Are you pregnant?

If you’re worried about being pregnant, but unable to see a gynaecologist, try a urine pregnancy test. These are available at most chemists. The kit is not expensive and is available for less than Rs 100. The test can be done at home, however, seeking a doctor’s help before the test is advisable.

The urine of the lady needs to be placed on the space provided in the strip. Morning sample is preferable, but it is not a rule. The test can immediately be interpreted by looking at the insert provided with the kit. The kit should be discarded after single use.

It detects the presence of certain hormones in the urine. This hormone is usually absent in non-pregnant women. The test remains positive till the lady is pregnant. Later on, a false positive indicative may persist. Few instances of false negative like in autoimmune diseases following infections too are reported.

Mail your queries to Dr Kavan Lakdawala at lakdawalakavan@gmail.com