5 Things You Need to Know About Home Pregnancy Tests

1. Let the Hormone Race Begin

Pregnancy hormones begin racing in early stages in pregnancy. You might not have the food cravings and the mood swings yet, but your body is changing. A home pregnancy test detects one specific hormone, referred to as HCG, to give you a positive or a negative result. The longer you go without a period, the more hormone levels are present in your urine. That's why most home pregnancy test manufacturers suggest you take the test one week after you miss your period.

2. The Results

Some home pregnancy tests have a digital result, while others offer an old-fashioned pink plus sign or minus sign. No matter how technical the home pregnancy test might seem, they all work pretty much the same way. After immersing the end of the test in your urine for five to ten seconds, the test gets to work. After a few minutes, the results appear. Each home pregnancy test comes with detailed instructions on how to read the result. If you get an error, try taking the test again. If you still have trouble getting accurate results, which is rare, call your doctor for a blood test that can detect HCG levels to determine if you're pregnant.

3. Are You Really Pregnant?

Home pregnancy test manufacturers say their tests are over 99% accurate on the first day of your missed period. That's true in manufacturer tests, but in real life, they're not always that accurate so soon after your missed period. Studies show consistently that home pregnancy tests are most accurate one week after your missed period. If you want to know earlier, even before your period, some home pregnancy tests say early detection is possible. However, the likelihood of a false result is greatly increased. To increase the accuracy of a home pregnancy test, take it in the morning when you're urine contains the most HCG.

4. False Results

If your home pregnancy test says you're pregnant, the results are usually correct. It's rare for a pregnancy test to produce a false-positive, but it can happen if the test is expired or if you take prescription diuretics or promethazine. It's much more common to get a negative result when you're actually pregnant. If you take the test too early or time the test wrong, you could get a false-negative. Another common mistake is drinking too much fluid before you take the test. That dilutes the urine, making it impossible for the test to detect the pregnancy hormone, HCG.

5. Your Body is the Best Test

Pregnancy symptoms show up in some women before a home pregnancy test gives you a positive result. Sore breasts, nausea and fatigue are the most common symptoms. Of course, the most telling symptom is a missed period. If you experience these symptoms, schedule a visit with your doctor. It's possible that you're pregnant, but you're body's not yet producing enough hormone to show up as positive on a home pregnancy test.