Taking a home pregnancy test should be exciting, but it can also be stressful if you’re unsure of their accuracy or how they work. There are two main types of home pregnancy test, which we’ll explore below, urine tests and blood tests.
WHEN SHOULD YOU TAKE A TEST?
You can take most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. However, if you’re unsure about when your next period is due, health professionals recommend taking the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.
If you take a test too early, it may show a negative result, as the hCG level may not be high enough to detect.
At-home pregnancy tests can be taken at any time of day.
HOW DO PREGNANCY TESTS WORK
Pregnancy tests detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin), a hormone your body makes when you’re pregnant. Levels of hCG increase rapidly during the early stages of your pregnancy. It can be found in your blood or urine.
URINE TESTS
The pregnancy test you’re likely most familiar with is a urine test, which contains special strips to detect hCG. You might take this test by placing the test strip in your urine stream. These tests usually detect hCG around 10 days after conception.
BLOOD TESTS
This type of pregnancy test is done using a small sample of your blood. Blood pregnancy tests are more accurate than urine tests because they can identify even small levels of hCG, around 7-10 days after conception.
HOW TO READ A PREGNANCY TEST
Most at-home pregnancy tests have a single window, from which you can read the result. A positive result shows two lines, while a single line indicates you aren’t pregnant. The colour or faintness of the line(s) don’t impact the result, but if these factors leave you uncertain, we’d recommend taking another test.
GET A PREGNANCY TEST FROM ACCESS FERTILITY
At Access Fertility, we work with suppliers to provide high-quality fertility tests and supplements.
NG PRECISION+ Pregnancy Blood Test is an at-home pregnancy blood test that you can do at any time and get results within 5 minutes. It’s an all-in-one device that simplifies the test process with integrated steps, and simplicity and quickness of use.
Visit our shop to discover products that can support your nutritional needs at every stage of your pregnancy.