Cheap Pregnancy Tests

Cheap pregnancy tests are readily available without a prescription from many pharmacies and grocery stores. For most women, a home pregnancy test does cause anxiety especially if one is not sure if the results can be relied upon.  To relieve the anxiety it is important to know when to take the pregnancy test and understand some of the limitations of cheap pregnancy tests. 

When should I take a pregnancy test?

The majority of pregnancy tests manufacturers make exaggerated claims that their tests are accurate on the first day after a missed period. In fact, for most accurate results one should wait at least 5-7 days after a missed period to take the test.

The physiology of pregnancy involves attachment of a fertilized egg on to the lining of your uterus. The body than starts to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin or HCG. During early pregnancy, levels of HCG double every 2 days. Therefore, by the 5-7 day there is adequate HCG, which can be detected in the urine. If you take the test earlier, it may not be accurate because levels of HCG may be low. All women who have a positive pregnancy test at home should make sure that they confirm the pregnancy with their health care provider. This means having to undergo a blood test, which is far more reliable than any urine test.

There are numerous cheap pregnancy tests available for home use. The majority of tests are relatively easy to use; you simply dip the end of a dipstick into your urine for about 5-10 seconds. A few minutes later, you examine the dipstick. Some strips will reveal a color change, others will have a negative (-) or positive (+) sign and yet others may say “pregnant” or “not pregnant” on the strip.

These instructions do vary with and one should always read the instructions before using the kit. Most cheap pregnancy kits also have a toll free number you can call if you have a question(s) about the result.

The majority of pregnancy tests have fairly good sensitivity. However, most kits do vary on the degree of accuracy when used within the first three days after a missed period. These kits usually are more consistent with their reporting of a positive pregnancy 5-7 days after a missed period. Most pregnancy kits are not affected by antibiotics or prescription medications.

It is very rare to get a positive test when you are in fact not pregnant. False positive tests can occur especially if you have just been pregnant or you took a test right after taking a fertility drug containing HCG. In rare situations, other causes that may confuse the pregnancy test include menopause, ovarian cysts and an ectopic pregnancy. It is also possible to get a falsely negative pregnancy test and this may occur if you take the test too early, time the test wrong or use diluted urine.

If your pregnancy test is positive, then you need to be seen by your doctor. This is important because the sooner the test is confirmed, the earlier you can start to get ready for prenatal care.