Pregnancy Test Kits.. How they works

To support the ongoing pregnancy every Pregnant Women produces a hormone called hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin). The pregnancy test kits work by detecting this hCG in the urine of the pregnant women. Usually hCG appears in the urine of pregnant women after 20-24 days from the day of her last menstrual period. The level of hCG rapidly increases (almost doubles every 72hrs) till the third month of pregnancy and then maintains a steady state.

Now coming to the question how pregnancy test kits detect hCG.

The pregnancy test kits will have a chromatographic paper enclosed inside a plastic case and you can see the chromatographic paper from the upper side. The Chromatographic paper will be impregnated with hCG and anti hCG (a substance against hCG) at the point marked as ‘C’ and only with anti hCG at the point marked as ‘T’. C stands for “Control” and T stands for “Test”.

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There will a sample well where urine drops has to be poured and the urine will blot through out the chromatographic paper

Now the principle is

hCG + anti hCG + water = color

Let us take an example that a woman is not pregnant and she wants to check whether she is pregnant. She will put her urine in the sample well and the urine will blot through the chromatographic paper and it will cross both the “control” as well as the “Test” bands.

Now apply the principle here

Since the women is not pregnant her urine will not have hCG

At the Control area which is already impregnates with hCG +anti hCG a color band will appear because of the water from the urine but at the test area which is having only anti hCG no color will appear

so What happens at Control Band is?

hCG +anti hCG +water (from urine) = color.

This is basically to ensure that the pregnancy test kit is working.

and What happens at Test Band is?

Anti hCG + water (from urine) = no color

Since the woman is not pregnant her urine will not have hCG. There will be only one pink colored band appearing at the control area and the test band will not be colored.

Let us assume that the woman is pregnant and her urine will have hCG now.

Applying the principle

At Control Band

hCG (already impregnated) + hCG (from urine) + anti hCG + water (from urine) = color

At Test Band

hCG (from urine) + anti hCG + water (from urine) = color

Now two colored bands can be seen at both Control and Test areas.

This means the test is positive. Congrats you are pregnant and it's time for you to consult a Doctor.

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Pregnancy and Bleeding

There are many different reasons that a woman may have vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Some women can continue to have light periods or spotting during pregnancy, especially during the first few months. A pregnancy test would probably help to ease your mind. A visit to your practitioner may also be in order, either for early pregnancy care or to find out the reasons for your symptoms. Here is a comprehensive list of the many possible causes.

Early Pregnancy and Implantation Bleeding

Are you experiencing first trimester bleeding? It's estimated that 25% of all women have bleeding in early pregnancy. One possible cause of this bleeding is implantation bleeding.

What is Implantation Bleeding?

Implantation bleeding is lighter than menstrual bleeding, and consists of pink or brown colored blood. Implantation bleeding occurs when the trophoblast, or tissue that surrounds the egg, attaches to the endometrium and slowly eats its way into the lining. As it does so, it eats through the mother's blood vessels, forming blood lakes within itself. When these blood lakes form near the surface of the trophoblast, they often cause implantation bleeding.

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Remember, the difference between period and implantation bleeding is the amount; implantation bleeding is considerably lighter than menstrual bleeding. Menses and implantation bleeding should be different enough so that you can tell. Here are some frequently asked questions about spotting:

When does implantation bleeding occur?

Usually 5-12 days after ovulation, so just around the time that you would be getting your period. Bleeding during ovulation is something different.

What does implantation bleeding look like?

Implantation bleeding signs are a light pink or brown colored spotting.

How long does implantation bleeding last?

The duration varies for each woman.

Miscarriage

Bleeding while pregnant doesn't mean that miscarriage is certain, but it can occur. About half of the women who bleed do not have miscarriages. Miscarriage can occur at any time during the first half of pregnancy. Most occur during the first 12 weeks. Miscarriage occurs in about 15 to 20 percent of pregnancies. If you think you have passed fetal tissue, take it to the doctor's office so it can be examined.

Most miscarriages cannot be prevented. They are often the body's way of dealing with a pregnancy that was not normal. There is no proof that exercise or sex causes miscarriage.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Another problem that may cause pain and bleeding in early pregnancy is ectopic pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs in a fallopian tube, it may burst. Ectopic pregnancies are much less common than miscarriages. They occur in about one in 60 pregnancies.

Molar Pregnancy

A rare cause of early bleeding is molar pregnancy. It is also called gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) or simply a "mole." It is the growth of abnormal tissue instead of an embryo.

Late Pregnancy

The causes of bleeding in the second half of pregnancy differ from those in early pregnancy. Common conditions that cause minor bleeding include an inflamed cervix or growths on the cervix.

Placental Abruption

The placenta may detach from the uterine wall before or during labor. This may cause vaginal bleeding. Only 1 percent of pregnant women have experienceplacental abruption. It usually occurs during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. Stomach pain often occurs, even if there is no obvious bleeding.

Placenta Previa

When the placenta lies low in the uterus, it may partly or completely cover the cervix. This is called placenta previa. It may cause vaginal bleeding. Placenta previa is serious and requires prompt care.

Labor

Late in pregnancy, vaginal bleeding may be a sign of labor. A plug that covers the opening of the uterus during pregnancy is passed just before or at the start of labor. A small amount of mucus and blood is passed from the cervix. This is called "bloody show." It is common. It is not a problem if it happens within a few weeks of your due date.

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Preconception Tips

Preconception Prep for Moms

Ready to board that cute little pas senger on the mother ship? Here are some preconception steps you can take to make sure that ship is in shape.

Get a preconception checkup.

You don't have to choose a prenatal practi­tioner yet but it would be a good idea to see your regular gynecolo­gist for a thorough physical examination. An exam will pick up any medical problems that need to be corrected beforehand or that will need to be mon­itored during pregnancy. Plus, your doctor will be able to steer you away from medications that are to be avoided in pregnancy (or preconception), make sure your immunizations are up to date, and talk to you about your weight, your diet, your drinking and other lifestyle habits, and similar preconception issues.

Start looking for a prenatal practi­tioner.

It's easier to start looking for an obstetrician or midwife now, when the pregnancy meter's not already running, than when that first prenatal checkup is hanging over your head. If you're going to stick with your regular ob-gyn, then you've got a head start. Otherwise, ask around, scout around, and take your time in picking the practitioner who's right for you. Then schedule an inter­view and a pre-pregnancy examination.

Smile for the dentist.

A visit to the den­tist before you get pregnant is almost as important as a visit to the doctor. That's because your future pregnancy can affect your mouth—and your mouth can possibly affect your future preg­nancy. Pregnancy hormones can actu­ally aggravate gum and tooth problems, making a mess of a mouth that's not well taken care of to begin with. What's more, research shows that gum disease may be associated with some pregnancy complications. So before you get busy making a baby, get busy getting your mouth into shape. Be sure, too, to have any necessary work, including X-rays, fillings, and dental surgery, completed now so that it won't have to be done during pregnancy.

Check your family tree.

Get the health history on both sides of the family tree (yours and your spouse's). It's especially important to find out if there's a history of any medical issues and genetic or chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, or fragile X syndrome.

Take a look at your pregnancy history.

If you've had a previous pregnancy with any complications or one that ended with a premature delivery or late pregnancy loss, or if you've had multiple mis­carriages, talk to your practitioner about any measures that can be taken to head off a repeat.

Seek genetic screening, if necessary.

Also ask your practitioner about being tested for any genetic disease com­mon to your ethnic background: cystic fibrosis if either of you is Caucasian; Tay-Sachs disease if either of you is of Jewish-European (Ashkenazi), French Canadian, or Louisiana Cajun descent; sickle cell trait if you are of African descent; one of the thalassemias if you are of Greek, Italian, Southeast Asian, or Filipino origin.

Previous obstetrical difficulties (such as two or more miscarriages, a stillbirth, a long period of infertility, or a child with a birth defect) or being married to a cousin or other blood relative are also reasons to seek genetic counseling.