Home Pregnancy Tests 101

How it works: Clearblue Easy employs a midstream stick design with an absorbent tip. The absorbent test tip is placed in the urine stream for at least five seconds in order to achieve the test results. (Tip: Make sure to keep the tip dry before you take the test and to hold the tip downward during the test.)

You can also buy digital versions of Clearblue Easy which take the guessing out of how to read the pregnancy lines—the test will tell you specifically if you are "pregnant" or "not pregnant." Plus, after you buy one test, be sure to keep the test holder to use again and again (you can purchase the test strips separately and save money).

When to take it: You can take the Clearblue Easy tests as early as four days before your expected period.

Result time: Test results appear in one to three minutes, depending on which test you use.

Medical Interactions: Medications that contain the pregnancy hormone can affect the test. Rare medical conditions may also affect the test. Alcohol and birth control pills should not affect your test results.

Detects 50 miu of hCG; Clearblue Easy tests available in the UK detect 25 miu of hCG.