Pregnancy Test Kits: Good Companions for Pregnancy Preparation and Pregnancy

I. Composition
The composition of pregnancy test kits is diverse. The core pregnancy – testing part usually includes pregnancy test strips and test sticks. A pregnancy test strip has a simple structure, consisting of water – absorbing materials, a reaction membrane, and a support. The water – absorbing materials are used to absorb urine, the reaction membrane has chemicals that can react with hCG, and the support ensures the shape and convenience of operation of the strip. A test stick is more exquisitely structured. In addition to a reaction part similar to that of a strip, it also has a shell to protect the internal structure and a display window for easy reading of results. The urine cup, as a supporting tool, is mostly made of transparent plastic, which is convenient for observing the urine condition and easy to clean. Some kits also include a basal body temperature thermometer, which is composed of a temperature sensor, a display screen (for electronic thermometers) or scales (for mercury thermometers), and a shell, and is used to measure a woman’s basal body temperature. In addition, some kits have ovulation test strips, whose composition is similar to that of pregnancy test strips, but the substance detected is luteinizing hormone (LH).

II. Usage

1. Pregnancy Testing
   • When preparing, wash your hands and take out the urine cup and pregnancy test strip or test stick. Place the urine cup in a proper position to collect urine. Pay attention to avoid the urine being contaminated by other substances during the collection process.
   • For a pregnancy test strip, hold the handle end of the strip, gently immerse the water – absorbing end of the strip in the urine, make sure not to exceed the maximum soaking line of the strip, stay for about 3 – 5 seconds, and then slowly take it out. For a test stick, put the urine – absorbing end in the urine, generally stay for 5 – 10 seconds, or operate according to the instructions, so that the urine is fully absorbed.
   • After the urine is absorbed, place the strip or stick flat on a clean, non – absorbent surface and wait for the results to be displayed. When observing the results, it should be within the specified time, usually 3 – 10 minutes. The appearance of two obvious red lines on a pregnancy test strip indicates pregnancy, and one red line indicates non – pregnancy. A test stick showing “ + ” indicates pregnancy, and “ – ” indicates non – pregnancy.
2. Basal Body Temperature Measurement
   • Put the basal body temperature thermometer beside the bed where it is easy to reach before going to bed every night. After waking up the next morning, keep your body still and immediately pick up the thermometer. If it is a mercury thermometer, place it under the tongue, close your mouth tightly, and measure for 5 – 7 minutes. If it is an electronic thermometer, place it under the tongue or in the armpit according to the operation instructions and wait for the thermometer to signal that the measurement is complete. After the measurement is completed, record the body temperature data. Through continuous measurement for a period of time, the changing pattern of the basal body temperature can be analyzed to judge whether ovulation and pregnancy occur.
3. Use of Ovulation Test Strips
   • Choose a fixed time of the day to conduct ovulation test strip detection, generally between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. is more appropriate. After collecting urine with a urine cup, vertically immerse the test end of the ovulation test strip in the urine to a depth of about 1 – 2 cm, stay for 15 – 20 seconds, and then take it out. Place the strip flat on a clean place and wait for 10 – 30 minutes to observe the results. When two lines of similar color appear on the strip, it indicates that the LH value has reached a peak and ovulation will occur within 24 – 36 hours.

III. Advantages

1. Cost – effectiveness
   • Compared with frequently going to the hospital for pregnancy tests and related detections, the cost of pregnancy test kits is much lower. For most families, buying a pregnancy test kit can be used multiple times during pregnancy preparation and the early stage of pregnancy, meeting basic testing needs without spending too much money.
2. Early Detection
   • It enables women to discover whether they are pregnant at an early stage. As soon as there is an abnormality in the menstrual cycle, such as a menstrual delay, the kit can be immediately used for testing. This is very important for women who hope to know their pregnancy status as early as possible so that they can adjust their lifestyles in time and start pregnancy care.
3. Auxiliary Diagnosis
   • During the pregnancy preparation process, the ovulation test strips and basal body temperature thermometers in the kit can assist women in understanding their fertility. If there is no strong – positive result for a long time during the use of ovulation test strips, or the basal body temperature changes irregularly, it may indicate an ovulation problem, and medical attention can be sought in a timely manner for further examination and diagnosis.

IV. Precautions

1. Strip Storage
   • Pregnancy test strips and ovulation test strips need to be properly stored. They should be placed in a dry and cool place, avoiding direct sunlight and humid environments. If the strips are damp or expired, the accuracy of the test results may be affected.
2. Measurement Environment
   • When using a basal body temperature thermometer, pay attention to the stability of the measurement environment. Do not measure in a place with cold wind blowing or large temperature changes, because these factors may affect the accuracy of body temperature measurement, thereby affecting the judgment of ovulation and pregnancy conditions.
3. Comprehensive Judgment
   • The pregnancy or ovulation status cannot be judged solely based on the results of pregnancy test kits. For example, after using a pregnancy test strip to detect pregnancy, it is still necessary to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination as soon as possible, including blood tests and ultrasound examinations, to determine whether it is a normal intrauterine pregnancy and the development of the embryo. During pregnancy preparation, if there are doubts about ovulation, consultation with a doctor and comprehensive judgment combined with other examination methods should be carried out.