How to make a home pregnancy test

Can the Results Be Trusted?

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When you’re unsure whether you’re pregnant or not, it can be tempting to try homemade pregnancy tests you’ve found described online or heard about from well-meaning friends. These tests often use readily available household ingredients.

While there are many online resources about homemade pregnancy tests, very few of them look at whether these tests are scientifically accurate.

Let’s look at some common homemade pregnancy test types, how they supposedly work, and what the research says.

Pregnancy tests check blood or urine for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Your body makes hCG after implantation of an embryo in your uterus. Your doctor can order either a blood or urine test; urine tests are also available over the counter.

Homemade tests, though, claim to work due to chemical reactions between hCG and common household items. There are a number of homemade pregnancy test types.

Shampoo

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Collect urine in a plastic container. In another container, mix a little shampoo with water to make a soapy mixture. Add your urine to the mixture, and keep an eye on it. If it froths and foams, it’s a positive result.

How it’s said to work:

The hCG hormone is said to react with shampoo, making it fizz. There is no chemical scientific basis for believing this is actually the case.

Sugar

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Put 1 tablespoon of sugar in a plastic bowl and add 1 tablespoon of your urine. Take a look at how the sugar reacts. If it dissolves quickly, the result is negative, but if it forms clumps, the result is positive.

How it’s said to work:

The hCG in urine supposedly doesn’t allow the sugar to dissolve. Again, scientific evidence that this works is completely lacking.

Toothpaste

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Squeeze 2 tablespoons of white toothpaste into a container and add your urine. If the toothpaste color turns blue, it’s a positive result.

How it’s said to work:

The ingredients in the toothpaste are said to change color when they come into contact with hCG. However, this test doesn’t account for the fact that toothpaste comes in various colors already. There’s no proof that this is accurate.

Bleach

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Collect 1/2 cup of your urine in a small container and add 1/2 cup of bleach to it. Wait 3 to 5 minutes. If it foams and fizzes, it’s a positive result.

This test can be dangerous if you inhale the fumes or get the mixture on your skin. Use gloves when handling bleach and be sure to avoid the fumes. Do not urinate directly over a cup of bleach, as the fumes can irritate your skin.

How it’s said to work:

It’s believed that the hCG hormone in urine reacts with the bleach and cause it to foam and fizz. As with the other tests, you’re probably better off using this household product for one of its intended purposes. Furthermore, urine from nonpregnant women can cause the same reaction.

Soap

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Add about 2 tablespoons of urine to a small piece of soap and mix it. If it froths or foams, the result is positive.

How it’s said to work:

As with shampoo, the hCG hormone is said to make soap fizz and bubble. And as with shampoo, there are no studies verifying this works.

Vinegar

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1/2 cup of urine. Wait 3 to 5 minutes. A change in color indicates a positive result.

How it’s said to work:

As with toothpaste, the hCG in urine supposedly reacts with the vinegar, causing a change in color. Once again, there is no evidence that this is true.

Baking soda

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Collect urine in a plastic container, and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to it. If the mixture bubbles, it could be a positive result.

How it’s said to work:

As with bleach and soap, it’s said that any hCG in the urine will make baking soda fizz and bubble. No scientific evidence, yet again.

Pine-Sol

How to use it, according to popular opinion:

Pine-Sol, a pine-scented antibacterial household cleaner, is another popular ingredient in homemade pregnancy tests. Mix 1/2 cup urine with 1/2 cup of Pine-Sol and mix it well. Wait at least 3 minutes. If it changes color, the result is positive.

How it’s said to work:

Allegedly, the hCG reacts with the pine and changes the color. Science doesn’t agree.

The homemade pregnancy tests described above have no scientific basis. No research suggests that they’re accurate methods for detecting pregnancy. They’re based on anecdotal evidence only.

Furthermore, there’s also anecdotal evidence that urine from nonpregnant people can cause the positive reactions described.

Fortunately, there are more accurate pregnancy tests available!

Because of the lack of scientific research, we can’t determine the accuracy of the above homemade pregnancy tests. They are urban myths.

When it comes to a subject as emotive and potentially life-changing as pregnancy, you’re better off using one of the accurate pregnancy tests out there. These include drugstore-bought urine tests and blood tests at your doctor’s office. Pregnancy tests are also available online.

In general, home pregnancy tests can be used the day after you miss your period. Some early detection pregnancy tests can be used earlier than that. Drugstore home pregnancy tests claim to be about 99 percent accurate.

Pregnancy tests are more accurate when the first urine of the day is used. Your pregnancy test won’t be very accurate if it has expired, so it’s important to check the expiry date. It’s best to use multiple pregnancy tests for a more accurate result. If the results are conflicting, call your doctor.

By using scientifically sound pregnancy tests, you’ll be saving yourself the potential heartbreak and anxiety of a false result.

Wondering if you’re indeed pregnant? Consider some of these early symptoms of pregnancy:

• a missed period
• nausea and vomiting
• constant need to urinate
• tender, sore breasts
• fatigue
• bloating

Since these symptoms can be caused by other health conditions, you’ll want to take a legit pregnancy test before drawing any conclusions.

Related: Weird early pregnancy symptoms

While it’s tempting to opt for a simple homemade pregnancy test made with cupboard ingredients instead of a store-bought variety, the truth is they aren’t scientifically proven to be accurate.

They may be fun to try before using a proven method, but don’t take results seriously and certainly don’t base your health decisions on them.

If you think you might be pregnant, call your doctor right away so that you can take a pregnancy test and begin prenatal care. If you are trying to get pregnant you should be taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid.

Detecting pregnancy early will help ensure you’re able to get the care you need.

Homemade pregnancy test: Types and effectiveness

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

A woman might try a homemade pregnancy test if she cannot afford a test, does not want others to know about the testing, or is unable to wait to purchase a test.

The home pregnancy test first appeared in the 1970s and was widely available by the 1980s. The test measures human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that the body releases in early pregnancy.

Proponents of homemade pregnancy tests believe that they also test for hCG. However, few homemade tests are supported by scientific evidence.

The most reliable way to confirm pregnancy is to purchase a test or visit a doctor.

The homemade testing methods below have been mentioned in various online forums and are often based on folk remedies.

Wheat and barley test

The wheat and barley test, developed in ancient Egypt, involves urinating on wheat or barley seeds, then leaving them for 2 days. If the seeds sprout, the test is positive. If they do not, the test is negative.

A 1963 analysis found that in about 70% of cases when a woman was pregnant, the seeds did germinate. Some seeds germinated when a woman was not pregnant, however, making the results unreliable.

Sugar test

Many natural living and alternative health blogs, but no medical authorities or research, recommend the sugar test.

It involves mixing equal parts of sugar and urine, such as 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of urine. After letting the mixture sit for a few minutes, if the sugar dissolves, the woman is supposedly not pregnant. If it forms clumps, the woman is pregnant.

No scientific evidence supports this method of testing.

Salt test

This test is an alternative to the sugar test, and the steps are the same: A person mixes equal parts of urine and salt. If the salt clumps, the result is positive. If it does not, the result is negative.

No research supports the use of this test, either.

Baking soda

The idea here is that hCG in urine reacts with baking soda, causing fizzing or crackling.

To try this, add urine to a roughly equal amount of baking soda. Wait a few minutes. If the baking soda does nothing, the woman is not pregnant. If it fizzes, crackles, or bubbles, the woman is pregnant.

As with most other homemade pregnancy tests, there is no scientific evidence of this test’s effectiveness.

Shampoo

Advocates of the shampoo test believe that hCG causes shampoo to foam or bubble. To try it, mix 2 drops of urine and 2 drops of shampoo in a clean bowl. Do not shake the mixture, as this can cause frothing.

If the shampoo does not react, the woman is supposedly not pregnant. If it bubbles or froths, the woman is pregnant.

There is also no evidence to support the use of this test.

Healthcare professionals and researchers have not explored the effectiveness of most homemade pregnancy tests.

While some people on message boards and blogs say that these tests work, there is no scientific support for their claims.

A homemade pregnancy test may give the same result as a reliable test by coincidence. Getting the same result from both methods does not show that the DIY test was accurate.

The only reliable home pregnancy test is a commercial test that detects hCG.

However, fertility monitoring and awareness methods may help a woman identify pregnancy early on.

These methods are more reliable than most homemade pregnancy tests but cannot conclusively confirm pregnancy. They also usually require several weeks or even months of monitoring.

Basal body temperature

A person’s basal body temperature is their temperature when they wake up, before moving or doing anything else.

Immediately after ovulation, progesterone levels slightly heat the body, causing the basal body temperature to rise.

Before or right after a period starts, progesterone levels drop, which causes the temperature to fall. But if a woman is pregnant, her temperature may remain high.

Consistently high basal body temperature readings in a woman who has missed a period may indicate pregnancy.

Detecting ovulation

A missed period can indicate pregnancy, but only if a woman can confirm that she has ovulated.

The menstrual cycle naturally varies in length from month to month, so a period thought to be missing may just be late.

If a woman knows that she has ovulated, her period should arrive about 2 weeks later. Ovulation predictor kits can often detect ovulation, but they can give false-positive readings.

Confirming ovulation reliably often involves a combination of factors: elevated basal body temperature, fertile cervical fluid, and a positive ovulation test result.

Pregnancy is not a medical emergency unless there is intense pain, bleeding, or a medical condition that makes pregnancy dangerous.

Women who may be pregnant can safely wait a few days — or even a few weeks — to see a doctor. If a period still does not arrive, schedule an appointment with a doctor or midwife.

However, a woman who cannot access a home pregnancy test should consider seeking medical care sooner. If doing so is impossible, it may be a good idea to act as if the pregnancy is confirmed, by avoiding smoking and alcohol and taking prenatal vitamins.

If privacy is a concern, for people in the United States, it is worth noting that providers of medical care, not just pregnancy testing, must honor privacy laws in most cases. This means that healthcare providers cannot share health information with, for example, a person’s parents or spouse without their consent.

If the cost of prenatal care or pregnancy testing is a concern, free or less inexpensive testing is often available. In the U.S., anyone who needs a pregnancy test could:

• Visit a local chapter of Planned Parenthood, which offers a range of free or low-cost services.
• Contact the county board of health about testing.
• Purchase pregnancy testing strips online. These usually cost only a few cents per test.
• Schedule a well-woman exam, if a woman has insurance. In most cases, insurance companies must cover the full cost, including that of a pregnancy test.
• During a regular checkup, ask to speak with the doctor alone.

Homemade pregnancy tests are not reliable, even if they provide the same results as commercial tests.

Though waiting can be frustrating, making an appointment with a healthcare provider is the best option for anyone who cannot access a commercial home pregnancy test.

Doctors and midwives must respect patient privacy, in most cases, and can offer a wide range of resources.

How to take a pregnancy test yourself

Tests to determine the presence of pregnancy by the content of hCG give a positive response already at 20 mIU / ml, that is, they are effective from the first day of missed menstruation. But it is not recommended to use tests before a delay, as they can give a false negative result (insufficient hCG concentration).

We will now tell you in detail about how to use home pregnancy tests correctly.

When to test

The highest concentration of hormones is contained in the morning urine, so if you could not resist and decided to take a test a couple of days before the expected delay, it is better to carry out the procedure in the morning.

After the delay, the test will be effective at any time of the day, since the concentration of the hormone will already reach sufficiently high levels.

For the greatest certainty, it is recommended to limit fluid intake before testing, and also not to use diuretics.

If you do not remember the date of the last period, but you know the expected date of conception, test 20 days after it.

How to take a pregnancy test

In the pharmacy you will find several options for tests: inkjet and test strips, with and without an estimated period. To get a reliable result, the test must be used correctly, and then interpreted. How to take a pregnancy test, depending on its form, read below.

It is more convenient for many to use inkjet tests, they do not require finding a container for urine.

How to use the blast test

• Remove the test from the package.
• Remove protective cap, but do not discard.
• Direct the part of the test with the indicator down under the urine stream for 5-7 seconds.
• Put the cap on the test.
• Place the test on a dry surface.
• Check the result after 5 minutes (but no longer than 10).

Classic test strips are also quite convenient. But you will also need a small container for urine. Otherwise, the process is not much different from using an inkjet test.

How to make a test strip:

• Remove the test strip from the package by holding the colored end.
• Dip the test into the urine container to the desired mark for 5-7 seconds.
• Place the test on a dry surface.
• Check the result after 5 minutes (but no longer than 10).

To evaluate the test result correctly, use the instructions from the manufacturer.

Typically, the result can be presented in three forms:

• Strips. The most common tests show the result as one (not pregnant) or two strips (pregnant).
• Plus and minus. Another part reports the news as "+" (pregnant) or "-" (not pregnant).
• Words and numbers. Some modern tests show the result in words or numbers (gestational age).

How a pregnancy test detects pregnancy

The test contains reagents that respond to the content of the hCG hormone in the urine. If the test is used from the date of the expected start of menstruation, its accuracy is over 99%. But there is also an error, which is most often associated with violations of the instructions or certain conditions of the female body.

What can affect a pregnancy test

1. You can get a false positive result when taking fertility drugs that contain the hCG hormone. As a rule, these are drugs that are administered in the form of injections.
2. A false-negative result may be due to the use of certain hormonal drugs that affect the cycle (for example, hormonal contraceptives). In this case, due to loop failure, you run the risk of running the test ahead of time.
3. You can also get a positive test result if you have recently been pregnant, have an ovarian cyst, or have an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, in case of an unexpected positive result, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor.
4. You also run the risk of seeing erroneous data on a test that has lain after using it for more than 10 minutes.

If you follow all the recommendations for use, the test will most likely show a reliable result. So you can safely conduct research without fear of being misled. If after the test there are still doubts, a blood test will help to accurately determine the presence of hCG.

We hope that using a pregnancy test will bring you only positive news. Be healthy!

The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages

Publication date: 05/17/2021

Article author work 12 years. Diploma of Medical Education: DVS 1724848