Does Dollar General Sell Pregnancy Tests? – How Accurate Are Dollar Store Tests?
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As someone who struggled with infertility for many years, I feel like I’m a bit of an expert on cheap pregnancy tests.
I would go through six or seven a week, which starts to add up over time. If you think you might be pregnant, head to Dollar General.
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How Accurate Are Dollar General Pregnancy Tests?
Home pregnancy tests sold over-the-counter in the United States are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Even if they’re cheap, they should function as the packaging states. Make sure to follow the directions on the pregnancy test. Also, note how soon the test says it can be used.
Can Pregnancy Tests Be Trusted?
The FDA clears all pregnancy tests before they can be shelved. It doesn’t matter where you get them; if they are legally available in the United States, they have passed approval.
This doesn’t mean it’s not possible to get a false negative. In most instances, a false negative occurs because you didn’t correctly follow the directions.
If you test too soon, you may not have enough HCG (pregnancy hormone) in your urine stream to be detected yet.
Other reasons for a false negative might be using too little urine, not waiting the full time to look at the test, or getting a bad test. It does happen.
If you think you might be pregnant, but you have a negative test, wait a day or two and test again.
Can You Get a False Positive?
It’s rare, but false positives do happen. It doesn’t matter if your pregnancy test is expensive with a digital readout or a cheap one from Dollar General.
Some people tend to test positive on pregnancy tests. Ovarian cysts, common in PCOS, can cause false positives. Certain medications and recent miscarriages might cause a false positive as well.
Some pregnancy tests tend to develop evaporation lines. On most tests, you will see one line that tells you the test is working (the control line) and a second line that means you are pregnant.
If you wait too long to look at the test, a very faint second line might appear. This is why it’s important to follow directions precisely.
How to Save Money on Pregnancy Tests
I underwent fertility treatments for three years. During that time, I used every pregnancy test. I bought the expensive ones, the cheap ones, and even the super cheap ones.
The pricey lesson I learned that I’m sharing with you for free is that the difference between the more expensive tests is not worth the cost.
They are sometimes faster. Some of them test for pregnancy sooner. Unless you need to know right this minute, it’s okay to wait a few more days to test. If it’s positive, you will need that extra money for diapers.
Dollar General (or most dollar stores) is a good resource for cheap pregnancy tests.
What About Imported Pregnancy Tests?
Buying imported pregnancy tests in bulk from China is a bad idea. I went down that road too.
It would have been a lot less expensive to buy 30 pregnancy tests at once if any of them would have worked.
Without FDA approval, you can never know. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
How to Properly Use a Pregnancy Test
Follow the instructions on your pregnancy test. Don’t think that you can skip over some of the steps. With that in mind, I will offer you some tips on making the process smoother.
Use a Cup
Most pregnancy tests offer you the option of placing the test in the stream of urine for a specific amount of time or dipping it in a cup.
The mess and annoyance of trying to pee directly on the stick is easy to avoid.
Pee in the small plastic cup, dip the test in for whatever amount of time your directions tell you, replace the cap, set the test down on a flat surface, and wait the allotted amount of time.
Test in the Morning
The highest concentration of HCG will be in first morning urine. Don’t risk using diluted urine for your test. Buy the test, wait until morning, and then find out if you are pregnant or not.
Set a Timer
The pregnancy test instructions will tell you exactly how long it takes to see the positive. With both of my kids, the positive result showed up almost immediately.
Sometimes, especially early in a pregnancy, it might take the full amount of time. Wait until then to take a look. Don’t wait any longer, or you will risk mistaking an evaporation line for a positive test.
What to Do Next After a Pregnancy Test
If you have gotten a positive pregnancy test, you should call your physician for an immediate follow-up.
Take another test in your doctor’s office to be certain. I have had a false positive. Therefore I know how important it is to have a professional make sure.
If you have gotten a negative, but you think you’re pregnant, wait a few days and test again. It can be hard waiting, but it’s important to have a detectable amount of HCG.
If you’re getting a negative reading and you still think you’re pregnant, call your primary care physician’s office.
Key Takeaways
Buying your pregnancy tests at Dollar General is fine. Any test approved by the FDA will tell you whether or not you’re pregnant.
Do you have any pregnancy test stories? We’d love to hear them! Share them in the comments.
Have You Read These?
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