Pregnancy Tests Buying Guide

"Am I pregnant?"  This can be one of the most nerve-racking or exciting questions a woman may ask in her lifetime.   To help make the process of answering that question easier, pregnancy  test manufacturers have made testing faster, more readable and more accurate.  But with all these improvements going on, it may be hard to sift through the sea of new items on the pharmacy  shelf to find the best product for you.  Read this guide to learn which tests may best suit your needs, along with how to use such tests properly.

To Get the Best Results

Home pregnancy tests offer nearly as accurate results as doctor's test, with the privacy and convenience of testing where you please.  But you can help pregnancy tests live up to their promises of 99% accuracy by:

• Always read the directions included in the box before starting the test. Following each step precisely will ensure the most accurate results.
• Use your first morning urine when possible. The hormone that pregnancy tests detect--hCG--is easiest to find at this point.
• Drinking lots of liquids may help you produce urine for the test, but it may also dilute the amount of hCG present. So avoid chugging, and let things flow naturally.
• Some medications may interfere with the test results, so check the label for information on drug interactions before testing.

What's Out There

While at-home urine testing is popular and reliable, it's important to see a doctor if you receive a positive result.  He or she can perform another urine test and perhaps a more accurate blood test if that is indeed the case.  The same goes for a negative result if you have yet to get your period.  If the pregnancy test reads negative, but you still have not menstruated, it's time to see a doctor to make a final determination.

Standard Pregnancy Tests  Standard pregnancy tests are to be administered a week after your missed period.  They utilize different signs and symbols to delineate pregnancy from non-pregnancy, though the most common are a plus symbol versus a minus symbol, or one horizontal bar versus two.  A popular brand of standard pregnancy test is the one pictured above, the e.p.t.  or error proof test, which guarantees 99% accuracy when used properly.	Early Result Pregnancy Tests  If you are too excited (or nervous) to wait for your missed period, there are pregnancy tests that can detect minute amounts of hCG in your urine up to five days before your missed period.  The further away from your period you test, however, the less reliable the test can be.  A popular brand of such test is the one pictured above, the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test.	Digital Pregnancy Tests  Pregnancy tests with digital read-outs have become the most popular because their results are the easiest to read.  Instead of trying to decipher faint symbols, digital pregnancy tests simply read "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant."

Related Products

Ovulation Tests	Prenatal Vitamins	Condoms	Lubricants	Fertility Monitors

External Links

• WebMD.com:  Answers to all your health questions.