First Response Early Response: Not Cheap But So Convenient
First Response is the golden standard of pregnancy tests for most women. Even women using the cheaper tests from the Dollar Store or Wondfos from Amazon turn to First Response to double check results and for reassurance.
You can buy First Response pregnancy tests at almost any store drugstores, supermarkets, online, etc. They come in different package configurations, including a 2-pack for $8.99 or a 3-pack for $12.99.
This is much more expensive than the above-mentioned Wondfos, coming out to an average cost of about $4.40 per test. But with the cost, comes convenience.
Instead of having to collect a sample in a cup, then dipping the test, First Response tests can be taken by inserting the absorbent tip directly into your urine stream while using the bathroom. Two lines for pregnant, one line for not pregnant.
There has been some controversy in the TTC forums regarding the newly designed test. First Response recently changed the test design from a straight handle to a curved handle. When the change first came out in 2015, a lot of women were experiencing what they believed to be false positives. The issue was due to what is referred to as an indent line which is a colorless second line in the test window. This problem seems to be mostly user error, and complaints have slowed down regarding it.
Other Reasons For Inaccurate Home Pregnancy Test Results
If an accurate test has been used correctly, there are very few occasions when the result may be considered inaccurate. When used correctly, the most common cause of inaccurate test results is if testing is done before there is sufficient hCG present in urine to obtain a positive result. Consequently, women obtain a Not pregnant result if the women test again later in the same cycle, they will obtain a Pregnant test result. Errors mostly arise due to inaccurate estimation by women of the day of their expected period ,. Even if women are sure of the day of their LMP, there can be considerable inter-cycle differences in women, as cycles have been observed to vary by more than 13 days in 30% of women . In some instances errors can also be due to a longer than usual time from ovulation to implantation, as this interval has been observed to vary by up to 6 days in naturally conceived pregnancies . These types of false negative results thus do not indicate that the test is inaccurate but are rather due to womenmisunderstanding when the correct time is in their cycle to perform a pregnancy test, or may be due to variations in time to implantation.
Other less common reasons for misleading results of home-based pregnancy test include the use of fertility drugs containing hCG which, if testing is done too soon after administration, may give a false Pregnant result. The presence of very rare malignancies can also create misleading results.
Best Digital Pregnancy Test: Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test With Smart Countdown
How it works: Pee on the wide absorbent tip, then wait. Impatient for a result? A progress bar is displayed on the digital screen so you know the test is working. After three minutes, itll switch to pregnant or not pregnant. It doesnt get easier to read than that, right?
How accurate it is: This at-home pregnancy test can be taken as early as four days before your expected periodtrouble is, its only 51 percent accurate at that time. But take it one day before your expected period, and that stat jumps way up to 95 percent, and on the day of your expected period, its 99 percent accurate.
Buy it: $13 for 3,
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Why Would I Trust An Online Pregnancy Quiz
You should trust the Am I Pregnant quiz on this page because it is based on pregnancy symptoms every woman goes through. We analyzed the obvious signs and changes mothers undergo in their prenatal period and other stages. So, those parenthood candidates who answer the questions honestly will receive the most accurate and reliable results.
When Should I See A Doctor For A Clinical Pregnancy Test
Most women who have a positive pregnancy test should wait a week or two before calling the Ob/Gyn office for a pregnancy blood test. We suggest waiting because the rate of early pregnancy loss is high, and its possible that it might have been a chemical pregnancy.
However, women with a history of ectopic pregnancy or current abdominal pain should call the doctor right away to be examined. Ectopic pregnancies implant outside of the uterus and produce hCG, resulting in positive pregnancy tests. However, these pregnancies can cause abdominal bleeding and prompt medical care is necessary. Women who have congenital heart defects or other chronic physical or mental health conditions should also see a doctor right away because treatment plans or medications might need to be altered to protect the woman and the fetus.
Advances in home pregnancy tests give women greater insight into whats going on in their bodies sooner than ever before. No matter what a womans childbearing plans might be, its essential to get quick, accurate results at home so she can plan her next steps accordingly.
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Best Strips: Pregmate Pregnancy Urine Test Strips
- Each box contains 50 strips
- Most affordable option for repeated testing
If you plan on testing a lot, you may want to skip the more expensive, plastic-encased pregnancy tests and opt for a pack of test strips instead. The Pregmate Pregnancy Urine Test Strips come in a box of 50, with each test sealed in an individual pouch, making it easy to grab and go if you need to test away from home.
Pregmate strips can detect hCG when it reaches 25 mIU/mL, which could be as soon as five days before a missed period. This is not a midstream pregnancy test. You will need to pee in a cup, dip the strip, and lay it flat for the test to work. If hCG is present in your urine, youll see two lines. Otherwise, the test will show one line indicating that it did not detect the pregnancy hormone.
Price: $15.95
- Most affordable option for repeated testing
- Each test strip costs $0.31
Are Analog Pregnancy Tests As Accurate As Digital Pregnancy Tests
Yes. Most analog tests are as accurate as digital tests, including the Natalist Pregnancy Test which is 99%+ accurate in predicting pregnancy at three days before your expected period.
To test early, youll want to look at the sensitivity of the test. A pregnancy tests sensitivity is based on what levels of hCG it can detect, so a highly sensitive test will be able to detect lower amounts of hCG, meaning you can test several days before your missed period.
Early in pregnancy, hCG levels rise rapidly, doubling every two days. The closer you are to your missed period, the more reliable your early pregnancy test results will be.
Shop Pregnancy Tests
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Wondfo: Accurate Low Price
If youre a tried and true TTC-er, you have most definitely come across this brand of pregnancy tests and its no secret why.
These tests have proven to be cheap and reliable. Available on Amazon for about $10 for 25 tests, theyre the perfect option for anyone who finds themselves testing more often than not. Their sensitivity measures 25 mIU/ml, which is standard for most home pregnancy tests, and has a 98.6% accuracy rate.
With Wondfo tests, you are trading convenience for cost, but most women dont seem to mind the extra step. To take the test, you collect your sample in a cup, dip the absorbent tip in for 3 seconds, and wait 5 minutes before reading the results. Two lines for pregnant, one line for not pregnant. Simple enough!
The test is highly recommended across all the mommy, pregnancy, and trying-to-conceive forums, with many women claiming they have gotten positive results 6 days before their expected periods.
If you are trying to get pregnant, and want to know sooner rather than later if your cycle has been successful, these are a great option for you. Theyll save you some money and have been the go-to test for women trying to conceive across the world.
How Do Homemade Pregnancy Tests Work
Homemade pregnancy tests work the same way as any over-the-counter pregnancy test by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin . If you test positive, you may observe a chemical reaction between hCG in your urine and the substance you are using to test.
Your cells start to produce the hCG hormone when they start creating the placenta. This hormone increases rapidly early in pregnancy and enters your bloodstream and urine, confirming conception .
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What Are The Different Types Of Pregnancy Tests
There are two main types of pregnancy tests: urine and blood tests. Urine tests are typically done at home though you can have a urine test done at your healthcare providers office while blood tests are done by your provider.
At-home pregnancy test
An at-home test usually uses your urine to look for hCG in your body. According to most manufacturers, at-home pregnancy tests are about 99% effective when used as instructed. Thats about the same accuracy rate as urine pregnancy tests done in your healthcare providers office. These tests are available in most pharmacies or grocery stores and they dont need a prescription. They can take different amounts of time depending on the brand. Its important to read the instructions on these tests before taking them.
When you go to take an at-home pregnancy test, youll typically place one to several drops of urine on a prepared chemical strip or place the strip in the urine stream. The strip is specially-designed to detect hCG. For many of these tests, hCG can be detected in your urine about 10 days after conception. However, taking it after your missed period reduces the chance of getting a false-negative.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you take a home pregnancy tests, including:
Blood test
A blood test for pregnancy might be done in special circumstances, such as for women who are having infertility treatments or when the healthcare provider thinks there might be a problem.
What About Early Pregnancy Tests
Early pregnancy test manufacturers market to your desire to get answers as early as possible. It is not hard to see the advertising on the box and read the claims of 99% accuracy along with the ability to detect pregnancy six days before your missed period.
But let us take a closer look, so you do not test too early for pregnancy. The first thing to consider is that the percentage provided on the front of the package is only accurate when you take the test on the day of your expected period and in a laboratory setting by professionals. The same goes for the the instructions printed inside the pregnancy test kit the claims of accuracy are elevated because they do not reflect real-life testing in real-life situations. The results from a University of New Mexico study reveal the chances you can anticipate getting the right answer from an early home pregnancy test:
- One day past your expected period: 100% of pregnancies detected
- On the day of your expected period: 96% of pregnancies detected
- On the day before your expected period: 93% of pregnancies detected
- Two days before your expected period: 81% of pregnancies detected
- Three days before your expected period: 68% of pregnancies detected
- Four days before your expected period: 42% of pregnancies detected
- Five days before your expected period: 33% of pregnancies detected
- Six days before your expected period: 25% of pregnancies detected
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Blood Pregnancy Tests Used By Doctors
Your doctor can give you a blood pregnancy test as early as 1114 days after ovulation. To perform a blood pregnancy test, the doctor draws blood from a vein in your arm. This blood is sent to a laboratory for testing. The results of most blood pregnancy tests take at least a couple of days. The laboratory then advises the doctor of the result.Blood test results are about 99 per cent accurate and can detect lower amounts of hCG than urine pregnancy tests. The two main types of blood pregnancy test include:
- Quantitative blood test measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood and can give you an estimate of how far along the pregnancy has progressed.
- Qualitative blood test only checks for the presence of hCG. Since this test doesnt measure the exact levels of hCG, it cant offer an estimate of gestation.
How To Read A Pregnancy Test
If youre taking a blue or pink dye pregnancy test, a control line will always appear to indicate that the test is working if the test line appears within the instructed time frame, there is hCG in your system . Consider setting a timer so you dont wait too long to check the result and risk seeing the appearance of an evaporation line.
A positive result can bring on a surge of excitement it can also come with its fair share of anxiety. If you want to take a second test for reassurance, go for it just dont feel compelled to buy out the pharmacys entire stock. If one test is positive, the rest will be too, says Pope. Its time to schedule a prenatal appointment with your doctor and follow up for next steps.
Of course, a negative result can be devastating, but you shouldnt feel defeated. If youre testing early, follow up and test again after your missed period. If its been a few cycles and youve yet to get a positive pregnancy test, contact your doctor to discuss next steps there are options.
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Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy That The Test Assesses
The Am I Pregnant test you are about to take works based on the following symptoms. In other words, it investigates their presence in your body with the help of your responses.
Which Week In My Cycle Should I Take A Pregnancy Test
For the most accurate results, take a pregnancy test the week after a missed period. Some home pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy earlier, but theres a higher chance for false negatives during this window if your body hasnt built up enough HCG. Even if you test early, its best to take another the day of a missed period and the week after a missed period.
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What Should I Do After Getting A Positive Pregnancy Test
If you take a pregnancy test at home and its positive, there are a few things you should do, including:
- Take your prenatal vitamins pick a vitamin with folic acid included in the ingredient list. Its recommended that you actually start taking these vitamins before becoming pregnant. This is because the folic acid can help prevent birth defects.
- Make sure to pursue healthy habits. Its recommended that you dont drink alcohol or smoke during pregnancy. You may also want to limit the amount of caffeine you consume each day during pregnancy.
How Accurate Is A Pregnancy Test Taken Five Days Before Your Period Is Due
‘This depends on the sensitivity of the test,’ says Mr Pisal. ‘Some of the widely available early pregnancy tests can be around 75-80% sensitive. This means that it will be falsely negative in up to 20-25% cases.’
This means there is a 20-25% chance you could be pregnant even if the test says youre not, so Mr Pisal says it is wise to follow up a negative early pregnancy test with another test seven days later if your period has not arrived.
Pregnancy tests very rarely give false positive readings, so if one says you are pregnant then it is highly likely to be accurate.
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The 8 Best Pregnancy Tests Of 2021
Picking out a pregnancy test can feel overwhelming, especially when you consider the number of brands and types available, and of course, whats at stake. The good news? Some tests clearly come out on top when it comes to accuracy, reliability, and usability, making it easier to narrow your choices.
With that in mind, you’re probably wondering what the best pregnancy test is. But before we get to the top picks, its important to point out the difference between a home pregnancy test and a blood test.
