If you think you might be pregnant, you may be curious about how pregnancy tests work. It’s pretty simple! These tests look for a special hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that your body makes when you’re pregnant.
Timing is key—taking the test too early might give you a false negative because your hCG levels aren’t high enough yet. That’s why waiting until the first day of your missed period is usually best to get the most accurate result. Let’s explore how these tests detect pregnancy and what you need to know to get the best results.
About Pregnancy Tests
Many at-home pregnancy tests claim they can detect pregnancy as early as the first day of a missed period, and some even promise results before that. However, these tests are more accurate if taken after the first day of your missed period.
Shortly after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, the placenta starts to form and produces the pregnancy hormone hCG. HCG is only present in the body during pregnancy and can be detected in both blood and urine.
A home pregnancy test checks for hCG in your urine. In early pregnancy, the levels of HCG double every 2 to 3 days. Therefore, waiting a day after your missed period increases the likelihood of the test detecting hCG, resulting in a positive outcome if you are pregnant.
Taking A Test
For most home pregnancy tests, you either place the end of the test in your urine stream, dip it into a container of urine, or put a few drops of urine onto the test. After a few minutes, the result will appear. It might show as a plus or minus sign, the words “yes” or “no,” one or two lines, or the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant.”
Be sure to follow the instructions on how long to wait before checking the results, usually around two minutes or more. Most tests have a control indicator, like a line or symbol, that appears in the result window to show the test is working. If you don’t see this control indicator, the test isn’t working properly, and you should try again with a new test.
Taking The Next Steps
If you take a test and receive a positive result, you should verify the results with a second test.
We at Pregnancy Help Center offer free pregnancy testing. Afterward, we can determine whether you’re eligible for a no-cost ultrasound to obtain details about your pregnancy.
Contact us to make an appointment today.
