What happens when you are pregnant? First you ovulate, means your ovary discharges the most mature egg into your fallopian tube. If this egg unites with a sperm, it will be known as fertilized egg. This fertilized egg slides down into your uterus and implants itself in your uterus lining. Soon this fertilized egg starts developing a placenta in six days and this placenta starts releasing a hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) within the first week of fertilization. This hormone can be detected in the urine and blood of a pregnant woman. Pregnancy testing kits make use of this information.
The pregnancy tests tie the human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to an antibody and an indicator. These antibodies will detect even the minute traces of HCG hormone. In order to take a pregnancy test, apply a small portion of your urine where it is indicated on your pregnancy test kit. On the indicator there is a line that is already there. As the HCG in your urine reacts with monoclonal antibodies another line with the distinct color begins to appear in this light indicates a positive pregnancy. This is you even get pregnancy test kits that tell you in words that you are pregnant, lessening the chances of confusion.
Here are a few precautions you should take while conducting a pregnancy test:
- Collect your urine in a container which is clean, dry and detergent free.
- Early morning fresh sample of urine will be best for the pregnancy test. If you are testing in the afternoon, try to limit your water and fluid intake. These things dilute your urine.
- Stick to the timings instructed on the pregnancy test kit.
- After missing your periods, wait at least for one week and then go for the pregnancy test.