How to Take a GOOD visible pic of your HPT

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Usually around the time of your missed period, you can take a HPT (Home Pregnancy Test) and get a reliable result. Some also opt to test early! Around 6-12dpo (Days Past Ovulation) implantation can occur, and a few days after that the HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) can metabolize enough in your Urine stream to then be detected on a HPT. If you’re actively TTC (Trying To Conceive) it can be a pretty exciting time, and you may want to get others opinions on whether or not they see a second Line, once you’ve tested. Many of us are a part of support groups and it’s fun to post pictures. The problem lies when the picture isn’t the best quality, and sometimes it can make it a bit difficult to interpret the results if you’re an outsider looking in. So I decided to make a little tutorial on how to take GOOD pics of your lovely pee sticks!

It’s always good for starters, to take a pic in good lighting! Most of us nowadays have good cell phones with camera’s – that even have a flash!

But – is it always best to use the flash? Simple answer, NO. If you’re using a midstream test that has a splash guard on it, (the clear plastic piece over the results window) the flash will more often than not reflect back and you won’t be able to see the results. Your best option is to turn the flash off. Sometimes though, that can cause another problem. Blurry pics! Here’s a pic that was taken with the flash on. Although it’s not Blurry, you still cannot see the results.

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Here’s a few examples of Blurry pics that will be very hard to interpret unless you have an unmistakable, very vivid, dark Test Line! Please try to refrain from posting these.

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There’s a very simple remedy for that issue! Maybe on your groups forums or posts you’ve noticed objects on or around their Tests and You’ve wondered why? Well – objects make the camera focus! Especially when you turn the flash off. It’s best to put a test in great lighting and an object next to it or even on it. Most with smart phones can even tap the screen to also help focus things. Here’s a few taken the right way! PLEASE (if you opt to post anything) only post pics that are good and visible otherwise it’ll defeat the purpose if you’re trying to get a second opinion.

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Now, I’m going to proceed to show you some other, “Picture Don’ts.” Here we have the ever so popular angled Tests. Unfortunately even in the best of lighting, it’s still very hard to see a second Line this way. Your best bet is to take the pic directly above the Tests!

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Love tweaking? What exactly is tweaking? Well, most of use different apps or graphics programs on our phones nowadays or even on our computers that can put different filters, enhance contrast, saturation, etc. On any pic of a HPT. The idea is to either pull some color on a line that is considered questionable, or to make a line a little more visible. Tweaking is great! The problem lies with over tweaking. And you can do that by using several different methods to try and enhance a test pic. Most don’t even realize though that when you over-tweak, you’re making it even harder to interpret. It can cause way too much pixilization with way too many colors, so if there was a chance to spot a line – there definitely won’t be afterwards. PLEASE, it’s better just to post the original and let the others do the tweaking!

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And of course the invert! If you are going to tweak, I would highly recommend to refrain from doing that. Inverts will make most ANY Line visible including (Indent Lines) and of course the dreadful (Evaporation Lines).

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If you look close enough at the inverted pic up above, you’ll see a Line. Looks promising, doesn’t it? Not so much. That’s an indent. So Yeah.

Even if you can’t test during the day when you’ll have the best lighting available – you can still make your pictures visible. Making sure the camera will focus correctly, and aiming directly right above the test is key!

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SUMMARY OF OUR WONDERFUL TUTORIAL HERE:

– Make sure you have good lighting! (Window seals are perfect for this type of thing)
– Make sure you turn your flash off
– Make sure you have an object on or near the test (to help the camera focus)
– Make sure you Take a pic directly up above the test, and as close to the results window as possible!

IN THE END (Regardless if it’s positive or Negative results) YOU WANT YOUR TEST PICS TO LOOK LIKE THIS!

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Nice, clean, bright and clearly visible! I hope this has helped you and we send Baby Dust to everyone in their TTC journey!

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The BEST Deals on Ovulation Tests and Pregnancy Tests

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If you’re actively TTC (Trying To Conceive) and especially for those of you who are (Charting) your fertility, (Basal Body Temperature, Cervical Mucus, Cervical Position and of course by also using Ovulation Predictor Kits in conjunction with those other primary fertility indicators) – You’re more than likely also wanting to test on or around the time of your expected period! And granted, if you’re an early tester it can get costly. HPT’s (Home Pregnancy Tests) come in all different forms such as Test Strips, Cassette Tests, Midstreams and even Digitals. Most of us are on a budget and I’ve made it my mission to find some of the absolute BEST DEALS that can make it way more affordable to Pee-On-That-Stick!

* PRODUCTS CAN BE PURCHASED OFF OF EBAY & AMAZON *

10miu HCG Test Strips:

Quantity: 30 Test Strips $6.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 20 Test Strips (with Free Collection Cups) $6.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 10 Test Strips $1.75 + Free Shipping

15miu HCG Test Strips:

Quantity: 50 Test Strips $6.99 + Free Shipping

25miu HCG Test Strips:

Quantity: 100 Test Strips $10.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 20 Test Strips $1.82 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 10 Test Strips $1.09 + $0.49 Shipping

Quantity: 10 Test Strips $0.99 + $0.59 Shipping

Quantity: 12 Test Strips $2.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 20 Test Strips $2.29 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 10/20/30 Test Strips $3.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 25 Test Strips $3.49 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 50 Test Strips $6.99 + Free Shipping

Midstream HCG Tests:

Quantity: 20 Midstream Tests (25miu) $11.80 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 5/10 Midstream Tests (25miu) $2.49 + Free Shipping

Cassette HCG Tests:

Quantity: 20 Cassette Tests (10miu) $7.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 50 Cassette Tests (25miu) $13.33 + $2.39 Shipping

Ovulation Test Strips:

Quantity: 100 MicroMall Test Strips (20miu) $15.90 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 40 Test Strips (25miu) $7.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 50 ClinicalGuard Test Strips (25miu) $9.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 10 Test Strips (25miu) $0.99 + $0.39 Shipping

Quantity: 10 LH Test Strips (15miu) $2.00 + Free Shipping

Combo Deals:

Quantity: 100 Blue Cross One Step LH / 20 HCG Test Strips (25miu) $20.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 50 LH / 20 HCG GetMore Test Strips (25miu) $8.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 60 LH / 30 HCG Test Strips (25miu) $13.69 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 50 LH / 20 HCG Strips $9.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 30 LH / 10 HCG Strips $5.99 + Free Shipping

Name Brand Pregnancy Tests:

Quantity: 3 First Response Early Results Midstream Tests (25miu but can detect 6.5miu) $12.95 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 8 Clearblue Digital Midstream Tests $21.50 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 9 E.P.T Midstream Tests (40miu) $25.00 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 6 E.P.T Midstream Tests (40miu) $7.50 + $2.50 Shipping

Quantity: 3 E.P.T Digital Tests (40miu) $7.49 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 6 Clearblue Plus Midstream Tests (25miu) $24.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 2 CVS Brand Digital Midstream Tests $9.99 + Free Shipping

Quantity: 3 CVS Brand Early Result Midstream Tests $4.99 + $1.93 Shipping

Quantity: 2 Answer Midstream Tests $7.77 + Free Shipping

DISCLAIMER: These may be limited time offers only! Prices and Shipping Fees are subject to change.

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(Evaporation Lines) Home Pregnancy Tests

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I’m sure by now if you’ve started your TTC (Trying To Conceive) journey, you’ve started charting your BBT (Basal Body Temperature), CM (Cervical Mucus), and possibly even your CP (Cervical Position). Some even opt to Take OPK’s (Ovulation Predictor Kits) in conjunction, to verify whether or not you’re in your Fertile Window! Once Ovulation has taken place, you can usually get a reliable result on a HPT (Home Pregnancy Test) when you’ve missed a period. But what does a true positive result look like? It’s highly recommended to read that result within the strict 10 minute window. If a line appears past that time frame, (regardless of color) it’s usually considered an evaporation line, (a line that appears once the urine has dried where a positive line would have appeared had HCG been detected!) which should be discarded. What does an evaporation line look like? I decided to put together a Gallery of actual, “Evaporation Line,” tests, that display both Pink Dye and Blue Dyes, manufactured by different brands!

 

Do you have a Test you would like to submit? Email, Tweet, Post or DM them to us!

*PLEASE INCLUDE whether it’s a Positive, Negative, or Evap Line!

*ALSO – If you have submitted a Test and you notice it’s in the wrong category, PLEASE let us know so we can put it in the right category as soon as possible! Thanks

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Home Pregnancy Test Sensitivities

Pregnancy TEST Sensitivities

Image: www.americanpregnancy.org Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

 

At the end of every cycle, (one of two things can happen) either the dreaded AF (Aunt Flo) rears her ugly head or you find you’ve missed your Period!

Some of us Chart our cycles every month by taking our BBT (Basal Body Temperature) using a special kind of Thermometer called a, “Basal Body Thermometer.” They are a bit more sensitive, and can record even the slightest body fluctuations. The next thing would be our CM (Cervical Mucus) which goes through different phases throughout the course of our cycle, as well as our CP (Cervical Position).

During the first Part of our cycle, Estrogen is responsible for gearing our bodies up for Ovulation. Once that happens you’ll notice your CM and CP getting less fertile and Progesterone (which is a heat inducing Hormone) keeps our Temperatures higher and elevated until AF shows up. Progesterone is responsible for the second half of our cycle known as the (Luteal Phase). If your Temperatures remain elevated past your ETD (Estimated Testing Day) or the day you’re expecting your Period – chances are you may be Pregnant! Estrogen is responsible for the first Part of our cycle, (Follicular Phase) so it just makes sense that our Temperature will drop within a day or two of AF.

There are all kinds of different Test Sensitivities, and you’ll find it rather easy deciding which one is right for you depending on how far along you may be in your possible Pregnancy. Usually the first day of your missed Period you can expect a reliable result, although some opt to start testing as Early as 8dpo (Days Past Ovulation). A good rule of thumb is if you KNOW you’re testing Early, you may want to rely on a HIGHLY SENSITIVE TEST that’s at least 25 mlU/ml and if you’re far enough along than usually a 40 or 50 mIU/ml should be sufficient.

Here is a List I’ve put together by Name Brand and Sensitivity!

Tests UNDER 25 mIU/ml:

– First Response Digital Gold 18mIU/ml
– First Response Early Result (Quantative Test that will pick up ANY amount of HCG per the manufacturer)

20 mIU/ml Tests:
– AimStep
– Aim Midstream 
– AimStick OTC PBO
– AimStick OTC/Accu Dip
At Home Pregnancy Test
– D Best One Step
Early Pregnancy Test
Save On Tests
– Simplicity
Tests For Less

25 mIU/ml Tests:
– AccuHome
– Answer
– Answer Quick & Simple
– Clearblue Easy (Digital) 35-50 mIU/ml
– Clearblue Easy Earliest Result
– Confirm 1-Step
– CVS Brand (Midstream)
– E.P.T. ( + or – ) Result Window
– Equate ( l l ) 2 line Result Window
– Equate ( + or – ) Result Window
– Fact Plus (Cassette)
– Fact Plus 1-Step (Cassette)

– First Signal One-Step Pregnancy Test (cassette)
– Health Check
– Health Mark
– Insta Test
– Iverness ( + or – ) Result Window
– Life Sign One Step (Midstream)
– New Choice (Dollar Tree Brand – Cassette)
– Smart Strip HCG (Fertilinet)
– Walgreens Brand (Digital)
– Puralin One Step Pregnancy Test
– One Step Be Sure Pregnancy Test

40 mIU/ml Tests:
– E.P.T ( l l ) 2 Line Result Window
– E.P.T ( + or – ) Result Window
– E.P.T Certainty

50 mIU/ml Tests:
– Clearblue Easy
– CVS Brand (Cassette)
– Early Pregnancy Test
– Iverness II
– Dollar Store Tests
– Target Brand
– Rite Aide Brand
– Drug Emporium Brand

100 mIU/ml Tests:
– Fact Plus Pro (Cassette)
– Walgreens Brand (Midstream)

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Can the TEMPERATURE of URINE effect the result of a OPK?

As I was doing a Video Experiment yesterday, it occurred to me that there may be a possibility that the actual Temperature of Urine itself, could possibly effect the outcome of a OPK! As I was looking at the Tests (with the naked eye vs camera) they both yielded positive results BUT the T (Test) Line wasn’t as dark as it normally is on the Test used with CONCENTRATED Urine. I would have expected that with the Test used with DILUTED Urine. Of course going through my emails I actually came across one that had sparked my same interest and theory about THE TEMPERATURE OF URINE! Could that have had en effect on the result?

(Part 1)

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(Part 2)

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Can the CONCENTRATION of Urine effect the opacity of a Test Line on a OPK?!

I’ve had a few inquiries (Yes my fellow TTC’ers please keep the experiment ideas coming!) about whether or not the actual CONCENTRATION of urine, can effect the lightness or darkness of a Test Line? So, (seeing as how I’m not currently Pregnant) I thought, WHY NOT TEST WITH AN OPK? (Ovulation Predictor Kit) – For some odd reason during my last cycle I had an extremely higher level of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and had tested positive the night before!

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Blue Dye vs Pink Dye OPK

How long Do You Have to hold a HPT or OPK in urine?

So we you’re about to take a HPT (Home Pregnancy Test) or even a OPK (Ovulation Predictor Kit) – usually when you’re reading the instructions that come in the box, there’s a reccomended length of time they specify holding the Dip stick in the urine stream (or same difference if it’s a Midstream Test)! Honestly, I never really gave it much thought. Sometimes whenever I’m making these awesome, fun Videos for you guys, I can get a bit distracted, (say if one of my kiddos starts knocking on the door for example Ha Ha) and it may not be until I actually go back and watch the video that I catch something I hadn’t noticed during filming! When I first got the Equate Brand OPK I tested one with PM urine and being as it was a dreadful Blue Dye Test, I was a bit confused by the results! So maybe 15 mins later I dipped another one (in the SAME urine sample) and held it a few seconds longer. Guess what? The T (Test) line was darker than the C (Control) line! Whereas with the Test before, the 2 Lines were the SAME! Soooooooooo I concluded from that experience that it DOES matter how long you actually hold a Dip stick in the urine and (of course) how CONCENTRATED the urine sample is! I highly recommend holding the dip stick a minimal of 5-10 seconds! Anything less, may yield a much lighter result. Now keep in mind (whether it be a OPK or a HPT) a positive result is a positive result as long as the Tests are taken properly and read within the correct time frame. If you have a High enough concentration of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) a HPT will yield a POSITIVE result, much like a OPK will if you have a high enough concentration of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) BUT – the Line opacity can differ! So, I will be conducting more Tests like this in the near future. But for now, I’m using the Blue Dye Tests and I hope you find this helpful! 

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The Difference Between CONCENTRATED Urine and DILUTED Urine

New Choice OPK vs Equate OPK