When to take a pregnancy test. How to use a pregnancy test? Purchase and use rules. Test strip or strip test

Regardless of whether a woman wants a child or, on the contrary, perceives his possible appearance negatively, each of them treats the test with a certain excitement, waiting for the result.

In order to be able to trust him, many nuances must be observed. There is nothing complicated in these rules, especially if you understand what the 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 better to use it, can it be used in the afternoon or evening, or is it necessary only in the morning, how many days after the intended conception or delay in menstruation?

Operating principle

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

This hormone is produced by the shell of the embryo from the seventh day of conception, and its amount increases daily by two to four or more times until a certain period, then starting to decline.

The principle of the tests is aimed precisely at detecting this hormone in the urine of a woman, without determining its amount. In other words, it is possible to determine pregnancy, but only laboratory tests will help to establish its duration.

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

Types and instructions for use

To date, a large number of various tests are presented to the attention of women, with the help of which it is possible to confirm or deny pregnancy.

It has long been no longer necessary to go exclusively to a pharmacy to purchase them, although some varieties still cannot be bought in a regular store.

Of everything exists four types of tests that help in this crucial question: Regular strips with applied antibodies, inkjet, not involving urine collection, as well as more reliable methods of detecting pregnancy - plate tests and reservoir systems.

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

Test strips

It can be said without exaggeration that this the most popular home pregnancy detection method... Firstly, it appeared much earlier than the others, secondly, it is quite easy to execute, and thirdly, it is very cheap in comparison with other varieties.

Using such a pregnancy test is easy.: you need to collect urine, lower the strip into the container to the marked level for the 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 (by 6-7 days). In this case, subject to all conditions, the accuracy will approach 99%.

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

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

Another disadvantage is strict compliance with storage conditions... Despite the fact that today you can buy a test in almost any supermarket, it is still better to contact a pharmacy, since an expired shelf life or violation of storage conditions makes it unusable.

Inkjet test

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

First is extremely high sensitivity: even if the hCG content in the blood is still very low, the result will be positive. This allows you to find out about the existing pregnancy even before the onset of a delay in menstruation.

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

How to do a inkjet pregnancy test:

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

Among the disadvantages of this method of determining pregnancy, the fair sex is confidently called only one - this is it high price... However, given the fact that sometimes more than a dozen of them are required to confirm pregnancy with test strips, it is more profitable to purchase a jet immediately.

Tablet tests

Few people came across them at home, since most often they are used in hospitals... This method helps to know about conception soon after, even before the onset of a delay in menstruation. However, according to those who used it, the pluses end there and the negative moments begin.

The first is the price. Tablet tests are not cheap at all, and therefore many people prefer to wait 2-3 days for the results of a blood test for hCG. Moreover, they not very convenient to use: there are two holes on their surface. In one of them, you need to drip 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 decided on such an expensive diagnostic method, study all the nuances of its implementation and observe them.

Reservoir test systems

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 amount of test material required for the test is taken from the container by the system itself.

No need to interpret the result - an inscription about the presence or absence of pregnancy will appear in the external window (the language of the inscription depends on the manufacturer).

With all the undoubted positive aspects, one can single out two disadvantages of this method: firstly, this is a rather high price, 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 morning, the very first urine, since it contains the highest hCG hormone content.

This is the only recommendation that applies to all varieties. The rest relate to each individually. For example, it is better to use test strips after a few days of delayed menstruation, for tablet it is important to comply with the conditions of sterility, etc. The most undemanding, perhaps, remains the inkjet test..

Frequently asked Questions

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

Is a mistake possible?

Yes. Mostly popular are false negative results (denial of pregnancy, if any) provoked by violations of the rules of use. 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 there is also a false positive result, provoked either by the poor quality of the test, or by violation of the rules for its conduct. For this, recommendations for retesting are given.

When to do 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 the delay is already present, or on the seventh to eighth day of the delay.

Do the results depend on the time frame?

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 slightly stained. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the procedure after 3-5 days.

There is no delay, but pregnancy is possible. Does it make sense to do a test?

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

Is a positive result possible before the missed period?

Yes. HCG is found in the urine of a pregnant woman from the 8th day after conception, so high-quality tests with high sensitivity may well 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 mandatory to take a pregnancy test in the morning? It depends on the term. 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 in the early morning, with the first urine.

How to understand stripes and how to interpret totals?

The stripes are the results. Examine the packaging: it says that one of the strips is a control one, i.e. its absence indicates the inappropriateness of the test for diagnosis, and the second is an indicator one, which changes color when it comes into contact with the test material containing hCG.

Two strips - you are pregnant, one control - the result is negative, the absence of a control strip - the test is unusable.

How long does it take to get the result?

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

Fuzzy second stripe - what is it?

Perhaps there is a pregnancy, but the period is still small, which is why the concentration of hCG is insufficient for intensive staining of the indicator. Repeat the procedure after a few days. Also, a weak second strip may be, since the concentration of hCG is lower with it.

Can a pregnancy test be reused?

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

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

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

To establish the exact date, as well as to timely identify possible pathologies professional medical attention is required.

There are doubts that the night with your beloved was not without consequences - you will have to go to the pharmacy to get confirmation of conception. But there is no need to rush - on the first day, the same hormone to which the probes react will not appear in the blood. It is important to clarify how to do a pregnancy test - it will be inaccurate if certain conditions are not followed, as with laboratory analysis.

How to do a pregnancy test correctly?

No matter how worried about the question of possible fertilization, "yes" or "no" cannot be found out as quickly as we would like. On the forums, people often ask, "what time to do a pregnancy test" or "from what day can you find out about conception"? First you need to understand what is happening in the body and how the tests work. And what time to do a pregnancy test in the morning is not so important. The main thing is that the concentration of the hormone after sleep is maximum in order to exclude an erroneous result.

HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is the main reagent of household determinants. It is recognized by all pregnancy tests, without exception, how to do it - read the instructions carefully. This substance is secreted with increasing intensity in pregnant women. It, at first in small quantities, is produced by the chorion (fetal membrane or future placenta) after fixing in the mucous membrane of the uterine wall. Not a single litmus recognizes it in minimal quantities, so it is better not to rush into testing.

Gradually, the level of hCG increases, and it can be determined in the blood by laboratory analysis. This "pregnancy hormone" is added to the overall hormonal balance. Therefore, gynecologists often hear the question - how many pregnancy tests do you need to do? Of course, many women do a second check if the first probe does not "strip" during the delay.

The level of this hormone progresses every day, as the actively dividing cells of the ovum double. It happens that the embryo "spree" in the fallopian tubes or stuck there, provoking an ectopic pregnancy. There will be insufficient hCG levels in a woman's body to determine the process of embryonic development.

In the body of a pregnant woman, symptoms of fertilization should be observed. At the same time, scanty menstrual flow, "daubing" of a different color, or delay are possible. But with menstruation, you can do a pregnancy test if you suspect. When there are no pathologies, implantation of the ovum occurs in the first days after ovulation, so menstruation stops.

Attention: If you count from the first day of menstruation, the embryo fixation occurs at 3-4 weeks or by 21-28 days. In theory, it makes no sense to do a pregnancy test earlier.

Before buying, check the expiration date that all pharmacy products have. Read the instructions in the pregnancy test - how to do it right, which side to put under the stream. Some modifications need to be dipped into a container with analyzes. Others have a special window where you need to drip fresh morning urine with a pipette (included in the kit).

1. Store pre-purchased tests unopened, in a cool dry place, a breach of the seal is detrimental to the reagent.
2. With a weekly delay, most sensitive tests respond to the level of hCG in the urine.
3. All manufacturers say that their probes are sensitive, give a 99% guarantee, but this is not the case, buy inkjet tests with minimum marking. Only highly sensitive rapid tests with an indicator of 10 mIU / ml (units per milliliter) are able to detect a small concentration of the hormone.
4. Do not violate the recommendations indicated by the manufacturer in the application description.
5. A test that does not react to the hormone at an early stage cannot be reused.
6. The sealed package can only be opened before diagnosis.
7. It is imperative to do a pregnancy test early in the morning - at this time, the highest concentration of hCG in the blood and urine. With a long period of time, the time of day does not matter.
8. Be sure to wash the perineum with neutral liquid soap before testing. If a container is used to collect urine, it must be absolutely clean and dry.
9. It is not worth purchasing the test in advance, it is easy to violate storage conditions at home. If there is a delay, it is better to wait a week from the expected start date of the discharge, then buy a test (you can 2 different ones, for a guarantee).

How to choose a type of pregnancy test?

How a pregnancy test is done depends on its type, but they are all quite convenient. Some women perceive their first pregnancy with special trepidation, keep a diary where they record their feelings and dreams, describe the results of testing and analyzes. Such "enthusiastic mothers" buy all kinds of pregnancy tests, test them, then write them down in their diaries and exchange the results on the forums.

General requirements for all varieties:

• sealed packaging,
• sufficient shelf life;
• compliance with storage conditions;
• adherence to recommendations on how to do a pregnancy test (each type has its own characteristics).

Testing methods are detailed in the instructions for each test.

The most common are Frautest and Evitest, but they also have common varieties:

1. Test strips, their popularity is due to the affordable price and clear answer. The main thing is not to dip the other side of the body into the urine. For self-examination, morning urine is collected in a clean container and lowered to the specified mark (in the middle of the body is blue or red). After a few minutes, a second line should appear next to the control strip. In this case, it is said that the test is “striped” (or not). Which is the best pregnancy test to choose? There is no definite answer - most often they buy 2 different ones (the most expensive and the most economical), someone prefers electronics, others want to show their husband their “striped friend”.
2. Tablet tests also involve direct contact with urine, but no immersion. This is a more accurate pregnancy test, not morning urine - it doesn't matter, its reagent is more sensitive. Urine is buried in a special window, waiting for the result. The instructions indicate the waiting time - from 2 to 30 minutes. You can not collect the urine, but substitute the dough window under the last drops of the stream, which is very convenient. What to do if the inkjet test shows pregnancy? Go to the gynecologist.
3. Jet tests work in the same way, they are called so because they involve irrigation with a stream of urine. They are comfortable in any conditions, even on a train or plane, as long as the crotch is clean. The instructions also describe how to do a pregnancy test of this type, although everything is already very clear.
4. Electronic tests are not significantly different, only an electronic scoreboard, where an inscription is displayed. Sensitive reagents for all tests are approximately the same, only here the protein component is applied to the matrix. It estimates the hormonal concentration in units, so it can even indicate the gestational age, which sometimes amuses those who are being tested for the first time. After 2-3 minutes, “+” or “-” appears on the electronic mini-scoreboard, in another series the inscription “pregnant” (congratulations, you are pregnant) or “not pregnant” (try to get pregnant) is read.

Of course, this is a very loose "translation" to cheer up. How early can such a pregnancy test be done? Like all others - after a delay, but its advantage is the minimum probability of error and misinterpretation of the result.

There are those who like to experience each variety on themselves - you can read such descriptions on the forums. You can find topics like "2 years married, no children, I'm afraid to do a pregnancy test, suddenly negative." Do not be afraid, it is better to check again and go to the doctor with your husband to find out the reason, it may not be your fault. What is needed here is not morning urine for a pregnancy test, but a serious diagnosis.

In extreme cases, there are "test-tube babies", surrogacy and donor sperm - you won't be left without a baby!

In all ages, girls have always wanted and want to know as early as possible about their pregnancy in order to communicate this wonderful news to their loved one or their relatives. Naturally, the most popular, affordable and well-known method is considered a test strip for determining pregnancy. You can buy it at any pharmacy, and you can see it on the shelves of many stores.

True, it is not clear when it is better to do them so that they show a 100% result, and when they may not yet determine conception. That is why we decided to write this article so that such questions no longer arise.

The female body has an unusual, even more magical property - it is the ability to endure and give birth to a new person. But, in order, you need to accurately determine when it is possible.

Each cycle allows only 7 days of fertilization. Of these, five days and two days after it. All other days are safe.

Ovulation normally occurs on the 14-16th day of the cycle. This means that you can fertilize an egg from the 10th day of the cycle to 16. And if a woman is confident in her exact menstrual cycle and has systematic and accurate monthly periods without deviation, then it will be easy. This is in view of the fact that she and her partner are completely healthy and fit each other.

And now the moment comes when this action took place. A married couple wants to find out quickly about their interesting situation, but this does not mean that you can immediately run to the pharmacy for a test after sex.

At such early stages, the test will not show anything yet. And, in fact, there is nothing there yet. It's all about the woman's body and the very process of conception.

The fertilization mechanism is quite long and difficult. When sperm enter the vagina, their number is 60-150 million. And their difficult path begins towards the waiting ovum. The total travel time of the tails ranges from 2 to 6 hours. Much fewer sperm cells come to the target, but only one can fertilize it. It is he who gets inside and there.

Then, within a week, the fertilized egg moves along the fallopian tubes towards the uterus to attach to its walls there. This process is called implantation.

On such days, some women may notice lingering pains in the lower abdomen, or see a smearing discharge from the vagina. All this is the norm. Implantation takes about 40 hours. After this period, all unpleasant symptoms disappear.

The second important component to determine is hCG (choriotic gonadotropin), it is also called the pregnancy hormone. HCG begins to grow in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman 7-10 days after fertilization. Peak growth occurs at 11-12 weeks. Its level is used to judge how the embryo develops.

On what day can a pregnancy test be done?

Let's start by looking at how it works. In appearance, this is an ordinary cardboard strip (in a more expensive form, it is still in a plastic case), its coating consists of a reagent.

Now there are plastic tests, and the test strip is inside. They tend to be more expensive.

Reacts to the level of hCG in urine and changes color. And since hCG begins to grow from the first day, as we said above, then, in fact, the test can be done the next day. But the test strips do not have special sensitivity, therefore, at such an early stage, it will not show pregnancy.

But after 10 days, it is quite possible to use it. Usually, this falls at the beginning of a woman's monthly cycle. It turns out that the test should be done on the first day of the delay.

And at first it may show a weak second stripe, but every day the hCG level will grow and the stripe will be visible more and more. Because of this, gynecologists recommend doing delays on later days to make sure it is already accurate.

But, if you still decide to do it as early as possible, then you need to adhere to some rules. It:

• It is better to do a pregnancy test in the morning, when the level of hCG is maximally saturated in the urine. At a later date, this item is not relevant.
• Carefully follow the instructions on the dough packaging. If it is a trickle test, remove the tip cap and place the indicated portion (arrowed) under the urine stream. Hold it there for about 5 seconds. For other species - you need to dip the stick with urine to the mark and hold for 5 seconds.
• Then the test should be placed on a horizontal surface and expect the result. After a few moments (5 minutes), the test will manifest itself and determine whether you are pregnant.
• After 10 minutes, you should get rid of the test. It will no longer be considered correct, since it loses its peculiarity.
• If the result, but the delay lasts, it is worth repeating it in a few days.
• And, as we already said, a weak second strip indicates the presence of pregnancy.

The test efficiency is equal to 98-99% accuracy. But there are always exceptions.

Its false indicator may indicate the following reasons:

• The test was done too early;
• Its service life has passed;
• All points of the instruction were not adhered to;
• The urine was not morning.

When the test can show two stripes, but the woman is not pregnant:

• In the case when a woman was treated for infertility with the help of hormones, and they remained in the blood in large quantities;
• Test defects;
• If before this the woman was pregnant, and she was interrupted, then her hCG level is still, sufficiently high;
• Also, a positive result may indicate the presence of some kind of disease in the body. For example, a cyst, an intruder, a tumor, and the like;

To avoid such cases as much as possible, it is recommended to purchase a pregnancy test in specialized places, pharmacies. Pay attention to its expiration dates.

Therefore, if you find two strips, you should contact your gynecologist to avoid all sorts of problems.

Methods for determining pregnancy

The test is one of the most accessible ways to find out about your interesting position. Its accuracy begins to work from the 7th day of the alleged conception.

But, as we noted, there are cases that falsely testify about fertilization or deny this fact. Therefore, in order to verify the indications, you can use other, no less, and somewhere more accurate determination methods.

Let's highlight some of the most famous ones:

• Basal temperature. BT is the body temperature at rest for more than 5 hours. It is done using a conventional thermometer, which is inserted into the vagina, rectum or mouth. Often, gynecologists can prescribe to measure it due to infertility in a woman. During the entire monthly cycle, the temperature readings change. In the first phase, it is in the range of 36-36.5 degrees. Two days before ovulation, there is a jump of 37-37.2 degrees. The reason lies in the release of a hormone - progesterone. This temperature lasts for the rest of the phase. With the help of such a measurement, you can perfectly see what date ovulation will be and will prepare as much as possible for conception. From the day when the critical days should begin, it returns to the norm of 36-36.5 degrees. If a woman's delay and temperature is kept within 37-37.5, then after 10 days you can safely judge the pregnancy that has come. By further measuring it, you can determine the state of the embryo. BT should not rise and should not fall, as this may portend a threat to the fetus. It is worth taking temperature measurements correctly and not changing the location. The measurement rules are simple: take measurements in the morning without getting out of bed, do not change the measurement time, hold the thermometer for 5 minutes and mark it in your graph.
• Early pregnancy diagnosis - hCG test ... We have already written about this hormone above. To determine it, a blood test is taken. This analysis can be found in any laboratory related to gynecology and not only. Starting from the 6th day, you can already go and donate blood. And the result will be positive. This analysis should also be done according to the rules: take strictly on an empty stomach, in the morning. If you can't do it in the morning, it is recommended to refrain from eating 6 hours before donating blood. Warn if you have recently taken or are taking. Exclude physical activity the day before the test.
• Ultrasound ... The ultrasound examination is done three times. It can also be done to rule out ectopic pregnancy. You can also do an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy. Starting from 1 day of delay, ultrasound will be able to detect the fetus. True, there are supporters of doing ultrasound at such an early stage, to prevent radiation exposure of a pregnant woman. But modern equipment is made in such a way as to maximally protect the baby and the expectant mother from harmful effects. In general, it is better to contact the antenatal clinic to discuss this issue.

Instead of a conclusion, I want to say: it doesn't matter how you define your pregnancy, the main thing is to have patience. It doesn't matter how long the confirmation is, everything exactly the meeting with the baby will happen exactly in 9 months.

All attention should be directed to the self-awareness of the future mother, and not to experience the most correct behavior. So we enjoy and everything will come on time.

Before the invention of pregnancy tests, humanity resorted to various methods of guessing the onset of the gestational period. A kind of pregnancy tests were carried out by wetting grain with female urine, mixing urine with wine, changing the characteristics of the biological fluid under the influence of various additives, and injecting it into a certain type of frog. So, it was believed that at the onset of pregnancy, wheat or barley grains watered with urine germinate faster, which helped not only to diagnose a successful conception, but also to predict the sex of the child. A repeat of such a test in the 70s of the 20th century showed a 70% effectiveness of the method for determining pregnancy.

A modern pregnancy test makes it possible with a high probability to determine the beginning of the emergence of a new life without lengthy experiments with various compositions and grains. The variety of tests for express diagnostics, however, implies the need to know when to take a pregnancy test, how to interpret the result and which tests are best to use.

Despite the modernization of diagnostic methods, the material for testing remains the same as in the Middle Ages. Urine contains human chorionic gonadotropin, the same hormone whose concentration is assessed in the diagnosis of pregnancy by blood tests.

In the venous blood, the hCG hormone begins to be determined 2-3 days after the start of the introduction of chorionic villi to the walls of the uterus. Chorionic gonadotropin reaches a concentration sufficient for most tests in the excreted urine about a week after the start of the process of its production in the body.

If there is enough hCG concentration in the urine for the test sensitivity level, the reaction of a chemical preparation on the test surface and a hormone occurs. In the absence of the hormone or its insufficient concentration, the reaction does not occur, and the result is negative.

The average sensitivity of the tests available on the market is 25 mUI, this indicator of hCG usually reaches two weeks after fertilization. Existing tests with higher sensitivity, responding to a smaller amount of the hormone, diagnose its appearance 3-4 days earlier.

When can I use the test on a regular menstrual cycle?

If the menstrual cycle is regular and a constant number of days between the onset of bleeding, then it is not difficult to calculate the period of ovulation. The middle of the cycle (with a standard menstrual cycle of 28 days - on day 14), the egg is released.
Fertilization of an egg is possible within three days of its life cycle. After the process of fusion of the egg and sperm for 4-5 days, the germ cells migrate through the uterus to the placentation site, after which the production of hCG begins. Assuming fertilization within 2 days, 4 days of migration and the time necessary to achieve the desired level of concentration in the urine of the hormone, highly sensitive tests can show the onset of pregnancy 10 days after ovulation, that is, with an average cycle of 28 days - on day 24 of the cycle ... For greater confidence, experts recommend using a highly sensitive test 12 days after the release of the egg from the ovary, normal sensitivity tests - 15-16 days later.

Diagnosis of pregnancy with an irregular cycle

If the menstrual cycle is irregular, the length of the periods between periods varies, then the time to use the test depends on the date of ovulation.
Ovulation can be determined by subjective sensations (some women feel characteristic tingling sensations in the area of \u200b\u200bone of the ovaries, a feeling of fullness, swelling, sensitivity, mood changes), as well as by measuring rectal temperature and using an ovulation test. When determining the onset of ovulation and possible fertilization, a pregnancy test is used 15 days after the due date.

The morning is wiser than the evening: when is the best time to do the test

Most modern test strips do not limit the diagnostic period to any time of day: they can be used in the morning, afternoon, night. However, experts, given the possibility of a natural decrease in the concentration of hCG after drinking a large amount of liquid, recommend resorting to diagnostics in the morning, using the first portion of urine after a night's sleep, especially with a small probable period of pregnancy.

During the day, when fluid enters the body, the concentration of the hormone decreases. For periods more than 18 days after ovulation, this factor is not decisive, however, the timing of ovulation also does not always coincide with the expected. For accurate indicators, it is better to follow the recommendations of specialists, and in a situation where the test must be carried out in the afternoon or in the evening, then the diagnosis will be optimal after four hours of abstaining from going to the toilet and limiting the use of liquid products to maintain the level of hCG concentration.

Rules for using express tests

• The manufacturer's storage guidelines must be followed.
• Using the test in damaged packaging may distort diagnostic results.
• The package is opened immediately before diagnostics.
• Using an expired test will produce incorrect results.
• The optimal test time is in the morning, right after a night's sleep.
• If the test is not a jet test, urine collection requires the use of a clean container.
• It is recommended to carry out hygienic procedures with washing of the external genitalia before testing.
• Strictly follow the directions for use.

Pregnancy test: instructions for use

There are different types of rapid tests. Instructions for each type are attached to the test, violation of the rules of use most often leads to the appearance of incorrect indicators.

When diagnosing pregnancy, the test is used at the time specified by the manufacturer. If testing is recommended from the first days of the delay, then there is a possibility that the sensitivity of the reagent or individual characteristics, the timing of conception will reveal pregnancy earlier than the specified period, but most often an accurate result is possible only on the specified days of the cycle.

The cost of the test most often directly correlates with its reliability: the lower the price, the lower the production cost and the cheaper the chemical reagent, respectively, the higher the number of incorrect results. On the market today, the most common tests of four modifications, each variety has its own characteristics and instructions for use. Some manufacturers produce various types of tests under a single brand (Evitest or Evitest, Frautest, etc.), when buying, you need to pay attention to the variety.

Test strip or strip test

A strip test (strip test) is one of the first options for diagnosing pregnancy, a test for independent use and quick interpretation of the results. The most common and cheapest option (for example, Itest Plus is offered at a price of 20 rubles).
A paper-plastic strip with an additional inner layer impregnated with reagents, upon contact with urine, stains in one or two places. One strip confirms the effectiveness of the test, two indicate the presence of sufficient concentration of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone to confirm pregnancy.

Rules of use: collect the first morning urine in a clean container, lower the test to the border indicated on the strip, hold it in the liquid for the required time (most often 20-30 seconds), remove it and put it on a dry horizontal surface.

Diagnostic results appear within a period of 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the concentration of the hormone. Some tests can also change the color of the control strip — the paler the color, the shorter the pregnancy.

Tablet type tests

Tablet tests are based on the same principle of action as strip tests: upon contact with urine of a certain part of the surface, a chemical reaction occurs between the reagent and the hCG hormone. To reduce the likelihood of an error, the volume of liquid is dosed, and the contact point is limited by a special window.
According to the instructions, it is necessary to collect urine in the supplied clean container, then using the pipette from the kit dispense 4 drops into the small window of the test plate. The results are evaluated in the following window: depending on the variety, one or two stripes appear, or minus and plus.

Inkjet tests

This variety is considered one of the most accurate and sensitive, and also does not require additional devices and manipulations. The test strip is placed under the stream of urine for 10 seconds (if necessary, you can use a container and submerge the test in the urine).
The results are subject to evaluation at intervals of 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the concentration of the hormone. Unlike the above options, inkjet tests can be applied up to 5 days before the expected date of your period.

Digital pregnancy test

Electronic modification of conventional variants. The test evaluates the concentration of the hCG hormone and requires immersion in urine, however, the result (depending on the type of test) is displayed either on an electronic mini-scoreboard, or appears on a computer screen, to which the test is connected via a USB port.
This option is considered the most optimal due to the impossibility of distorting the interpretation of the results. However, the sensitivity of digital tests is the same as that of inkjet tests: they can be used 3-4 days before the expected date of menstruation. When tested 2 days before the start of menstruation, an accuracy of 99% is guaranteed.

Negative test result in developing pregnancy

In most cases, tests show a negative result in pregnant women if the tests are used too early with low sensitivity, if the instructions for use or storage are not followed. A negative result is also possible due to late ovulation and late conception - in such cases, the hormonal background changes more slowly than expected in accordance with the menstrual cycle.

Diseases of the endocrine system, hormonal imbalances also lead to negative results in test diagnostics. The threat of miscarriage is characterized by an increase in the level of the hCG hormone inappropriate to the gestational age, which, accordingly, leads to one strip on the test at a time when the concentration of hCG should be sufficient for two.

It is worth knowing that during gestation, tests can be used only in the first trimester. The concentration of hCG does not persist during the waiting period of the child, which leads to incidents: if tests are carried out for a period of more than 2-3 months, the result will be negative.

False positive results

Positive test results in non-pregnant women are much less common in the opposite situation and in most cases indicate the presence of diseases (ovarian dysfunction, the formation of tumor formation in the reproductive organs that produce hormones, etc.). False positive diagnostic results are also noted in the first two months of the postpartum period and when using an expired test.

Testing during your period

In some women, pregnancy is accompanied by menstrual discharge, similar in abundance, timing and manifestations to normal menstruation. As a rule, discharge ends in the first trimester, however, cases of their manifestations are known throughout the entire gestational period. In such situations, it is recommended to resort to a blood test, but the use of tests is also possible.
Any test is based on the assessment of the concentration of the hormone in the urine and the ingress of menstrual flow into it does not affect the effectiveness of the tests.

If test results are in doubt

Sometimes it is not easy to interpret the results of express diagnostics: the second indicator strip is slightly outlined, shines through from the inside of the test. Sometimes this happens due to poor-quality production of cheap paper test strips: when wet, the reagent becomes somewhat more noticeable than in dry form.
A visible, but faint second strip most often indicates a low level of hCG, insufficient for the sensitivity of the test. In this case, it is better to postpone the check for 1-2 days or use a more highly sensitive option.

A strip with an insufficient degree of staining can also appear as a result of improper storage of the test, violation of instructions. In any case, retesting and / or a blood test for hCG is recommended.

Ectopic or non-developing pregnancy

The test results for an ectopic and / or non-developing pregnancy are also positive: on the days of the expected menstruation, the presence of a second strip on the test is most often noted. But an increase in the level of the hormone does not occur under such conditions; on repeated testing, the pregnancy indicator strip may fade or not appear, which requires an immediate visit to a doctor.

The most proven way to detect pregnancy is to have a blood test. Blood levels of certain hormones increase throughout pregnancy. This is one of the most reliable methods for determining a special situation.

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But not every woman can conduct such an analysis, sometimes the reason is reluctance, sometimes there is simply no possibility. And many simply do not see the point in spending money when there is an alternative way to resolve the issue.

How easy it is to detect pregnancy

The easiest way to check (positive result)

The most affordable, simplest way to determine pregnancy is a test. You can buy it at absolutely any pharmacy. The price range is huge. It is often a small, narrow strip that is treated with a special reagent.

This type of diagnosis is quite accurate. Many manufacturers claim that the accuracy can be up to 99%. But it still depends on when you will make the diagnosis. How many days after conception can the test show pregnancy? On the packages they write that starting from the first day of the absence of menstruation, you can use the tester.

But many begin to feel internal changes even before the onset of the monthly cycle. Experts say that the accuracy of such methods depends on the timing and there are more sensitive strips, there are less. But if you do everything on time, then almost any test will show the result.

Do not do research immediately after conception. The level of chorionic hormone, thanks to which pregnancy is determined, will increase only after a while. Usually a sufficient period is seven days for the test to show pregnancy, because many are interested in the question - how many days you can use it after conception. Therefore, it is possible, but still not recommended, to use a test to determine pregnancy before delay. This will not always be an accurate result (you need to be prepared for the fact that it will be false), but sometimes it can be determined in advance.

Positive and negative result

Ovulation occurs around the middle of the cycle. But fertilization may not occur on the same day, but within a week. And the level of the hormone will increase only on the fourteenth day after ovulation.

It makes no sense to use a test for ovulation, if only fertilization (fertilization occurs after conception!) Took place in the last cycle. It only lasts 24 to 48 hours. During this period, the chances of getting pregnant are very high. When ovulation is over, the chances of getting pregnant are virtually nonexistent. The exception is late ovulation, before menstruation.

In the absence of menstruation, it is necessary to make a diagnosis and if it shows a positive result, then the pregnancy was determined. If it is negative, it is worth repeating the procedure after a while to exclude a false result.

Home diagnostic methods

Tablet version of the test

Now there are many ways to determine your condition yourself at home, which will help to identify pregnancy within a couple of days after ovulation using a test. On the shelves of pharmacies, we can see several types of tests:

• strip test, waiting for a reaction from three to five minutes;
• tablet, reactions after five minutes;
• jet, just a couple of seconds;
• digital or electronic, operates on the principle of inkjet.

Convenient in that it makes no sense to look out for the appearance of a strip. The result is shown on the screen.

Name	Description	The cost	Accuracy (on a five-point scale, depending on the period)
Babycheck	Dropping strip container with urine. Susceptibility from 25 mME / ml	From 10 to 100 rubles	3
Evitest Proof	A device with a special window into which you need to add a few drops of urine. Susceptibility from 10-25 mME / ml.	from 50 to 150 rubles	4
Frautest COMFORT	Without the need to collect urine in a reservoir, the method of application comes from the name. The most convenient way to determine the state of pregnancy is several days late. Susceptibility 10 mME / ml	from 150 to 250 rubles	5

Before checking. Check the expiration date of the product. The lower the sensitivity figure, the more accurate diagnosis is possible in the early stages.

Terms of determination after implantation

After how many days it is possible to make a pregnancy test after implantation. Devices that have a sensitivity of 10 mU / ml, with their help, you can determine pregnancy from the seventh to the tenth day after conception or implantation. Therefore, it makes no sense to conduct tests before this period. Even the most sensitive can give false positive and negative results before delay. Because the level of hCG is necessary (human gene, with the help of this hormone pregnancy is determined) will not reach the required level. In order not to torture yourself in vain, the test should be carried out ten days after the menstruation has not come. Or after two days, then for confirmation after some time.

The process of conception goes something like this

The optimal days when the test can be done after implantation depends on:

• how sensitive and high-quality the tester is;
• what is the condition. When a miscarriage is threatened, hormones are produced more slowly in relation to normal pregnancy;
• correct execution. It is necessary to do everything as written, according to the instructions.

If the results are negative, but menstruation still has not begun, it is worth repeating the procedure.

How the tester works

Sets the level of hCG in urine

All pregnancy tests work according to the same principle. They determine the level of hCG in the urine. This hormone begins to be produced when the placenta develops. In women, under normal conditions, it is normal - it is from 0 to 5 mU / ml. From the first week of fertilization, the level of this hormone and its concentration increase.

Testers are distinguished by sensitivity into two types:

• those that determine the concentration of hCG from 10 mU / ml. A similar specimen can determine the state as early as five, seven days after fertilization;
• those that can determine the concentration from 25 mU / ml. They are the cheapest in the pharmacy and determine the condition at a later date.

So the principle of work.

1. They set the hCG level.
2. The determination is possible due to the fact that each tester has an antibody to hCG. When the level is sufficient, antibodies react.
3. Red streaks appear during reaction.
4. It can be determined before the start of the menstrual cycle, and then. After a delay, the result will be more accurate. But you can check and repeat.
5. The timing depends on the timing of ovulation.

It is best to conduct a pregnancy test in the morning, then it will show a true result. Because the urine is most concentrated in the morning.

When a second strip appears, the result is positive with a high probability (approximately 99%). A weak streak is also considered a positive result, but the hCG level is still too weak.

In some cases, you can get a false positive result - this can be due to certain medications or if there is a tumor.

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Sometimes there may be a false negative. It happens:

• when the concentration of the hormone has not yet reached the required level;
• in case of impaired renal function;
• too much liquid was drunk before the test.

Correct application of the instruction

The principle of the test, which will show whether you are pregnant or not, is very simple:

• you need to wait for a certain day (whether it is a delay or you have calculated certain days since ovulation);
• in the morning you collect urine in some container (the container must be clean);
• lower the test strip to a certain mark for a few seconds;
• then you need to wait for this from three to five minutes;
• place the strip on a clean surface;
• after ten minutes the test is invalid;
• one bright red stripe - negative;
• two bright red stripes - positive;
• other cases (when the strip appeared, but the second - the result is invalid, or, when the second strip is barely noticeable, it is worth doing another test after a while).