Any woman who's trying to conceive and suspects she might be pregnant wouldn't want to settle for anything less than supremely accurate test results. Being able to get that in the convenience of your own home is a modern luxury, but not every home pregnancy test is made equal!
Here, the at-home pregnancy tests moms swear by and rely on to deliver the big news …
What was your at-home testing experience like?
Image via fredjala/Flickr
1. Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test
The Clearblue Easy Digital Test ($31 for 5, Diapers.com) is beloved for its high-tech format and the fact that it actually tells you "not pregnant" or "pregnant" in words — as opposed to a hard-to-read line. It can be taken as early as four days before your expected period, but note that it’s only 51 percent accurate at that time. Accuracy increases as you get closer to a missed period — one day before, it’s 95 percent accurate, and on the day of, it's 99 percent accurate.
What moms really liked:
"I felt tech-savvy, so I used Clearblue, and when it said 'pregnant,' I was so excited. That word was so much more awesome to see then a boring old line."
"I cried tears of joy both times I saw 'pregnant'!"
What they didn't:
"I did have false positives on a Clearblue test. Seeing pregnant when you aren't is very cruel."
2. Wondfo Pregnancy Test Strip
Pretty much the opposite of digital tests like Clearblue, Wondfo strips ($19 for 50 strips, Amazon.com) are basic and really cheap, coming in at about 25 cents a pop. You urinate in a cup, then dip the stick into the urine. One line appears if you're not pregnant, two if you are. The strips can detect pregnancy one day after a missed period, according to the manufacturer, but some women report a much earlier read.
What moms liked:
"I got a positive about four days before my period was due with one, and the day after my period was due with the next pregnancy. Perfectly accurate!"
What they didn't:
"I was excited by how inexpensive these tests are compared to the usual drug store brands, but when I finally got pregnant, these didn't tell me!"
3. First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test
Moms love how the First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test (2 for $16, Target.com) digital readout delivers a "yes" or "no" response, and some women feel that of all tests, this one's the most sensitive. The official stats, according to First Response: The test is 58 percent accurate if taken four days before your expected period and 94 percent accurate if taken one day before.
What moms liked:
"I was three weeks pregnant and no missed period, and First Response came out accurate all eight times I took it!"
"Super-accurate! I was able to get a positive urine test before the blood test at the doctor even caught it!"
What they didn't:
"Pricey!"
4. New Choice Pregnancy Tests
New Choice, also referred to as the "Dollar Tree test," because that's where it's sold, is also just $1 per test, which makes it an affordable, popular pick. The manufacturer claims the tests have over 99 percent accuracy (although they don't specify on what day) and reveal results in one to three minutes. To use the test, you collect your urine in a cup and use a dropper to add several drops of urine to a specific area of the test. Two lines appear if you’re pregnant, and only one shows up if you’re not.
What moms like:
"I got a very faint line five days before my expected period!"
What they don't:
"Barely there line when other tests have a much easier to read result."
"It can take longer than three minutes for the positive line to appear."
5. Clearblue Advanced Pregnancy Test With Weeks Estimator
Clearblue boasts that their Advanced Pregnancy Test With Weeks Estimator ($12 for 2 tests, Walmart.com) is like two tests in one, because it gives you the positive or negative result in written words on a digital screen and estimates the amount of weeks along you are. Clearblue also claims the pregnancy test provides results up to five days sooner than other tests. According to the manufacturer, Clearblue Advanced is 99 percent accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day of a woman’s expected period.
What moms like:
"The product said I was 2-3 weeks pregnant, which my doctor also affirmed the following day!"
"Love new technology and that it tells you how far along you are. Worth the price!"
What they don't:
"It doesn't seem to be as sensitive as some other tests, so I think this is better left for a short time after your first missed period in order to be the most accurate."
The Best Home Pregnancy Tests
