Health Topics for Pregnancy and Childbirth

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Department of Pediatrics

UI Family Care Center

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Pregnancy Tests At Home

If you think you might be pregnant and would like to know, you may want to try a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are easy to use and very private. These tests are available at your local pharmacy or market. They work by testing your urine for pregnancy hormones.

The results are most accurate when the test is done:

• after missing a period and

• with the first urine of the day, because it is concentrated and contains higher levels of pregnancy hormones

Most test kits are easy to use. Results appear on the test strip within a few minutes. Positive results are seen as a 'plus' sign or a specific color change. Negative results can mean pregnancy is not likely or that it is too early to be detected.

Check with a healthcare provider, if the home pregnancy test is negative and you have the signs of pregnancy that include:

• missed period

• spotting or bleeding that is not like a period

• morning sickness

• swollen or tender breasts

• needing to urinate often or

• always feeling tired

If the test is positive, schedule a visit with a healthcare provider to start your prenatal care.

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