Each day, thousands of women rely upon pregnancy tests to determine if they are pregnant. However, pregnancy tests are not always 100% accurate every time. The only surefire way to tell if you are expecting a child is to be examined by a physician. Here are some facts that you should know about pregnancy tests.
A positive pregnancy test result is usually correct
When comes to receiving the results of a pregnancy test, it is very uncommon to get a false positive. Although there are exceptions to every rule, a positive pregnancy test is usually a reliable indicator that you are indeed pregnant. In most cases, the positive pregnancy test is usually confirmed by the doctor.
False negatives are a common occurrence
Unlike false positives, false negative pregnancy tests are commonplace. If your pregnancy test comes back as a negative, do not prematurely assume that you are not pregnant. Some of the typical reasons for a false negative test include a miscounted cycle and taking the test too soon. If the symptoms of being pregnant persists, another test is needed.
Taking the test too early may lead to a false negative
The vast majority of pregnancy tests recommend that the woman takes the test a few days earlier than her expected period. Unfortunately, a test that is taken a tad too early will likely result in a false negative test result. To increase the rate of accuracy, it is advised to perform the pregnancy test closer to the expected date of your period.
Excessive consumption of water impacts the results
Drinking a lot of water before taking the pregnancy test is never a good idea. The reason is because water tends to dilute the urine. Diluted urine makes it much more difficult to get an effective reading during the test. The best approach is to take the test upon awaking in the morning.
Digital pregnancy tests differ from traditional tests
Although digital pregnancy tests are generally reliable, they work a little differently than traditional pregnancy tests. Most digital pregnancy tests work best when they are taken very close to the time of the woman’s period. The advantage of a digital test is that it will clearly state a phrase of “pregnant” or “not pregnant” when revealing the results.
