly: any mistake will result in false data. It should be understood: no matter how high the sensitivity of the analyzer, it will not give a 100% guarantee. Accurate data can be obtained only after examination by a gynecologist and blood donation for hCG.

When can I do a pregnancy test

Any home pregnancy test is aimed at determining the level of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine. This hormone begins to intensively produce chorion tissue as soon as the fertilized egg is attached to the walls of the uterus. HCG grows exponentially every day, and its presence in the blood can be detected already on the 7th day of pregnancy, in the urine - a couple of days later. For this reason, research done before this date may give false results.

Another point: a woman can only become pregnant during ovulation. This is the name for the period when a mature egg leaves the follicle and passes into the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs. This period lasts 2-3 days. With a 28-day cycle, in most cases it begins on day 14, but each organism is individual, so it is impossible to accurately predict the beginning and end of ovulation without special tests.

If fertilization has occurred, the woman will be 2-3 weeks pregnant by this time, so the concentration of hCG in the urine will be at a level sufficient to confirm or deny conception.

If your periods are irregular, the time of ovulation is difficult to predict. In this case, you need to count 10-12 days from the moment of the expected pregnancy, and then do the test. The probability of a false negative result is high, so after a week the test must be repeated, or even better, donate blood for hCG. To make the task easier, you can purchase ovulation detection strips and use them during your cycle. Some of them are sold along with a pregnancy test.

Often the analysis shows false positive results. This is possible if a miscarriage has recently occurred or an abortion has been performed, the woman takes hormonal drugs. Sometimes increased level hormone indicates cancer, false pregnancy.

Important: you need to test the very first urine in the morning. After a night's rest, the natural concentration of the hormone in it is maximum. To get correct results, you need to thoroughly wash and dry before testing: the presence of foreign substances in the test sample will distort the analysis.

How to use a pregnancy test

Before testing, you need to make sure that the analyzer is not expired and carefully study the instructions. The further scheme of actions is as follows. Urine is collected in a special container or pipette, and then placed on an absorbent layer that contains elements that react with hCG. After this, you need to wait from 1 to 5 minutes (depending on the manufacturer’s instructions) and check the results. One strip indicates that there is no pregnancy. Two lines, even if the second one is weak, indicate a high probability of conception.

The accuracy of testing depends on the quality of the analyzer. If cheap reagents were used in its manufacture, the sensitivity of the device will be low, and an error in one or the other direction is possible. For this reason, it is better to buy a test that indicates a value of 10 mIU/ml. Higher numbers - 20, 30, 40 - reduce the reliability of the results. In addition, preference should be given to well-proven products. Good feedback collected products from Frautest, Clearblue, Evitest, Premium Diagnostics.

The most popular view testing is a test strip. The analysis must be done following the recommendations of the instructions for use:

1. Urinate in a clean container in the morning (under no circumstances expose the strip to a stream of urine).
2. Carefully open the package and take out the analyzer, making sure that no dirt or water gets on it. Do not touch the area where the reagents are located with your hands.
3. Dip the strip vertically inward to the mark indicated on it (no deeper), holding the colored end.
4. Keep in urine for 10-30 seconds.
5. Remove the analyzer from the liquid and place it on a dry horizontal surface.
6. After the time specified in the instructions, evaluate the result (in most cases, after 3-5 minutes). Do not pay attention if the second line appears or disappears after 10 minutes. These data will be uninformative and only indicate that a false reaction has occurred.

Tablet

The sensitivity of tablet (cassette) tests is 20-25 mMel/ml, which allows you to obtain highly accurate results if the study is carried out correctly. Externally, the device resembles an elongated case with two windows: one displays the results of the study, the other pours urine. The package includes a pipette and a container for collecting urine.

Inside tablet test material treated with a reagent containing antibodies to hCG is placed. If a woman is pregnant, when tissue fibers come into contact with urine, the hormone and antibodies interact with each other, which leads to coloring of the information window. To do everything correctly and reduce the risk of error, you must follow the following instructions:

1. With clean hands, open the packaging and make sure that the device operates correctly.
2. Place the test on a flat, dry surface.
3. Collect morning urine in a container.
4. Pipette some liquid into a pipette.
5. Place 3-4 drops into a small window.
6. Wait 5-7 minutes.

When time is up, in information window A control strip will appear, the presence of which indicates that the test was carried out correctly and the urine interacted with the reagent. The presence of a second stripe indicates pregnancy. Do not take note of its appearance after 10 minutes: this indicates a false reaction of the test components with each other.

The sensitivity of inkjet tests is 10 mMel/ml, so their results are considered the most reliable. Inside the product there are fibers along which the liquid quickly rises to the part of the rod where the reagent is located. If hCG is present in the liquid being tested, it will bind to the antibodies located inside the analyzer. The result is a second stripe.

The advantage of inkjet research is the speed and simplicity of analysis. The instructions for the pregnancy test indicate that it should be done as follows:

1. With clean hands, open the sealed package.
2. Remove the protective cap from the product.
3. The first use option: while urinating, place part of the test strip under the stream so that the edge with the reagent faces down.
4. The second use option: collect urine in a clean container, lower the edge of the product there for 15-20 seconds.
5. Put on the protective cap.
6. Place the test on a horizontal surface.
7. After 3-5 minutes, the result will appear in the window: one or two stripes, either plus or minus.
8. Data received after 10 minutes are not taken into account.

Digital devices are characterized by high accuracy. They are able to show results 5 days before menstruation and even indicate the duration of pregnancy. The only caveat: with such early testing, the accuracy is 65%. If the study is done the day before the start of menstruation, with a correctly performed test, these numbers will rise to 98%. Proceed according to this scheme:

1. Remove the analyzer from the box and remove the protective cap.
2. Place the open edge for 5 seconds. under the stream so that it points downwards. At the same time, make sure that the other part of the device does not get wet.
3. Appearance hourglass on the screen means that the urine collection was done correctly and the results are being processed.

After 1-3 minutes, a plus or minus will appear on the display. Some devices say “Pregnant” or “Not pregnant”. If conception has been confirmed, the estimated period will be shown under the plus sign: 1-2 weeks, 2-3 weeks, 3+.

Some companies, for example, PTeq, produce a device in the form of a flash drive that can be connected to a computer, after which the data will be displayed on the monitor. Taking into account the concentration of hCG, the computer can even indicate the approximate date of delivery.

Reusable digital tests

Some manufacturers produce reusable electronic devices with removable cartridges or several pieces per package to determine conception. Some of them are able to determine not only conception, but also the time of ovulation. For example, the Clearblue Fertility Monitor kit includes a digital results reader, 20 ovulation cartridges and 4 pregnancy cartridges.

Like the disposable analyzer, reusable tests can be used several days before your expected period. The testing scheme is similar to using a disposable device. The only caveat: if conception does not take place, throw away the used cartridge and insert a new one.

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