Testing for Pregnancy


In This Article:
Testing for Pregnancy
Choosing a Home Pregnancy Test
Home Pregnancy Test Results


Since pregnancy kickstarts production of the hCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotrophin), home pregnancy tests (HPT) are aimed at detecting its presence in urine, and each year consumers spend more than $175 million on them.

While they are effective, hCG beta blood tests done at your doctor's office are in fact substantially more sensitive (they can detect hCG within ten days of conception) and, they give quantitative results (not the qualitative yes/no of HPTs).


human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

Produced by the placenta and detected by HPTs, the pregnancy hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) appears following fertilization. Its job is to make sure the corpus luteum makes progesterone. hCG is considered an effective indicator of pregnancy because of its appearance in urine or blood, and its somewhat dependable rise in concentration, during the first phases of gestation.

Measured in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/ml), ‘average’ numbers for hCG generally follow the course below:

Ten days post conception: 25 (mIU/ml)
Every two to three days thereafter: the units should double
By eight to ten weeks: 30,000-200,000 mIU/ml

Levels at five mIU/ml or lower typically point toward one thing: you are not pregnant.

Keep in mind that hCG injections such as Profasi and Pregnyl, administered to trigger ovulation (or to lengthen your cycle’s luteal phase) can leave behind just enough hCG in the body to mislead HPTs into thinking you are pregnant when you are not. They can be detected as many as ten days following your last injection. In these situations, HPTs are not considered so reliable, but a pair of quantitative beta blood tests can clear the air. In short, if the second test shows a rise in hCG levels, it means you are in fact probably pregnant.

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Useful Resources

• Pregnancy Tests on Wikipedia

Home Pregnancy Test Resources