What is hCG urine pregnancy test?

The hCG test is a type of pregnancy test and a very simple and easy test to detect pregnancy and is determined through a urine test.

In this article, we give general explanations about what this test is. Then we will check its uses, risks, and complications, and then we will tell you the preparation and implementation tips for this pregnancy test, and at the end, we will discuss its possible results. What is a urine hCG test?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) urine test is a type of pregnancy test. The placenta of a pregnant woman produces hCG, which is also called the pregnancy hormone.
If you are pregnant, this pregnancy test can usually detect this hormone in your urine about a day after your first missed period.

During the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, hCG levels usually rise very quickly. The level of this hormone reaches its peak at approximately the 10th week of pregnancy and then gradually decreases until delivery.

This type of urine test is usually sold in kits that you can use at home. This test is often referred to as a home pregnancy test.

Related posts: What is a pregnancy test? 

What are the uses of urine hCG tests?

The hCG urine test is a qualitative test, in the sense that it tells you whether or not the hormone hCG was detected in your urine. In fact, it is not supposed to show the exact level of the hormone.

Is it dangerous to take this pregnancy test?

The only risk associated with urine hCG testing is a false positive or false negative result. This pregnancy test may rarely detect abnormal tissue with no pregnancy, which requires follow-up by a doctor.
This pregnancy test may rarely detect abnormal tissue with no pregnancy, which requires follow-up by a doctor. These results are rare because usually, only pregnant women produce hCG.
The risk of getting a false negative result is higher.

If you get a false negative result, in this case, the pregnancy test says you are not pregnant, but you are actually pregnant, so you may not take the necessary precautions to give birth to the baby that is on the way.
Such results may occur more often in early pregnancy or if the urine is too dilute to detect hCG.

How do I prepare for an hCG urine test?

No special work is required to prepare for the hCG urine test. With simple planning, you can be sure of getting the most accurate results.
If you have a home pregnancy test, consider the following:

How is the urine hCG test performed?

You can do a urine hCG test at your doctor’s office or at home with a home pregnancy test.

Both require the collection of a urine sample. A urine hCG test done at home is similar to the test done by your doctor. Both have the same ability to detect hCG in your urine.
Most hCG urine test kits sold for home pregnancy testing follow a similar method for accurately testing hCG.

While you should follow the instructions on your kit carefully, the process usually goes like this:

Wait 1 to 2 weeks after the first missed period. We know it’s hard to be patient! But if you can bear it, you will get the most accurate result. Irregular periods or miscalculations about the period can affect your pregnancy test.

In fact, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, 10 to 20 percent of pregnant women may not detect their pregnancy with a pregnancy test taken on the first day of their first missed period. If you can be patient… wait a few days!

Set it up so that you use the pregnancy test the first time you urinate after waking up. This urine has the highest concentration and contains the highest level of hCG of the day. Drinking fluids dilute your urine, so it may be harder to measure hCG levels later in the day.

For some home pregnancy tests, you need to hold a marker directly in your urine stream until it soaks, which should take about 5 seconds. Other kits require you to collect urine in a cup and then insert a marker into the cup to measure the level of the hCG hormone.

A home pregnancy test usually has an indicator that shows whether the pregnancy test was done correctly or not. For example, if there is enough urine on the market, the result is correct. If the control indicator does not activate during your pregnancy test, the result may be incorrect.

In most tests, it only takes 5 to 10 minutes for the result to be determined. Usually, a colored line or + sign will appear on the pregnancy test indicator to indicate a positive result. The absence of a colored line or minus sign usually indicates a negative result.

What do urine hCG test results mean?

The accuracy of hCG urine test results depends on your ability to follow the pregnancy test kit instructions exactly. If your result is negative, you should not take these results as definitive, as it may be a false negative.

Until you are sure you are not pregnant, you should be cautious and avoid doing anything that could harm the developing fetus. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking certain medications can harm your baby in early pregnancy.

A false negative result can occur after any of the following:

If you think the test result is false negative and you are pregnant, you should consult your doctor. They can do a blood hCG test, which is more sensitive than a urine hCG test, as it has lower levels of the hCG hormone.

If your result is positive, it means that the test has detected hCG in the urine. Your next step should be to consult a doctor. If necessary, the doctor can confirm the pregnancy with an examination and other tests.

Prenatal care in early pregnancy gives your baby the best opportunity for growth and development before and after birth.

last word
Be as specific as possible about taking the hCG test, and patiently follow the instructions to get the most accurate result. Be careful that taking care of the fetus if you are pregnant will be important at every stage of the 9 months of pregnancy and this care should start from the first moments.