new study on HPT"S

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2003
new study on HPT"S
7
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 11:35am
I just read a study on HPT's on the MEdline database at school that found that 10% of pregnancies had not implanted by the day of the missed period and that HPT's could not be 99% accurate b/c of this, they could only be 90% accurate. Another study found that HPT's were inaccurate in ectopic pregnancie i 60% percent of the time....

They are suggesting not to use HPT's until the day of the missed period or later regardless of what the manufacturer advertises in order to prevent false positives...

What do you guys think?

s.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-03-2003
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 11:44am
I think that is EXCELLENT advice. Not only testing early can give you false positives but SO many pregnancies are lost and flushed with regular AF anyway (without women even knowing they were)! Why go threw the emotional and financial strain of having to deal with a BFP, followed by a BFN (because you are bound to test AGAIN regardless) and then only to have AF show up! Let nature take it's course. In all the books I read, they recommend waiting at least 5 days after AF is due (and these are written by doctors, NOT HPT companies!). In some women, implemantation ONLY occurs around the time or on the day AF is due, it then takes 2 to 5 days for HCG to be strong enough for test. Knowing that this is a scientific fact, why test early?

I was VERY hopeful this cycle and told myself I would NOT test until at least 4 to 5 days late of AF being due. I did not want to be sitting on edge of bathtub crying my eyes out as last cycle. This time I waited (know it is so difficult) and although I had hope, also told myself AF might show up. She did. I am sad but now am simply looking forward to next cycle and SO glad I did not test early. :)

Patricia

TTC #1

C3 CD1

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 11:46am
I know I had a false positive just yesterday morning with FRE at 8dpo! So, I totally agree with that. Even my OB told me not to waste my money, to come in for the beta blood test b/c it is the only wayt o be accurate. Those tests can give many false positives and negatives. However, notice how I used one at 8dpo?? I just cannot go without know! LOL! So, I use them with a grain of salt, so to speak. It gives me an idea, but not a confirmation until I get that blood test. Thanks for the info!!

Kellie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2002
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 11:53am

I understand what you ladies are saying but the reason so much of us test so early is because there's been lots of ladies that Test early and get BFP that are real, So in our brain we know it possible to get early results.


There's been

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2003
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 12:00pm
Not me, I will test if I have good, not made up symptoms. I have a short lp anyways so even if I wait for af to be late it is still early for me so what the heck. I dont usually get good symptoms, this last cycle was the first I tested after TTC for 4 months so Im a good girl most of the time but I would want to know If I were having a chemical Pgs or not, because than I would at least know that dh is ok and that i can get Pg than I would just need to work on getiing my little guppy to attatch. I thought maybe the short lps of 10 days were keeping me from concieving but I may not even be getting Pg to begin w/. Well just my thoughts. Good luck everyone on waiting to test!!!!! Lets see if I can conjer up some patiant vibes ###### there that will work.

Angela

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2003
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 12:09pm
I would have to read the article to form an opinion...what journal(s) and issue did the database say the study was published in?

I'm wondering if the women in the study were charting their BBT so that they knew when they 'o'd and when AF was really due before taking the HPTs? Even women with fairly regular cycles who weren't charting their cycles would likely test at the wrong time (according to the HPT instructions) because they wouldn't know exactly how many DPO they were.

I know HPTs aren't without errors and problems, but since I'm charting I feel pretty comfortable testing earlier than my AF is due (while keeping in mind it's not a 100% definite thing). I just personally want to know. Heck, if they invented a home test that you could take at 2DPO I'd probably buy it. I'm a weirdo!

-Wendy, ttc#2, c2, 9dpo

-Wendy

Baby Julian born June 15th!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 12:14pm
Hi Ladies...

This is a little off the topic, but wanted to give you my two cents on this..

I just want to warn about internet HPT's... I ordered a bunch of hpt's from testsforless.com, and although I got my first bfp at 12dpo from it, they have since given me bfn's... and they are supposed to read only 20hcg... It kinda freaked me out, so I went to the store yesterday and got FRE(50hcg), Clear Blue Easy(50hcg), and Rite Aid Brand(100hcg)... all three gave me a BFP with mid day urine... and again this morning with FMU... however, the internet one gave me the faintest of positives this morning... Anyway, I don't think they can really be trusted...

I'm having a blood test this morning at the doc...

Cathy

http://circles2.fertilityfriend.com/home/2946d



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Lilypie Baby Birthday
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 10-07-2003 - 2:18pm
I have to agree with Wendy on this one. Of course, there is a remote possibility that implantation is occuring after the 8-12 dpo window for a few women. However, I suspect the real problem is these women do not know when they actually o'd. I'm guessing several O later than usual, think that they are late and get a BFN.

About when women should test, I don't think anyone should test before 12 dpo. And I don't think you should test early unless you are using a test that could possibly give you a + based on your estimated hormone level. I posted this to someone the other day, and I'm sure most of you have seen these numbers (assuming they are accurate webwomb.com):

10 DPO: 10 - 50 mIU/ml HcG

13 DPO: 20 - 100 mIU/ml HcG

16 DPO: 40 - 200 mIU/ml HcG

19 DPO: 80 - 400 mIU/ml HcG

22 DPO: 160 - 800 mIU/ml HcG

When I thought I had conceived my first (which I had), I tested on 14 dpo with a 25 mIU test. Based on the numbers, it was very likely that I would test positive at that point with that sensitivity of a test if I was pregnant. I used a CVS stick test. I did not get a BFP within the first 5 minutes, but I got a faint line within the 20 minutes before you have to throw the test out. I tested at 16 dpo with the same brand test, I got the faint line within the 5 minute wait. To make DH happy, I tested with a different brand test like ClearBlueEasy (I don't remember which one now)at 18 or 20 dpo. I already knew I was pregnant at 16 dpo because my longest LP had been 13 days and was typically 11.

I think there is the rare women who tests + at 8 dpo or whatever, but I think they have either missed O date or they are in the extreme minority that either implanted early or have major surges of HCG. If you want to test early, fine. But don't set yourself up to see a BFN when it is extrememly unlikely you could get a + because you aren't far enough along or your test isn't sensitive enough.

Chanda