Homemade Pregnancy Test With Shampoo

If you’ve been planning a baby, the moment you miss your periods, you are eager and would want to know whether you are pregnant. At such a time, running to the nearest store to grab the pregnancy kit may seem like a time-consuming task, and you would want an alternative way of confirming your pregnancy. Before pregnancy kits came into existence, women often carried out homemade DIY pregnancy tests. In this article, we shall talk about one of those homemade pregnancy tests, the shampoo pregnancy test. Read on to learn more about this unconventional method and its purported indicators of pregnancy. Additionally, we’ll discuss the reliability of such tests and compare them to more traditional options.

What Is the Shampoo Pregnancy Test?

The shampoo pregnancy test is a DIY homemade pregnancy test carried out using some shampoo and your urine sample. The test is believed to confirm pregnancy at home, although its accuracy is debatable. The shampoo is said to react a certain way with the pregnancy hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is released by women after they conceive.

Is It Safe to Use?

Utilizing shampoo for pregnancy tests is deemed safe when adhering to the provided instructions diligently. Nevertheless, for any apprehensions regarding pregnancy status, it is advisable to seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Using a shampoo pregnancy test is not a reliable or scientifically validated method for confirming pregnancy. Unlike commercially available pregnancy tests, which detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine, the shampoo test relies on a chemical reaction that may not accurately indicate pregnancy.

It’s crucial to note that relying on unconventional methods can lead to inaccurate results, causing unnecessary stress or overlooking a genuine pregnancy. For accurate results, it is recommended to use commercially available and medically approved pregnancy tests.

How to Carry Out the Shampoo Pregnancy Test at Home?

As with any test, it all starts with the collection of a few things before you get on with the test. Here’s what you need

Things You Need

• Sample of the first urine of the day
• Two sterilized containers
• A clean stirrer
• Shampoo

Method

1. In a bowl, take a sample of the first urine of the day.
2. Take another bowl and put some water in it.
3. Put a few drops of shampoo in the bowl with the water and mix together to form a nice soapy solution.
4. Add to it a small amount of the urine that you have collected.
5. Check the mixture for changes or reactions.

Pros and Cons of Using a Pregnancy Test with Shampoo

The following are the pros and cons of taking a pregnancy test using shampoo.

Pros of Using a Shampoo Pregnancy Test

• Accessibility: Shampoo is readily available at home, making it a convenient option for those without immediate access to a store.
• Cost: It’s a cost-effective method as it doesn’t require purchasing a commercial pregnancy test kit.
• Privacy: Conducting a test at home with shampoo provides privacy, especially for those who may be uncomfortable buying a pregnancy test.

Cons of Using a Shampoo Pregnancy Test

• Unreliable Results: Shampoo pregnancy tests are not scientifically validated and can yield inaccurate results, leading to confusion and anxiety.
• Lack of Sensitivity: Commercial tests are designed to detect low levels of hCG, ensuring early pregnancy detection. Shampoo tests may not be as sensitive.
• No Standardization: There is no standardized procedure for a shampoo pregnancy test, making it subjective and prone to user error.
• False Positives/Negatives: The test may produce false positives or negatives, increasing the risk of misinformation about pregnancy status.
• Delay in Seeking Professional Help: Relying on unverified methods could lead to delayed confirmation of pregnancy or appropriate medical care.

How to Interpret the Test Result?

As with the other DIY homemade pregnancy tests, the shampoo pregnancy test could also show a slight reaction on adding the urine. If the mixture starts frothing or foaming on the surface, it could mean you are pregnant. However, if the mixture remains unchanged and there isn’t any reaction at all, then you may not be pregnant.

Things to Remember When Carrying Out the Test

This test may require some preparation. It’s best to drink a good amount of water the night preceding the test so that the first urine of the day is in good quantity. Following the instructions exactly the way they are is important too. Any needless shaking or stirring of the mixture could cause a false reaction to take place. And sometimes a negative result could be a false negative as well. Use your judgement and knowledge of your own body as a marker, and the results of this homemade pregnancy test as purely a preliminary call for further action.

Does the Shampoo Pregnancy Test Work?

The test may not always work because the chemical composition in each shampoo varies. Also, the test result may show a slight, hardly noticeable change, which may or may not imply you are pregnant. Therefore, whether you do a homemade pregnancy test or not, if you are planning a baby and have missed a period, you must check with your medical practitioner and get a proper urine and blood test done to confirm your pregnancy. In case, you have amenorrhea and the test result shows negative, consult your gynaecologist.

How Accurate Is the Pregnancy Test With Shampoo?

This homemade pregnancy test may not take a lot of time to show results, but it has no scientific basis and is most likely to be inaccurate. Also, homemade tests do not have a standardized nature since the results can vary based on the cleanliness of the bowl, the time of urine, the quantity of urine, the type of shampoo used, the constituents present in it, dilution, and so on. Therefore, the result that one gets out of tests like these is generally a trial run of sorts, which could be hit or miss with equal probability.

Most pregnancy kits function to sense the presence of the HCG hormone in the urine, which is a key indicator of pregnancy. The HCG hormone needs to be present in good quantities in the urine for any test to detect it successfully. The morning urine is apt for such situations. So, if the urine contains a decent quantity of the hormone, it could have some reaction with the shampoo, but it doesn’t guarantee an accurate result. 

However, on a general note, these tests can be good as preliminary ones and, based on the reaction and your personal knowledge, you may choose to opt for a test at a hospital following this.

Alternatives to Pregnancy Test With Shampoo

For accurate and reliable pregnancy testing, it’s recommended to use established and medically approved methods. Here are some alternatives to the shampoo test for pregnancy:

1. Commercial Pregnancy Test Kits

These are widely available, user-friendly, and designed for accurate results, making them a popular choice for confirming pregnancy at home.

2. Digital Pregnancy Tests

Offering clear digital results, these tests eliminate interpretation errors, providing a straightforward indication of pregnancy status.

3. Blood Test (Serum hCG Test)

Conducted at a healthcare facility, a blood test is highly accurate and can detect pregnancy earlier than urine tests, but it requires a professional setting.

4. Urine Test at a Healthcare Facility

Similar to home tests but conducted under professional supervision, ensuring accuracy and reliability with results.

5. Online Pregnancy Tests

Convenient for those uncomfortable with in-person purchases, but results may not be as accurate or reliable as traditional tests.

6. Consultation With a Healthcare Professional

The most reliable option, involves personalized advice and confirmation by a medical expert, although it may require scheduling an appointment.

Homemade pregnancy tests come in multiple shades and forms, with shampoo being one of the many ones out there. If you wish to find out for yourself without anybody’s knowledge and keep things absolutely discreet, such tests are a good way to do so. Homemade tests are a quick and economical option before proceeding further with other tests. But even if the test shows positive, consult a gynaecologist who will conduct medical tests and tell you the accurate result.

References/Resources:

1. Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853

2. Am I Pregnant?; Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant

3. Pregnancy Tests; Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/9703-pregnancy-tests

4. Gnoth. C, Johnson. S; Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments; National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4119102/; July 2014

5. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Test; University of Michigan Health; https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw42062; February 2022

6. Signs of Pregnancy/The Pregnancy Test; Stanford Medicine; https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=signs-of-pregnancythe-pregnancy-test-85-P01236

7. Complete blood count (CBC); Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complete-blood-count/about/pac-20384919

8. Pregnancy Test Instructions; UNC School of Medicine; https://www.med.unc.edu/timetoconceive/study-participant-resources/pregnancy-test-instructions/

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