Getting Answers Fast With IVF
For many couples, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a lifeline that makes conceiving and growing a family possible. The process is complex and also comes with a host of emotions, especially during the two-week wait. However, just as with natural conception, the waiting game is one part of the process that’s hard to manage. For women and couples undergoing IVF, one of the biggest questions is how soon a positive pregnancy test can be detected. Additionally, many individuals are left wondering if an at-home pregnancy test is effective. A common question is whether early pregnancy detection tests are a reliable option for IVF participants.
Early pregnancy tests explained
As the name implies, an early pregnancy test (EPT) looks for initial hormonal changes, which can indicate that a woman is pregnant. Specifically, these tests screen for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that's directly linked with the implantation step when a fertilized egg becomes embedded in the uterine lining. Most commonly, a urine sample is the preferred method for at-home testing, with users dipping either a test strip or stick into the specimen.
At-home vs. in-office tests
While urine tests are the conventional option for at-home results, healthcare providers will favor blood tests. This is especially true in the early weeks after conception is suspected. Urine tests are convenient but are not as accurate as blood tests performed in a medical facility. In particular, urine tests are considered qualitative compared to blood tests, which are quantitative. A qualitative pregnancy test simply determines if sufficient hCG is present, whereas a quantitative determines hormone levels.
Are EPTs good for IVF?
Sometimes, IVF participants are cautioned against using at-home EPTs because the diagnostic tools can yield false positives. Keep in mind that most people who undergo IVF must also take fertility medications to boost the number of eggs released by the ovaries. Sometimes, those medications can contain synthetic hCG, which can be detected in the urine. Likewise, other fertility medications might contain human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) hormone to boost ovulation. Both of these hormones can create false-positive results when taking an at-home EPT.
The best solution for IVF testing
Ultimately, IVF participants can still use at-home pregnancy tests. However, most medical professionals will encourage waiting until after the first missed period when using an EPT. More importantly, if a positive result appears, people are encouraged to still get a blood test for confirmation. With IVF, post-embryonic transfer blood tests are part of the standard process and can accurately pinpoint hormone levels to differentiate between conception and elevated hormones from fertility medications. For more information on how urine versus blood tests differ, consider speaking with a fertility specialist.
