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Pregnancy Tests 101
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When you think you might be pregnant, you want to know as soon as possible. So you may do what many women do and run out to the drugstore a few days after the alleged conception to pick up a pregnancy test. But how do you know you're getting accurate results? The first mistake many women make is testing too early. Pregnancy tests detect the presence of hCG - a hormone produced when the placenta starts developing. If the fertilized egg hasn't implanted on the uterine wall yet, then you may get a false negative and then test positive a few days later. It can take up to 9 days for the fertilized egg to attach to the uterine wall, so taking a test less than 10 days after conception may not yield an accurate result. Variations in the test's sensitivity, being unsure when the egg could've implanted and irregular menstrual cycles can all skew test results. The best results are gained when urine is tested in the morning when hCG has had a chance to become more concentrated.
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