I'm writing again after a break. Look out for some serious churning!
I'm writing again after a break. Look out for some serious churning!
Member since:08.09.2000
Reviews:102
Members who trust:56
Let me start by telling you I've never been pregnant. Now you are wondering what qualifies me to write this op? Well I've been trying to get pregnant a few months, so in that time I've used the odd pregnancy test. Oh OK, I'll be honest, I've used a LOT of tests, five minutes late and I'm testing. Now the test I choose is the ClearBlue.
~~~~ The Kit ~~~~ When you buy a test you get a wrapped up testing "stick" and some instructions. You can buy twin packs which work out cheaper than single ones. Believe me you will want to test twice if you are positive (so I'm told). If the test is negative you have one left over for next time. Given that the single tests are around £8 with the twin packs at around £12 it's not hard to work out which are value for money.
~~~~ Testing ~~~~ Pregnancy tests work by detecting the amount of the hormone "human Chorionic Gonadotrophin" otherwise known as "hGC, the pregnancy hormone". With the Clearblue and many other tests this can be detected from as early as the day your period is due. You also can test at any time of the day, you don't need to do it early morning. You would not believe the amount of women who have told me they first found out they were pregnant in the loo at our local Tescos! See they buy the tests (and get clubcard points) then they can't wait till they get home so they nip in the loo to take the test.
To take the Clearblue test you need to hold the absorbent sampler (little stick like bit) under your urine stream for 5 seconds. If you find this hard to do (hey women were not built to pee on sticks – men were) you can collect a sample of urine in a container and immerse the sampler for 20 seconds. This is one of the things I like about the Clearblue test, they give the instructions for using a container most of the other tests I have tried don't give this.
~~~~ Results ~~~~ With the Clearblue test the results are ready to read in just one minute. Again this is an advantage over many other tests where you need to wait 3 or 4 minutes for the result, believe me those minutes can seem like hours. Once you have performed the test you put the lid over the sampler stick and hold it pointing downwards. There are two windows in the plastic stick a square one and a round one. The round window is a check to make sure you have done the test properly, within your minute a clear blue line will appear in this window. If there is no line in the round window you probably didn't immerse the test properly and should test again. The square window tells you if you are pregnant, if you are a blue line appears, no blue line and you are not pregnant. The line in the square window might appear and be very faint, if so you are still pregnant but don't yet have much of the hormone in your body. Use the second test in a few days and the line will be clearer.
~~~~ Accuracy ~~~~ I've always found these tests to be accurate. Every month they tell me I'm not pregnant and they are right. That’s not what you really want to know though is it. Well I'm an active member of a Baby Forum where there are a lot of pregnant women and women trying to conceive. Everyone on the forum recommends this test and many of them have confirmed their pregnancies with it. Some have only had a faint blue line on the first test but are definitely pregnant. Some fertility drugs may affect the test but if your doctor is administering these they will tell you about any adverse affects they may have on pregnancy tests.
~~~~ The Bottom Line ~~~~ Well I find these tests to be reassuring in a perverse way. Testing when you are five minutes late is not really recommended but when you are trying as hard as us you go mad thinking your period is late. Some of us are just too damn impatient and love to waste money. The tests are alarmingly accurate so worth the investment.
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Hi there, I tried for a baby for over three years and was always six-seven weeks late and kept thinking that this was it ! Eventually it was, after having hormone treatment - low progesterone levels. I always used to get my local chemist to test mine. They offered a testing service at £3 at time which was a lot cheaper ! When my first son was 2 months old I get pregnant with my second son and was amazed since I thought that I would need more treatment. A little bit of patience goes a long way - good luck !!
wulise 28.03.2001 14:15
Hi there, I know what it is like. I have been trying on and off for the past six years. I have been pregnant but have always miscarried (too many times now to remember). I wish you all the luck in the world. My mother took nine yers to fall for me so there is still time. Great opinion. Louise
janehammill 27.03.2001 22:24
superb op kathryn,I wish you all the luck in the world ,one of my dearest friens has just produced twins after 12 years of trying and another had a baby without intervention after 3 ivf attempts! good luck and enjoy the trying! cheers jane
Pack of two digital pregnancy tests: No test is more accurate - 99% accurate from the day ... more
your period is due Most accurate reading in early pregnancy - brand used by UK doctors Unmistakeably clear digital result - Gives 2 unique results: pregnant/not p...
Postage & Packaging: £2.47 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Pack of two digital pregnancy tests: No test is more accurate - 99% accurate from the day ... more
your period is due Most accurate reading in early pregnancy - brand used by UK doctors Unmistakeably clear digital result - Gives 2 unique results: pregnant/not p...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: A very easy and quick test, no waiting about for results (well, 1 minute!), Available in any chemist or supermarket Disadvantages: Expensive for something you can get done at the doctors for free!
Mar 27th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
