Many Women Choose Home Pregnancy Tests
Many women who suspect they may be pregnant choose to take a home pregnancy test before heading to the doctor. These kits can boast a high accuracy rate, but only when used correctly. Attempting to get results too early or failing to strictly adhere to the directions on the label can result in a false-negative report.
Pregnancy tests check for the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in either the urine or the blood stream (blood tests are generally conducted at a medical facility and are better able to pick up traces of the hormone).
Most home pregnancy tests aren’t able to detect fertilization until after a missed period. For most varieties, it is ideal to take the test a week after a menstrual cycle was expected to begin, which increases the chances of a good reading.