Home Pregnancy Tests: How Accurate Are They, Really?

Urine Pregnancy Tests: What You Need to Know Millions of women rely on home pregnancy tests each year, but are they always accurate? Dr. [The Vag Doc's real name, if available], a physician with a large social media following, recently addressed common misconceptions surrounding urine pregnancy tests. She points out that factors beyond simply following instructions can affect results. For example, the time elapsed between taking the test and reading the results is crucial. 'You don't want to read it too early,' Dr. [Name] explains, 'because you may not have given the test enough time for the hCG hormone to bind to the paper.' She also notes that other medical conditions and medications can interfere with test accuracy. 'Sometimes there's antibodies present in your system, or things with rheumatoid factor that can also skew the reading,' she adds. While home tests offer a convenient first step, Dr. [Name] strongly advocates for a follow-up visit with a healthcare professional and a blood test to confirm results. 'You should follow up with a doctor's visit, get some blood results to make sure everything is running in the same direction,' she advises.