For starters, home pregnancy test detects pregnancy using the pregnancy hormone called hormone chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and it is found in the urine. The cells in the placenta produce hCG which first enter the bloodstream when the embryo implants on the uterus lining. This happens after fertilization.
After the first production of hCG, the levels rapidly rise for the next few months. The most sensitive home pregnancy test shows positive results after detecting 15mIU of hCG. The least sensitive home pregnancy test gives positive results at 50 mIU of hCG. Most of the available home pregnancy test brands claim an accuracy of 99% rate.
They are able to show a positive home pregnancy test a day earlier before you miss your period. However, it’s not recommendable to take home pregnancy test until after you miss a period. This way, you will get accurate test result.
Depending on the brand type,positive home pregnancy test is indicated by the presence of two lines or a plus sign. The digital home pregnancy tests are the easiest to use because they display the results using the phrase “pregnant” or “not pregnant” and or a plus (+) or minus (-) sign.
The non-digital tests require the patient to be very keen in interpreting the results. A positive pregnancy is shown by two lines whereas a negative pregnancy is show by one line.
Some women confuse the evaporation line and use it to interpret a positive pregnancy which is not true. A positive home pregnancy test means you followed the instructions carefully, and that you are pregnant.
Congratulations if you were longing to be a mum. If you were not expecting a baby, do not give up. It‘s time to sit down and make life-changing decisions.
When you get a positive home pregnancy test, start thinking about what you should start taking and what you should stop taking. I bet before the pregnancy that you were taking folic acid and iron.
Now it’s the time to visit a doctor who will prescribe a prenatal vitamin that you should start taking immediately. If you were using Tylenol, Zyrtec, or Claritin, please discuss with your doctor whether it is safe to continue with them.
At all costs, you should stop using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, some creams/lotions, and Topical retin. In case you got a positive home pregnancy test and then a negative, chances are you did not follow the instructions.
Failure to follow the results leads to improper testing. Maybe, you did not keep time, or hold the test in the desired position. Alternatively, the first positive home pregnancy test was a false positive due to the use of selected medications, or the presence of certain medical conditions in the body.
Some certain medications, for example, phenothiazine can lead to a false positive pregnancy test. For women undergoing hCG therapy to treat fertility issues or luteal phase defect, they should seek professional medical advice on when to take a home pregnancy test.
Some certain types of cancer can raise the levels of hCG in the urine leading to a false positive.
