Positive pregnancy test

Positive pregnancy test

A positive pregnancy test is often associated with a lot of emotions and expectations. How do you know that a pregnancy test is positive, and how certain is the result?

How to get a positive pregnancy test?

You get a positive pregnancy test if you are pregnant at the time you take the test. To achieve this, one must have had intercourse around the time of ovulation. Pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in urine. HCG is usually only found in the body during pregnancy, and is secreted from the placenta to an increasing extent throughout the pregnancy.

How to take a pregnancy test?

Pregnancy tests should ideally be taken in the morning with the first urine of the day, especially if you test early. Morning urine will have the highest concentration of hCG. For a similar reason, you should try not to drink a lot of liquid before taking a pregnancy test. High fluid intake can dilute the urine so that the hCG level becomes too low for the pregnancy test to detect it. It is very important to follow the instructions for use of the specific pregnancy test you have purchased so that the result is as reliable as possible.

How to know that a pregnancy test is positive?

It can vary between different types of pregnancy tests how they show a positive or negative result. Usually, pregnancy tests show a positive result when there are two lines on the test. Even a very weak line is positive. Some types of pregnancy tests do not show lines, but plus, which means positive, or minus, which means the test is negative. Digital pregnancy tests are easier to interpret, as they either say "pregnant" or "not pregnant". These can also have weekly indicators that give an estimate of how far you are on the way in addition.

How early can you get a positive pregnancy test?

HCG can usually be detected in the urine from two weeks after fertilization has taken place. Some types of early pregnancy tests can detect hCG in the urine as early as five days before the expected period, but the tests are usually most reliable from the day of the expected period.

How safe is a positive pregnancy test?

If the pregnancy test is positive, it is very unlikely that you are not pregnant. When testing from the day of expected menstruation, most pregnancy tests give a 99% reliable result. However, in very rare cases it can happen that you get a positive pregnancy test without being pregnant, a so-called false positive pregnancy test.

Possible causes of false positive pregnancy test:

• Ectopic pregnancy.

• Ovarian cysts.

• Menopause (ceased menstruation).

• You have just been pregnant.

• Medicinal use (for example, some types of fertility drugs).

False negative pregnancy test is also possible, and more likely than false positive. If you test early and get a negative test, you should test again after the expected period in case the levels of hCG were too low at the time of the test.

Possible causes of false negative pregnancy test:

• You test too early.

• High fluid intake.

• The pregnancy test has been stored too hot or cold.

• Do not test with the first urine of the day.

• The pregnancy test has expired.

What do you do with a positive pregnancy test?

If the pregnancy test is positive, the woman should start with a supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid if she has not already done so. Ideally, you should start taking folic acid supplements already when you are trying to get pregnant. Supplementation of folic acid prevents neural tube defects in the child, and should be taken daily until you have reached the second trimester. You should also refrain from alcohol, smoke and snuff.