Pregnancy is one of the most important experiences a woman can face. If a woman suspects she is pregnant because she has missed a period or because she has other symptoms the first thing she may want to do is run to a drugstore to buy a home pregnancy test. Before buying an over-the-counter pregnancy test a woman should be informed so she may purchase the test that is right for her. Not all pregnancy tests are alike.
Sensitivity to the Pregnancy Hormone
When a woman is pregnant her body begins to produce the hormone human chorionic gonadropin (hCG). This hormone tends to double every couple of days and is often able to be detected by a home pregnancy test by the time a woman has missed her period. Women who are testing close to the date of their missed period should select a test that is more sensitive to hCG. The label on the box of the home pregnancy test will usually tell at what level the test will detect the hormone. A test that detects pregnancy at 25 mLU/ml will show a woman a positive result earlier than one that detects at 50 mLU/ml.
Buy Boxes with More than One Test
All pregnancy tests run a small risk of providing a false negative result. Buying a pregnancy test with more than one test stick in the box is cost efficient because results can be double checked.
Look at Prices
Higher priced pregnancy tests are not necessarily more accurate than cheaper brands. A store brand home pregnancy test may be able to detect pregnancy earlier than a more expensive name brand if it is created to be more sensitive to lower hormone levels. It is not necessary to purchase the most expensive brand to find out if you are pregnant. Buying cheaper tests may save a woman a lot of money, especially since many women will test repeatedly to make sure the result is correct.
Test Again
If a pregnancy test comes out negative but a woman feels strongly she is pregnant she should wait a few days and test again when hormone levels may be higher.
If a woman tests positive on a home pregnancy test she should make an appointment with her OB/GYN immediately as early pre-natal care is very important. A woman should also check with her doctor if she tests negative but feels strongly she is pregnant to rule out pregnancy or any other health problems.
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