How Do Pregnancy Test Kits Work? Pregnancy tests work by identifying hCG, the pregnancy hormone. After fertilization, the embryo implants in the uterine lining, and the body begins producing hCG.

How do home pregnancy tests work? When a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus, a placenta starts to form and your body produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or ...

Step 4: Wait for the results After applying the urine, lay the test strip flat on a clean surface and start the timer. Waiting times can vary, but it's typically around 1 to 5 minutes. It's ...

Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone produced during pregnancy (Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG) in the urine. The test uses special dyes to show lines or symbols on a test strip.

Most home pregnancy tests are urine-based sticks with chemicals designed to react when hCG is present. If the hormone is detected, you’ll see a second line, a plus sign, or a digital “pregnant ...

Karen Weingarten teaches in the English Department at Queens College, City University of New York. Her book Pregnancy Test was published in March 2023 with Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons Series. By ...

The "most sensitive" drugstore tests can detect pregnancy as early as three or four weeks after your period date, Tang says. In those first few weeks, pregnancy hormones are on the rise every day.

This story was originally published by The 19th on Aug. 9, 2023. Extreme heat has already made pregnancy more dangerous. Now, it is also complicating efforts to control when and how someone ...