Every month the same excitement surrounds all women who stop being protected to have a baby. If the ovulation period has come and all conditions have been evaluated, this excitement will increase even more.
It is necessary to wait for the delay of menstruation to understand the pregnancy with normal pregnancy tests This situation led to a need for a product that could detect pregnancy earlier.
An early pregnancy test can detect pregnancy up to 5 days before the day of menstruation. For this reason, it is one of the products frequently used by women who are planning pregnancy.
What Is the Difference Between Normal Pregnancy Test and Early Pregnancy Test?
Early pregnancy tests, like other pregnancy tests, detect pregnancy by measuring the level of the hCG hormone in the body. This hormone is also found in non-pregnant women. The amount found in non-pregnant women is between 5-10ml U/ml. Early pregnancy tests, on the other hand, are sensitive enough to detect even the hormone increase slightly above this amount.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone, also called pregnancy hormone, increases day by day with the realization of fertilization. However, the main reason why other tests cannot show positive in the early period even in case of pregnancy is that this hormone has not yet reached the threshold value that the test can measure.
The increase in hCG hormone level may be different for each woman. In some women, it reaches the upper levels in a short time, while in some women this period may be later. This may be due to late fertilization. However, it is still a hormone that can rise to such an extent that it can double in 2 days or this reason, it is possible to obtain a positive result in an early pregnancy test performed approximately 8-10 days after intercourse. Thus, you can find out whether you are pregnant in a short time with a simple test that you can do at home.
What Is the Accuracy of Early Pregnancy Test?
As mentioned, early pregnancy tests can precisely measure the level of hCG hormone. As a result of the research, the hCG hormone value in more than 70% of pregnant women can be as high as the test can measure 4 or 5 days before the menstrual day.
However, if you do this test at most 5 days before your expected period and the result is negative, this does not mean that you are not 100% pregnant. For the correct result, it is necessary to wait a few more days and repeat the test.
The early pregnancy test applied from the expected menstrual day is almost 99% accurate. So, it is the first choice of many expectant mothers.
When Should Early Pregnancy Test be Done?
To determine this time, first of all, it is necessary to know in which time periods pregnancy can occur. A woman with an average menstrual cycle (about 28 days) should ovulate on an average of 14 days, counted from the first day of her last menstrual period. The ovum has about 24 hours after it is released before it can be fertilized. Since sperm cells can live in the female body for up to 48 hours, or even up to 72 hours with better parameters, fertilization can occur after the intercourse days before and after ovulation.
The fertilized ovum moves towards the uterus in about 6-12 days and settles there. The hCG hormone increases rapidly by doubling about 48 hours.
Although early pregnancy tests vary according to the brand, they can detect pregnancy 7-10 days after ovulation. This time is usually sufficient for the pregnancy hormone rising in the blood to be filtered through the kidneys and reach a level that can be detected in the urine.
There are brands that say they can detect pregnancy up to 4 days before the expected menstrual day, and there are brands that say they can detect it up to 5 days. However, no matter which brand you are going to buy, you should know following factors:
- Regardless of the result, it would be logical to repeat the test after two days.
- A negative result in early tests is not always a definitive result. This is because fertilization may be later than you think.
- Pregnancy hormone may not increase at the same level in everyone. Therefore, in case of negative results, the test can be renewed after a few days.
A blood test is required to confirm the positive result in your test. It always gives clearer result.
- Even if you have a positive test result, menstruation is possible with a low probability. Basically, these tests measure the pregnancy hormone. In cases such as chemical pregnancy, bleeding can be encountered despite the positive result.
- Early tests can create negative psychology in people expecting pregnancy. Facing a negative result of the tests can be frustrating. Therefore, this detail should not be ignored before taking an early pregnancy test
How Is Early Pregnancy Test Done?
Applying an early pregnancy test is quite easy. The things you need to pay attention to achieve healthy results are as follows;
- Make sure the test you have taken has not expired and is stored in a cool, dry place.
- Be careful not to drink large amounts of fluids in the few hours before taking the test.
- Apply the test at the times recommended in the leaflet.
- It is recommended that you drain the first part of your urine and use the next part.
- Hold or drain the urine in the amount or time specified in the prospectus.
- Wait for the time specified in the instructions for use in the test and observe the result.
- If there is only one line in the result field, the result is negative. However, this does not mean that you are not 100% pregnant. If in doubt, you can try the test again close to your menstrual period.
- If a double line appears, the result is positive. If the second line is faint, it also means positive. In this case, you can wait a few days and repeat the test for a more satisfactory result.
- The test is considered invalid if there are no lines in the result field. Youhave toretake the test to get the correct result.
An early pregnancy test is highly preferred as it can tell you that you are pregnant before your expected period. But getting pregnant is something that takes time. Sometimes, although there is no problem, this process can take up to 1 year.
Coming up with high expectations every month and then being disappointed can wear a woman out. This stress can even make it difficult to conceive. Therefore, it is necessary to consider this situation before performing these tests.
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Have a nice and healthy day!
