How to Avoid Spending A Lot of Money on Pregnancy Tests
For some women the road to motherhood means many months, or even years, of trying to conceive. With the advent of pregnancy tests that promise early results, many women find themselves testing and retesting before even missing a period. This process can often mean several trips to the drugstore to purchase home pregnancy tests ranging in price from $6 to $10. Even when buying a two- or three-pack, these tests can add up to big bucks. Since getting that prized positive result often takes time, there are several ways to save money on home pregnancy tests.
Instructions
Understand that there are several pregnancy tests on the market that sell for as little as 50 cents per test if bought in bulk. Granted, these tests do not come in fancy packaging or feature a sturdy plastic casing like most drugstore brands. Rather, they are small, simple strips similar to those used in the doctor's office. Although they are the bare bones of home pregnancy tests, they work just as well as pricier counterparts and are often even more sensitive. These tests can be purchased online at sites such as Early Pregnancy Tests and Baby Hopes. Check local dollar stores. Stores like Dollar General and Dollar Tree often sell home pregnancy tests at a fraction of the cost of popular name brands. For those women that prefer the familiar brand name tests, keep in mind that wholesale stores such as Costco often sell bulk packs of home pregnancy tests at a lower price. Don't fall prey to continuous testing and retesting throughout the day. Testing is usually most accurate with the first morning urine. Testing several more times after receiving a negative result is often a waste of costly tests. If you suspect you are pregnant, wait a day or two and then retest. Don't test too early. Although it is very tempting to test just a few days past ovulation, usually women have to wait at least 10 days past ovulation to get an accurate result. Pinpointing the day of ovulation is a good way to decide how soon to take a pregnancy test. Testing too early after ovulation only results in false negatives and wasted tests. Wait until you miss your period before testing. Although home pregnancy tests have evolved over the years and are often times sensitive enough to detect low levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone produced during pregnancy, the easiest way to ensure an accurate result is to wait until you miss your period before testing.
