Pregnancy test – after how many days can it be done? Types of pregnancy tests [WE EXPLAIN]

Contents

Types of pregnancy tests
Platelet pregnancy test – what is it?
Pregnancy test and HCG level in particular weeks of pregnancy
Pregnancy test result
Reliability of the pregnancy test
Pregnancy test – important information
Pregnancy test – price

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The pregnancy test is a quick and cheap method that allows you to determine with a high degree of probability whether a woman has become pregnant, even before the appearance of physiological symptoms such as, for example, a menstrual stop. The test is based on the detection of the hormone that is produced by the placenta. We check how many days a pregnancy test can be done, as well as how to do it both at home and in the laboratory.

A pregnancy test is a way to find out if a woman is pregnant. Its main task is to detect HCG in the urine, i.e. a hormone produced by the tissues of the embryo.

There are three types of pregnancy tests. The first is a blood or urine test performed in health care facilities and a urine test, which can be performed independently by any woman using commercial tests available in pharmacies and stores.

Many women are still wondering after how many days a pregnancy test can be done. Therefore, you should know that all pregnancy tests are based on the same principle – detection of the presence of a hormone called chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is produced by trophoblast cells, the tissue that ultimately forms the placenta. The trophoblast develops after the implantation of the embryo into the uterine mucosa, which occurs about 6-7 days after fertilization (this is the time it takes for the fertilized egg to travel from the fallopian tube to the uterine cavity). Therefore, it is not possible to detect pregnancy earlier than two weeks after intercourse.

Pregnancy tests are very sensitive, so read the information on the packaging carefully before using it.

important

The test can be performed at any time of the day or night, but it is best for women to do the test in the morning as the HCG level is the highest at that time.

Pregnancy tests are very easy to use, just soak the paper or test plate with your urine. The pregnancy test has a control area where, when stained, we can see if the test is done correctly and also a result area where a dash appears when a woman is pregnant. You should carefully look at the test performed, as even a slight discoloration in the result field can mean pregnancy.

Urine pregnancy tests are, unfortunately, often false-negative, therefore blood beta-CG testing should be performed to confirm pregnancy, at the earliest approximately 10 days after possible fertilization.

Types of pregnancy tests

Laboratory pregnancy tests are more sensitive than home tests and can detect 100% of pregnancies just seven days after conception. Home testing should be performed at the earliest 10 days after the expected ovulation, and preferably on the expected day of your period. Home pregnancy tests are available in several variants:

lamellar, where a few drops of previously collected urine are applied to the reagent plate;
jet, in which the active part of the test must be kept in the urine stream for at least several seconds;
strips, which we immerse for a moment in the container with the collected urine.

You can buy various types of pregnancy tests on Medonet Market. We also recommend a home test kit for women planning pregnancy, i.e. pregnancy, ovulation and intimate infections tests.

The results of individual tests can be read within 5 minutes. Note that taking the test too early may result in an incorrect result (positive result: although fertilization did not occur, negative result: although the woman is pregnant). For this reason, testing before your period is due is not recommended.

Why do some women have heavy periods?

Remove the stream pregnancy test from the package and then remove the cap from the urine absorption strip (do not touch it with your fingers!). We have to hold the test by the handle in such a way that the test window can be easily seen. Then, place the absorbent strip under the urine stream for about 5 seconds. If this is a problematic task, you can dip the strip in urine. However, remember that the urine should be in a dry and clean container.

When is it worth doing a streaming pregnancy test?

After placing the urine in the container, you need to dip 2/3 of the absorbent strip into it for about 10 seconds. Finally, we cover the strip with a plastic cap and place the test on a flat surface. You will get the test result after 5 minutes.

You can find the streaming pregnancy test in the Couples Planning Test Kit – Home Cassette Tests. In addition, the kit includes an ovulation test and a test for men to help assess fertility.

Before performing the pregnancy strip test, collect the urine in a dry container, then dip the test strip and hold it in the urine sample until a red color appears at the bottom edge of the test membrane. It takes about 10 seconds. Finally, remove the strip and place it on a clean surface. The pregnancy test result can be read between 3 and 10 minutes after passing the urine sample.

Pregnancy calculator – how long is pregnancy?

Platelet pregnancy test – what is it?

Before the test is performed, you must collect your urine in a clean and dry container. Then open the pregnancy test with the pipette attached. Its tip should be immersed in a container with urine and its sample collected.

The result of the pregnancy test can be read after 3-5 minutes.

Then, holding the pipette vertically above the SAMPLE window (S), place a few drops of urine precisely (approx. 3-4). Be careful not to allow air bubbles to form.

A laboratory pregnancy test is performed to confirm a pregnancy or to monitor a threatened or ectopic pregnancy. There are two types of test:

Qualitative blood pregnancy test;
Quantitative blood pregnancy test.

A blood pregnancy test can be performed 10 days after having sexual intercourse – then its reliability will be highest. This type of test is much more sensitive than the home test strip. The price of a blood pregnancy test is not high – its cost is about PLN 25-30.

The online pregnancy test is usually an anonymous quiz – questions that we answer. It cannot be taken seriously, but only as a curiosity. Taking an appropriate pregnancy test and seeing your gynecologist should be the only reliable source of information.

This type of test is performed 10 days after your expected period. The test looks for the presence of HCG in the blood or in the urine. This type of test is much more reliable than a home pregnancy test.

In addition to confirming pregnancy, the laboratory test determines the concentration of HCG in the body, it also allows you to determine the approximate week of pregnancy and whether it is developing properly.

Worth knowing

The sensitivity of the laboratory test is expressed in IU / L (or mIU / ml), which determines the concentration of hCG. When the concentration of the HCG hormone exceeds 5 mlU / ml – the test result is considered positive.

Pregnancy test and HCG level in particular weeks of pregnancy

HCG level in different weeks of pregnancy:

from the 7th day after ovulation to the 3rd week after -> less than 5 mIU / ml
3-> 5-50 mIU/ml
4-> 4 — 426 mIU/ml
5-> 19 — 7 340 mIU/ml
6 -> 1 080 — 56 500 mIU/ml
7-8 -> 7 650 — 229 000 mIU/ml
9-12 -> 25 700 — 288 000 mIU/ml
13-16-> 13 300 — 254 000 mIU/ml
17-24 -> 4 060 — 165 400 mIU/ml
25-40 -> 3 640 — 117 000 mIU/ml

Pregnancy test result

The test results should be read after 5 minutes. The appearance of two lines in the window means a positive result.

A very large proportion of women, after receiving a positive pregnancy test, make an appointment with a doctor without hesitation. Meanwhile, in most cases it turns out that it is too early for an appointment. Very often, the gynecologist is not able to identify a gestational sac in the uterus until the end of the 6th week of pregnancy (counting from the day of the last menstruation). For this reason, the best time to visit is after the 6th week of pregnancy.

After a positive test result, all stimulants such as alcohol, cigarettes and drugs should be avoided. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of developing central nervous system and heart defects. A child may be born handicapped. You should also give up smoking as soon as possible, as it reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood that is needed for the proper development of the embryo and fetus. Smoking cigarettes in the first weeks of pregnancy – increases the risk of miscarriage.

A positive pregnancy test prompts women to exercise extreme caution and avoid all risks. X-rays, contact with chemicals, paints, use of the sauna and solarium, as well as strenuous physical exertion are dangerous for the pregnant woman.

Pregnancy is always associated with an increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin, however, this hormone may appear in the blood and urine also in other situations: in ovarian cysts, development of an acinar, and chorionic carcinoma.

Read: Cancer instead of pregnancy

The test result can also be positive for up to several weeks after an artificial or spontaneous abortion and after childbirth. On the other hand, too little increase in the concentration of the beta-hCG hormone may indicate an ectopic pregnancy.

Reliability of the pregnancy test

Do pregnancy tests give 100%? certainty? Their credibility oscillates around 95-99%, and only a specialist gynecologist can finally eliminate or confirm a pregnancy. If you have a positive test result, see your doctor right away.

Despite the reliability of pregnancy tests, estimated at 95-99%, there are cases where the test may be wrong. This is the case when:

the pregnancy test is done too early (it is best to do the test after your period is due, and at the earliest eight days after conception);
the pregnancy test is overdue;
the test may be false positive when a woman is struggling with thyroid or kidney disease;
the test may show pregnancy (despite its absence) when we take antidepressants;
the test may show a false positive result when we take hormone injections after IVF (they are similar to the beta hormone HCG);
the test may turn out to be positively incorrect also in perimenapausal women.

Pregnancy test – important information

1. Remember not to use an expired pregnancy test.

2. If the test was negative and your period still does not appear – repeat it. If the result is negative again, see a doctor.

3. The pregnancy test is a one-time test! It should not be reused.

4. There are situations where, despite a previous positive result, a negative one appears after a few days. This indicates that fertilization has taken place but that the embryo has not established itself in the uterus.

5. The pregnancy test may be skewed if women are taking hormone injections after the IVF procedure. The hormones in the injections are very similar to the HCG hormone, and can mean that you are pregnant even though you have not fertilized.

Pregnancy test – price

Contrary to appearances, the price of a pregnancy test does not depend on its sensitivity, but on the company that produces it and the place of purchase. The price of a test bought in a pharmacy ranges from about PLN 3 to PLN 12.

Are you trying for a baby? Buy Mother-to-Be Test Kit – Home Cassette Tests. The kit includes 6 pregnancy tests, 3 ovulation tests and 1 for intimate infections.