- 1. Online pregnancy tests
- Know if you are pregnant
- 2. Bleach test
- 3. Boiled urine test
- 4. Vinegar test
- 5. Needle test
- 6. Swab test
- What is the best pregnancy test?
Home pregnancy tests are widely used because they are a faster way to know if a woman may be pregnant or not, since many of them promise to work from the first moment of conception, without having to wait for the day of menstrual delay, as it happens with pharmacy tests.
However, this type of tests has no scientific evidence and, therefore, should not be considered a reliable way to confirm or rule out a possible pregnancy.
Of all the pregnancy tests that can be done at home, the most reliable is the pregnancy test that you buy at the pharmacy, as it identifies the presence of the beta hormone HCG in the woman's urine, a type of hormone that is only produced during pregnancy. pregnancy. However, if you need a faster result, you can also choose to have an HCG blood test, which can be done 8 to 11 days after unprotected intercourse.
Below we present the most used home pregnancy tests, which is the theory behind each one and why they do not work:
1. Online pregnancy tests
Online testing is increasingly common, but it should only be considered as a way of knowing the risk of being pregnant, and should not be used as a definitive test, nor should it replace the pharmacy or laboratory test.
That's because online tests are based on generic pregnancy symptoms, as well as risky activities, not being able to assess each woman individually, nor measuring more specific factors, such as the presence of pregnancy hormones in the urine or blood.
This is an example of an online test that we designed to assess the chances of a woman being pregnant, indicating when there is a greater need to take a pregnancy test, such as a pharmacy or blood test:
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Know if you are pregnant
Start the test
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
2. Bleach test
According to popular theories, this test works because the bleach is able to react with the beta hormone HCG, just like what happens in the pharmacy test, leading to foaming. Thus, if there is no foaming, the test is considered negative.
However, there is no study to confirm this effect and, according to some reports, the reaction of urine with bleach can lead to foaming even in men.
3. Boiled urine test
The boiled urine test appears to be based on the theory that boiling proteins, as in the case of milk, causes foaming. Thus, and since the beta hormone HCG is a type of protein, if the woman is pregnant, the increase of this protein in the urine could cause the formation of foam, causing a positive result.
However, and following the same theory, there are other conditions that can also increase the presence of proteins in the urine, such as urinary tract infection or kidney disease. In such cases, the test could also have a positive result, even if the woman was not pregnant.
In addition, if there are traces of cleaning products in the pot where the pee would be boiled, there could also be formation of foam by chemical reactions with the product, obtaining a false positive.
4. Vinegar test
This test was created around the concept that the pH of a pregnant woman's urine is generally more basic than that of another non-pregnant woman. Thus, the idea is that when vinegar, which is more acidic, comes into contact with urine, it causes a reaction that leads to color change, indicating a positive result for pregnancy.
However, vinegar does not always change color when in contact with a more basic substance and, moreover, it is common that, although more basic, the pH of a woman's urine remains acidic, which would prevent the reaction.
5. Needle test
In this home test, it is necessary to place a needle inside a urine sample for a few hours and then observe if there has been any change in the color of the needle. If the needle has changed color, it means that the woman is pregnant.
The theory behind this test is that of oxidation of metals, which happens when a metal, such as the needle, is in prolonged contact with another substance, such as water or, in this case, urine, eventually rusting. However, this is a process that usually takes several days, not happening within hours.
In addition, the oxidation speed can vary widely according to factors other than just contact with urine, such as ambient temperature, needle wear or exposure to sunlight, for example, which are not counted in this home test of pregnancy.
6. Swab test
The swab test is an unsafe method in which the woman should rub the tip of a swab in the vaginal canal, near the cervix, to identify if there is blood. This test should be done a few days before the scheduled date for menstruation to fall and serves to identify earlier if menstruation is coming down. So, if the swab gets dirty, it may indicate that the woman is not pregnant because menstruation is coming.
Although it may seem like a reliable method, it is a little recommended method. First, because the rubbing of the swab on the vaginal walls can cause injuries that end up bleeding and ruining the result. And then, because the application of a cotton swab into the vagina canal, and close to the cervix, can drag bacteria that end up causing an infection.
What is the best pregnancy test?
Of all the pregnancy tests that can be done at home, the most reliable is the pregnancy test that you buy at the pharmacy, as it measures the presence of the beta hormone HCG in the woman's urine, a hormone that is only produced in cases of pregnancy.
But despite being a reliable test, the pharmacy test may not detect pregnancy when it is done too early or when it is done wrong. The ideal time to take the pregnancy test from the pharmacy is when your period is 7 days or more late. However, it can already give a positive result from the 1st day of menstrual delay. Check out how to do this type of test and get a correct result.
Women who want to know if they are pregnant before menstrual delay should have a blood test that identifies the amount of the HCG hormone and can be done 8 to 11 days after intercourse. Better understand how this blood test works and when to do it.
