Vinegar Pregnancy Test: How to Perform, Pros & Cons

Pregnancy can be a hard time to get through, but for couples trying to conceive, the time of conception can be harder. The waiting game during conception can feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. But once the pregnancy test confirms the good news, the puzzle pieces start falling into place, revealing the beautiful picture of parenthood. The journey to parenthood is an adventure with many twists and turns. However, the excitement and anticipation of starting a family make the ride worth it. Raising a child is one of the most fulfilling activities humans can do, so, understandably, parents would be anxious to find out if they are expecting.  This article will discuss the pregnancy test with vinegar, wherein clear vinegar is used as a pregnancy indicator.

What Is Homemade Pregnancy Test With Vinegar?

Some women hesitate to go to a medical shop to buy a pregnancy kit, or for some reason, their visit to the doctor to confirm their pregnancy might be delayed. In that case, they can give homemade pregnancy tests a try. There are several homemade pregnancy tests – the sugar test, the vinegar test, the bleach test, etc. This article will discuss the vinegar test wherein clear vinegar is used as a pregnancy indicator. During pregnancy, a woman’s urine has high levels of HCG, which is the main factor contributing to the success of this test. When clear vinegar mixes with the urine of a pregnant woman, it changes colour due to the reaction between HCG and vinegar. Thus, it can be a handy indicator to gauge if you are pregnant.

Why Should You Take This Test?

A vinegar pregnancy test has some advantages over buying a kit for the purpose of checking. In our country, women might hesitate to buy a pregnancy kit from the medical store. On top of that, most reliable pregnancy kits are expensive. The vinegar pregnancy test is practically free to carry out, and you can also repeat it as many times as you want discreetly. If a woman has been sexually active (even with contraception) and her period is late, she should consider getting a pregnancy test. A home pregnancy test is a good place to start, even though there may be other reasons for their period taking longer than usual. 

What Types of Vinegar Should You Use?

In most stores, two types of vinegar are available – white vinegar and apple cider vinegar. The only indicator in a vinegar pregnancy test is the colour change; therefore, only clear/ white vinegar is used for this test. White vinegar is available in most general stores and is extremely affordable too. Thus, this pregnancy test is also pocket-friendly.

Different Types of Vinegar Pregnancy Tests

There are two types of vinegar pregnancy tests, which are said to be quite effective. They are:

1. Traditional Vinegar Test

In the traditional vinegar test, only plain vinegar is used to check if it is a positive pregnancy. When mixed with the urine, the vinegar changes colour only if you are pregnant.

2. Tuna Oil Vinegar Test

When a urine sample is mixed with vinegar and tuna oil, the colour of the solution changes for both negative and positive results. If the colour changes to yellow or orange, it is negative; however, if the mixture has a greenish hue, it denotes a positive pregnancy.

How Does the Vinegar Test Work?

HCG is a hormone that is one of many hormones that a pregnant woman produces. This hormone reacts with vinegar, an acid; the solution changes colour after a few minutes. HCG levels are the highest in the morning urine, so the tests done first thing in the morning have been proven to be the most accurate.

Things You Need for Carrying Out a Pregnancy Test With Vinegar

Conducting a vinegar pregnancy test is quite simple; the items required are most likely already present in most homes. All you need is two sterilised cups/ containers, some clear/ white distilled vinegar, and a morning urine sample. Ensure the containers are completely clean and sterile. Note that small amounts of foreign bacteria can result in a false positive.

How to Do the Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

1. Collect a sample of your early morning/ first urine in a sterilised container.
2. Then, pour some clear vinegar into the second container.
3. Mix your urine in the vinegar.
4. Stir the mixture, and keep it aside for a few minutes.
5. Now, wait around 5 minutes to see if any colour changes occur. If the mixture changes colour, you are almost sure to be pregnant. If the mixture does not change colour, you are most likely not pregnant.

How to Read the Vinegar Test Results?

In the case of traditional vinegar pregnancy tests, a colour change usually means that you are pregnant. If the colour does not change even after 5 minutes of settling down, it indicates that you are not pregnant.

Things That Could Affect Test Results

Vinegar pregnancy tests are an age-old method of determining whether a woman is pregnant. However, the accuracy of these tests can be influenced by various factors. Here are 3-4 things that could affect vinegar pregnancy test results:

1. Timing: Timing is crucial for vinegar pregnancy tests. These tests are typically done after a woman has missed her period. If the test is done too early, it may not be accurate and can lead to a false negative result.
2. Dilution: Vinegar pregnancy tests require a specific amount of urine and vinegar to be mixed in a cup. If the urine is too diluted or concentrated, it can affect the accuracy of the test. Adding too much vinegar can dilute the urine and give an inaccurate result.
3. Storage: The storage conditions of the vinegar used in the test can also affect the results. If the vinegar is not stored properly, it can lose its acidity, which is necessary for the test to work. As a result, it can lead to a false negative or a false positive result.
4. Incomplete Reaction: Vinegar test for pregnancy relies on the reaction between vinegar and hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone produced during pregnancy. If the reaction is not completed properly, it can lead to an inaccurate result. This could happen if the mixture is not stirred properly or the vinegar and urine are not mixed in the right ratio.

Pros and Cons of Traditional Vinegar Pregnancy Test

Here are some pros and cons of the Vinegar Pregnancy Test, which could help you determine if the test is right for you.

Pros

1. The cost of the test is close to nothing.
2. You can repeat the test multiple times.
3. Your pregnancy can remain confidential.
4. None of the substances used are harmful

Cons

1. Determining whether the urine-to-vinegar ratio is right the first time can be difficult.
2. Very early pregnancy tests cannot be conducted as the HCG levels are not detectable until a week after the missed period or one to two weeks after intercourse.
3. The colour change might not be as evident and clear.
4. The presence of bacteria or dirt could affect the test outcome.

In the section below, we shall talk about what you need to perform the tuna oil and vinegar pregnancy test, how to perform it, how to read the results, and also the pros and cons of the test.

Things You Need for the Tuna Oil and Vinegar Pregnancy Test

The requirements for a tuna oil and vinegar pregnancy test are more or less similar to the conventional test, except for adding tuna oil. You need fresh white vinegar, tuna oil, two sterilised bowls, measuring cups, a sample of the morning urine, a clean stirrer, and a cloth to keep the surroundings clean.

How to Perform the Tuna Oil and Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

1. The first step is to collect a sample of the morning urine.
2. Using a small cup, pour a quarter volume each of tuna oil and vinegar into a bigger, transparent cup or bowl. You may use disposable cups for this.
3. Wash the small cup, take another same-sized cup, and measure 1/2 the urine sample volume.
4. Add the tuna oil and vinegar mix to the bigger cup/ bowl.
5. Stir well and observe the colour changes that occur within the bowl.

How to Read the Test Results of the Tuna Oil and Vinegar Pregnancy Test?

In the case of the tuna oil and traditional vinegar pregnancy test, the main difference is that the colour of the solution changes for both positive and negative results. If the solution becomes an orangish-yellow colour, you are not pregnant. If the colour has a greenish hue, the result is positive, and you are pregnant.

Pros and Cons of the Tuna Oil and Vinegar Pregnancy Test

Below are a few aspects of the test which can help you decide if you want to go ahead with this test.

Pros

1. It is an upgrade to the conventional vinegar oil pregnancy test.
2. The colour of the solution changes for both results, positive and negative.

Cons

1. Obtaining a preferred amount of tuna oil for the test could be difficult.
2. The addition of an ingredient increases the cost.

Is the Vinegar Pregnancy Test Reliable?

The vinegar pregnancy test accuracy has often been questioned as women under medication can show false results. This is because of the hormonal imbalance in the body, which is triggered even by antibiotics. Sometimes, the mixture does not change in colour sufficiently enough to be noticed at a glance; close observation might be required. Any home-based pregnancy test, for that matter, is bound to be inaccurate for several reasons, as mentioned above.

What Should You Do After Taking the Pregnancy Test With Vinegar?

An important thing to note is that the white vinegar pregnancy test is only a preliminary, homemade test. You must get tested in a hospital and get a doctor’s appointment.

The vinegar pregnancy test can be conducted from the comfort of your home to check if your pregnancy status is positive or negative. It is important to note that an apple cider vinegar pregnancy test can be hard to read, as the apple cider’s colour is dark. However, the vinegar pregnancy test colour can give you an idea of whether you are pregnant with virtually no time delay or expenditure.

References/Resources:

1. HCG in urine; Medlineplus; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003619.htm

2. Pregnancy Tests At Home: Types And Accuracy; manipalhospital; https://www.manipalhospitals.com/blog/pregnancy-tests-at-home-types-and-accuracy; April 2023

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

4. hCG levels; Pregnancybirth&baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/hcg-levels

Also Read: 

Home Pregnancy Tests
DIY Pregnancy Tests
When and How to Take Pregnancy Tests