Do you want to have a child and find out if you are pregnant? In this article, we explain how pregnancy tests work, which hormone plays a key role in a positive result, and how to use the Ovy Pregnancy Test.

What is the pregnancy hormone hCG?

When human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is detected in urine during a pregnancy test, it is an indicator of pregnancy. This hormone is responsible for maintaining pregnancy. It is produced as early as one week after fertilization, during the implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine lining. Initially, hCG is produced by the fertilized egg and later by the placenta.

The pregnancy hormone hCG increases the release of estrogen and progesterone, preventing menstruation. This, in turn, helps maintain the uterine lining. Like progesterone and estrogen, hCG does not act only in the uterus but throughout the body, which explains common pregnancy symptoms such as nausea or breast tenderness.

The concentration of hCG doubles approximately every two days and rises to its maximum level during the first trimester. Around 10 to 12 weeks, after reaching its peak, hCG levels decline slightly and then remain at a plateau until the end of pregnancy. A low hCG concentration of less than 25 IU/L can indicate an early pregnancy. More about this measurement unit later in the article.

When should I take a pregnancy test?

About 14 days after fertilization, a rapid test can give a reliable result with more than 95% accuracy. You can therefore test from the first day of your expected period — with the Ovy Pregnancy Test even up to five days before your period is due. In a regular cycle, your period usually occurs about fourteen days after ovulation, or on day 28 of the cycle. The Ovy app reminds you at the end of your cycle when your next period should start. You can log the start of your last period and the day of unprotected intercourse in the Ovy app, which also allows later calculation of your due date.

By the way: If you log a positive pregnancy test in the Ovy app, the pregnancy mode starts automatically, showing you, among other things, your current pregnancy week.

How do I take a pregnancy test?

For a pregnancy test, use your first morning urine. Most tests can be read five minutes after use. A line in a window, a stripe on the test strip, or even the words “pregnant” / “not pregnant” provide the result.

If your test is positive, you should have it confirmed by a doctor as soon as possible. Your gynecologist will perform an ultrasound or a blood test. A doctor can sometimes confirm pregnancy even before a missed period, about six to nine days after fertilization.

What types of tests are there?

Home pregnancy test:

This test uses a urine strip that reacts to the pregnancy hormone hCG, which can be detected early in pregnancy. The Ovy Pregnancy Test is a rapid at-home test that can be used up to five days before your period.

Blood test:

A blood test performed by a doctor can reliably confirm pregnancy as early as six to nine days after fertilization. Even if you have already taken a positive home test, you should confirm the result with a blood test at your gynecologist’s office. During confirmation, the due date is also calculated.

Ultrasound:

Performed by a doctor after a missed period, usually around the sixth to seventh week of pregnancy, and very reliable. In the first ultrasound, only the gestational sac may be visible, but the doctor can confirm that it has implanted in the uterus.

The Ovy Pregnancy Test

The Ovy Pregnancy Test can be used up to 5 days before your period is due. Use the Ovy app to calculate the right timing. The test delivers a 99.9% reliable result within five minutes, comparable to a doctor’s rapid test.

How to use the Ovy Pregnancy Test:

1. If you do not test directly in the urine stream, collect a sample in a clean, dry container.

2. Use your first morning urine, which contains the highest hCG concentration.

3. Hold the strip with arrows pointing down and dip vertically into the urine for at least 10 seconds. Do not touch the test except at the marked side.

4. Place the strip on a clean, dry, non-absorbent surface.

5. After five minutes, read the result.

To determine your result, compare the color intensity of the test line (T) with that of the control line (C). The appearance of a control line (C) shows the test worked correctly.


Positive result

Two colored lines appear, one at the test line (T) and one at the control line (C). Strong positives may be visible after 10 seconds, weaker positives after up to 10 minutes. A positive result does not change after the test is complete.

Consult your gynecologist after a positive result to confirm pregnancy. If the test line is very faint, repeat the test after at least 48 hours. If both lines appear but the test line (T) is lighter than the control line (C), this can still be interpreted as a positive result.

Negative result

Only the control line (C) appears. To confirm a negative result, you should wait the full 10 minutes.

A negative test result means that you are probably not pregnant or that the level of the pregnancy hormone hCG is not yet high enough. The concentration of hCG increases as pregnancy progresses. If you test in the days before your expected period and receive a negative result, there is still the possibility that you are pregnant but tested too early.

If pregnancy is suspected, the test should be repeated at least 48 hours after the first test with a fresh urine sample. If the test result is still negative and your period has not started, you should consult your gynecologist to clarify the situation. Please also note that your predicted cycle length or the expected start of your period may shift by a few days.

Invalid result

If no line or only a test line (T) appears after 10 minutes, the result is invalid and you should repeat with a new test strip.

In what unit is hCG measured?

The Ovy Pregnancy Test detects the pregnancy hormone hCG in urine starting at a concentration of 10 mIU/ml. IU stands for International Units, a standardized measurement. mIU/ml means milli-IU per milliliter.

Where can I buy a pregnancy test?

Pregnancy tests are available over the counter without a prescription. The Ovy Pregnancy Test is available in our online shop. Each pack contains 2 single test strips.

You might also be interested in these articles