Having a missed period and not sure whether you are pregnant or not? The at-home pregnancy test is a simple and accurate way to help you find out the answer. Here are all the things you need to know about pregnancy tests.
- What’re the pregnancy symptoms?
- How does a pregnancy test work?
- When is the best time to take a pregnancy test
- How to use a pregnancy test?
- What not to do before taking a pregnancy test
What’re the pregnancy symptoms?
If you had unprotected sex lately and found out your period was missed, you should take a pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period.
Apart from that, you should also be aware of these symptoms:
- Breast Changes
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Implantation Bleeding
If you don’t have a regular menstrual cycle or not sure when is your next period, you should do the test at least 21 days after your last unsafe sex.
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How does a pregnancy test work?
The pregnancy test detects the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), which it will be found in your urine or blood around 10 – 11 days after the sperm meets the egg.
HCG is commonly known as “the pregnancy hormone” which indicates the beginning of pregnancy. It’s produced by the placenta, the organ that connects the fetus to the mother.
hCG level will increase gradually. But if you do not follow the instruction correctly or take the test too early, it may show a negative result and you should retest after that.
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
The best time to get a more reliable result is to take it in the morning. It’s because your urine contains the highest concentration of hCG that can be detected easily.
How to use a pregnancy test?
Most pregnancy tests request your urine sample and work in a similar way. You either need to urinate in a container and then place the stick on it, or place drops of urine on the device. The result will appear after a few minutes. To get a more reliable and accurate result, you should read the instruction carefully.
How soon will a pregnancy test read positive?
You should take the test at least 7-10 days after a missed period since if take the test too early, the HCG is not enough to be detected at that time.
If the test result is negative but your period still delays, you should take the test one more time in a few days or one week after.
What not to do before taking a pregnancy test
You should not drink too much water or fluid before you take the test. It’s because it may impact the hCG levels which brings a wrong negative result.
