Clay In fact, although early pregnancy test strips claim to have an accuracy rate of 99%, you must not trust your self-test results too easily. According to expert statistics, the accuracy of pregnancy test strips varies greatly, ranging from 50% to 98%.
Why is there such a big difference? Gynecology Experts pointed out that female When doing a pregnancy self-test at home, without any outside guidance, the test results generally can only achieve an accuracy of 50% to 75%. If this kind of test is done in the laboratory in front of a doctor, and the doctor can ensure that the test strip is working properly, and the woman can use the test strip correctly according to the instructions to the letter, the test accuracy rate may be close to 100%.
The manufacturer of pregnancy test strips and ovulation self-testing mirrors claims: “In laboratories, it has been confirmed that today’s pregnancy test strips are as accurate as 99%. However, when women use pregnancy test strips, they must follow the instructions meticulously to ensure that the test results are accurate and credible. ”However, in practice, following the instructions and using it correctly is no easy task.
Instructions for some early pregnancy test strips read: "Urine to one end of the self-test card with the absorbing tip facing downwards, and the display window should not face your body to avoid urine splashing on it. ”There are also some early pregnancy test papers that instruct users to "hold a urine burette and drop 3 drops of urine 3 cm above the urine dish at the bottom of the test paper." ”If you read the details of these instructions carefully several times and think clearly, there may not be any problems. However, for a woman who is nervous and panicked because she is afraid of pregnancy, mistakes are inevitable because she cannot calmly and patiently follow the instructions. Moreover, the test results are also very confusing. Whether it is color reaction or line reaction, it is difficult to explain.
In addition, there are other obstacles to obtaining accurate test results. Like professional medical tests, pregnancy self-tests work by detecting HCG values, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is produced by the placenta. It usually appears in the urine a few days after pregnancy. However, due to the small amount, it is not easy to detect at first, and it does not become more obvious until 10 to 14 days. (The HCG value can also be measured through a blood test and is much more accurate). Although many kinds of early pregnancy test papers indicate that women can take a pregnancy self-test after missing a normal menstrual period for 1 day, in fact, not all pregnant women emit HCG hormone at the same speed and amount, which varies from person to person. “If a urine test is done too early, the negative reaction may be wrong. ”Obstetricians and gynecologists say so. Therefore, it is best to take a pregnancy self-test two weeks after your menstrual period is late, so that the results will be more reliable.
If you take a pregnancy self-test at night, the accuracy will be affected to a greater or lesser extent. Because urine in the morning usually has the highest HCG value. Many pregnancy tests do not state the best time of day to take the test. Generally speaking, the most accurate results will be obtained with the first urine passed in the morning. Although the positive result is not as misdiagnosed as the negative result, there are many non-pregnancy factors that can lead to a positive test result: such as blood in the urine, recent pregnancy (HCG hormone can be found in miscarriage, induced abortion or 8 weeks after childbirth), ovarian tumors and other diseases, or taking some fertility drugs.
Despite this, most women still blindly believe in the power of pregnancy test strips, and the sales volume of pregnancy test strips every year is astonishingly high. Doctors even rely on such test strips to determine whether a patient is pregnant. Erroneous test results have led doctors to prescribe drugs that are not suitable for pregnant women, such as strong Acne medicine, can cause fetus Physical defects. Whether the result is negative or positive, a false test result can be harmful. Women who mistakenly believe they are not pregnant through self-testing may continue to smoke, drink alcohol, receive X-ray radiation, or take drugs that are not suitable for pregnant women, all of which are harmful to the embryo. As for those women who are trying every possible means to get pregnant, a false positive result will make their happiness in vain and suffer a great emotional blow.
If you want to improve the accuracy of your self-test, here's what you need to do.
1. Pay attention to the production date on the packaging box, and do not use expired test cards, because the chemicals will become invalid over time.
2. In order to reduce the chance of inaccurate testing, read the instructions for use of the test card carefully before going to the bathroom for specific operations, and then follow the instructions carefully.
3. If you are not sure about the test results, it is best to call the doctor for consultation and complete the test under the guidance of the doctor. For example, if you drink too much water and your urine is diluted, your doctor will tell you whether you need to take another test. If the test result is positive but not obvious, you should assume you are pregnant and go Hospital Check it out.
4. If the self-test result is negative and menstruation is still missing after 1 week, you should take another self-test. If it's not negative, it's best to see a doctor.
5. The most important thing is to trust your body. If your symptoms tell you that you are pregnant or not pregnant, no matter what the self-test result is, you should consider that the self-test may be wrong, and it is best to go to the hospital for a check-up. Symptoms of early pregnancy include: nausea and vomiting, fatigue, frequent urination, breast swelling, partial eclipse, lethargy, etc.
