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To test or not to test, that is the question!

Home Pregnancy Testing

To test or not to test, and when…
Many of us struggle with home pregnancy testing. For some, early home pregnancy testing allows the opportunity to begin monitoring a pregnancy as early as possible! 

Some Tips for Testing:

  • Testing should be done with first morning urine (FMU).
  • If there are no high-risk circumstances, it is probably best to wait 12-14 dpo (days past ovulation). 
  • Pregnancy Tests detect Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG).  hCG is a hormone which is secreted by the developing placenta.
  • The appearance and increased levels of hCG provide an excellent indicator of pregnancy.
  • The hCG hormone doubles approximately every 2.2 days during the first trimester.  Detectable levels start at 5 mlU/mL during the first week of gestation and rise to 100,000 mlU/mL at 2 to 3 months.
  • Miscarriage may be associated with a slow rise in hCG levels.
  • During the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, hCG levels decline 10% to 15% from peak concentrations.
  • All pregnancy tests are not created equal.  Some take higher levels of hCG to trigger a positive.  Some are known to give “false” positives. 
  • It is always advisable to wait until 12 dpo (days past ovulation) to test. Although I’ve seen positive results as early as 8 dpo with the dipstick our Early Home Pregnancy Tests.
  • One line (normally) is NEGATIVE.
  • Two lines POSITIVE result.
  • Dipstick (shown above) is the most sensitive and it is best to collect urine in a disposable cup then dip strip.
  • If you get a light line that appears beyond 3 minutes, test again the next day.  If the line appears faster and darker will confirm your pregnancy is progressing.
  • The Midstream allows the freedom of holding the test in the stream vs. collecting in cup.