A person might try a homemade pregnancy test if they cannot afford a test, do not want others to know about the testing, or are unable to wait to purchase a test.
The home pregnancy test measures human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that the body releases in early pregnancy.
Proponents of homemade pregnancy tests believe that they also test for hCG. However, few homemade tests are supported by scientific evidence.
The most reliable way to confirm pregnancy is to purchase a test or visit a doctor.
The homemade testing methods below have been mentioned in various online forums and are often based on folk remedies. There is not enough research to confirm that the following methods are effective.
Wheat and barley test
The wheat and barley test, developed in ancient Egypt, involves watering wheat or barley seeds with urine every day for 10 days. If the seeds sprout, the test is positive. If they do not, the test is negative.
Authors of a 2023 article note that the gonadotropins in the urine activated the processes of plant germination. However, this is not a reliable test.
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Sugar test
Many natural living and alternative health blogs, but no medical authorities or research, recommend the sugar test.
It involves mixing equal parts of sugar and urine. After letting the mixture sit for a few minutes, the person is supposedly not pregnant if the sugar dissolves. If it forms clumps, the person is supposedly pregnant.
No scientific evidence supports this method of testing.
Salt test
The salt test is an alternative to the sugar test, and the steps are the same: A person mixes equal parts of urine and salt. If the salt clumps, the result is positive. If it does not, the result is negative.
No research supports the use of this test, either.
Baking soda
The idea here is that hCG in urine reacts with baking soda, causing fizzing or crackling.
To try this, a person can add urine to a roughly equal amount of baking soda. If the baking soda does nothing after a few minutes, the person is not pregnant. If it fizzes, crackles, or bubbles, the person is supposedly pregnant.
As with most other homemade pregnancy tests, there is no scientific evidence of this test’s effectiveness.
Shampoo
Advocates of the shampoo test believe that hCG causes shampoo to foam or bubble. To try it, mix equal parts of urine and shampoo into a clean bowl. Do not shake the mixture, as this can cause frothing.
If the shampoo does not react, the person is supposedly not pregnant. If it bubbles or froths, the person is supposedly pregnant.
There is also no evidence to support the use of this test.
Toothpaste
The toothpaste pregnancy test involves combining a few drops or urine on white toothpaste and stirring it together. The theory is that a person is supposedly pregnant if foaming occurs or the color changes.
There is little to suggest this test if effective.
Bleach
The bleach pregnancy test involves combining equal parts bleach and urine. Advocates of this test suggest that a person is pregnant if the bleach becomes foamy.
However, there is no evidence to support this method and it can be dangerous. The ammonia in urine combined with bleach can release chlorine gas into the air.
Healthcare professionals and researchers have not explored the effectiveness of most homemade pregnancy tests.
While some people on message boards and blogs say that these tests work, there is no scientific support for their claims.
A homemade pregnancy test may give the same result as a reliable test by coincidence. Getting the same result from both methods does not show that the DIY test was accurate.
The only reliable home pregnancy test is a commercial test that detects hCG.
However, fertility monitoring and awareness methods may help a person identify pregnancy early on.
These methods are more reliable than most homemade pregnancy tests but cannot conclusively confirm pregnancy. They also usually require several weeks or even months of monitoring.
Basal body temperature
A person’s basal body temperature is their temperature when they are fully at rest.
Immediately after ovulation, progesterone levels slightly heat the body, causing the basal body temperature to rise and remains that way until the end of the menstrual cycle. Before or right after a period starts, progesterone levels drop, which causes the temperature to fall.
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Detecting ovulation
A missed period can indicate pregnancy, but only if a person can confirm that they have ovulated.
The menstrual cycle naturally varies in length from month to month, so a period thought to be missing may just be late. If a person knows that she has ovulated, their period should arrive about 10 to 16 days later.
Ovulation predictor kits can often detect ovulation, but they can give false-positive readings.
Confirming ovulation reliably often involves a combination of factors: elevated basal body temperature, fertile cervical fluid, and a positive ovulation test result.
If a person has taken a home pregnancy test that has confirmed a positive result, they should book an appointment with a healthcare professional. A healthcare professional can help a person navigate the next steps, whether they wish to end the pregnancy or continue it.
A person who cannot access a home pregnancy test should consider seeking medical care. If doing so is impossible, it may be a good idea to act as if the pregnancy is confirmed by avoiding smoking and alcohol and taking prenatal vitamins.
If privacy is a concern, for people in the United States, it is worth noting that providers of medical care, not just pregnancy testing, must honor privacy laws in most cases. This means that healthcare professionals cannot share health information with, for example, a person’s parents or spouse without their consent.
Free or less inexpensive testing is often available if the cost of prenatal care or pregnancy testing is a concern. In the U.S., anyone who needs a pregnancy test could:
- Visit a local chapter of Planned Parenthood, which offers a range of free or low cost services.
- Contact the county board of health about testing.
- Schedule a well-woman exam, if a person has insurance. In most cases, insurance companies must cover the full cost, including that of a pregnancy test.
- During a regular checkup, ask to speak with the doctor alone.
Homemade pregnancy tests are not reliable, even if they provide the same results as commercial tests.
Though waiting can be frustrating, making an appointment with a healthcare professional is the best option for anyone who cannot access a commercial home pregnancy test.