Soap Pregnancy Test – How to Do It and Does it Work?
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Sabiha Anjum
(Gynecologist/Obstetrician)
This health content has been medically reviewed by qualified experts and follows the FirstCry Parenting editorial policy to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Pregnancy test with soap is an age-old home remedy that has been passed down through generations as a simple way to check for pregnancy using ordinary household soap. Many people still try this traditional method because it is inexpensive, easy to perform, and requires readily available ingredients. While it continues to spark curiosity, it is not medically recommended for confirming pregnancy due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting its accuracy. In this article, you’ll learn how the soap pregnancy test is performed, how its results are commonly interpreted, whether it has any scientific basis, the factors that may affect its outcome, and the reliable medical tests recommended for accurate pregnancy confirmation.
What Is a Homemade Pregnancy Test With Soap?
A soapy water pregnancy test involves mixing the soapy water with your urine to test whether you might be pregnant. You can easily make soapy water at home, so this is a simple test, and you can do it as many times as you want. Remember, this test is not medically verified, and the results are often skewed.
To find out if you are pregnant or not, use reliable pregnancy kits or go to your gynaecologist for a checkup.
How Accurate Are Soap-Based Homemade Pregnancy Tests?
Although popular beliefs, the pregnancy test at home with soap is not a reliable method of pregnancy detection. A soap can turn frothy anyway if things are added to it, and it can even likely give the same result if a non-pregnant woman tries it. For the best and most accurate results, it is always advised to use reliable pregnancy kits (do check their expiry dates before purchasing) or get a blood or urine test or ultrasound at healthcare facilities (1).
What Will You Require for a Soap Pregnancy Test?
- 1 small piece of soap
- Water
- 2 tablespoons of your morning urine sample
- A plastic cup
How to Perform a Soap Pregnancy Test?
Performing the test itself is extremely easy. Take a piece of soap and mix it with water till foam appears and you get a bubbly solution. Collect your morning urine, as it has high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), also known as pregnancy hormones (1). Add the urine to the soap solution. Make sure to add more urine than soap, the soap water to urine ratio should be 1:3 to ensure best results. You will have to wait for 5-10 minutes before checking the result, so keep the mixture untouched.
How to Evaluate the Results for a Homemade Pregnancy Test With Soap?
After leaving the mixture untouched for about ten minutes, you can check the results of the soap pregnancy test for positive or negative (2).
Positive Results
In the home pregnancy test with soap, results can be noticed easily. If you are pregnant, the solution will most likely start to bubble up and also change colour to a greenish-blue colour.
Negative Results
If there is no change in the solution after 10 minutes, it means that you are not pregnant.
When to Consult the Doctor?
If you happen to have engaged in unprotected sex or missed your period, it’s best to look out for early pregnancy symptoms by getting a diagnosis from a gynaecologist. The pregnancy symptoms you may experience include morning sickness, bloating, constipation, cramps, missed periods, fatigue, and tenderness in the breasts (3).
FAQs
1. Can I reuse the same soap pregnancy test one more time?
The homemade pregnancy test using soap lacks accuracy and reliability. Additionally, the soap mixture cannot be reused because urine is already present in it. It is best to get a reliable pregnancy test or get the test done by a healthcare provider.
2. How do I throw the soap pregnancy test mixture?
If it is a liquid soap, you can flush the mixture down the toilet. However, if it is a soap bar, it is advised not to flush it as it can block the drain. Instead, wrap it in a paper or plastic wrap (like you do for sanitary pads) and throw it in the trash.
3. What can affect the results of a soap pregnancy test?
Factors such as the type of soap, urine concentration, water content, and natural chemical reactions can influence the results, making the test unreliable.
Since there is no scientific research backing the validity of these homemade pregnancy tests, it is best not to rely on their results entirely. You can try this soap pregnancy test at home for fun, but to know whether you are really pregnant or not, use reliable pregnancy kits or visit a clinic to get a blood test that will give you accurate results.
Also Read:
Torch Test Pregnancy Test
False Positive Pregnancy Test
How to Test for Pregnancy with Salt
Homemade Pregnancy Test with Shampoo
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