Pregnancy Tests At Home
How do pregnancy tests work? And how accurate are home pregnancy tests?
Pregnancy tests look for a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only present when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human chronic gonadotropin (HCG), is also called the pregnancy hormone. It’s made in your body when a fertilized egg gets implanted in the uterus. This usually happens about six days after conception. These days, most women first use home pregnancy tests (HPT) to find out if they are pregnant. If a HPT says you are pregnant, you should call your doctor right away. Your doctor can check for sure if you’re pregnant. Seeing your doctor early on in your pregnancy will help you and your baby stay healthy. HPTs can be quite accurate. But the accuracy depends on many things, including how you use them. Be sure to follow the directions and check the expiration date. The amount of HCG in your urine increases with time. So, the earlier after a missed period you take the test, the harder it is to spot the hCG. If you wait one week after a missed period to test, the result will be accurate. Also, testing your urine first thing in the morning may boost the accuracy.
I have severe vaginal itching. I usually wear synthetic undergarments. Do you think this could be causing the itch? And what do I do to relieve the itching?
Stop wearing synthetic undergarments. Keep your genital area clean and dry. Use plain, unscented soap and always wear cotton panties. Also, cleanse by wiping or washing from front to back (vagina to anus) after urinating or having a bowel movement. It is also helpful to avoid scratching, which will only aggravate the problem. Avoid overexertion, heat and excessive sweating. You can use a calamine lotion to ease the itching. If there is a rash, you need to see a dermatologist. Using a moisturizing cream regularly will help you.