Home pregnancy tests can now say how pregnant you are

Most home pregnancy tests answer just one question: Are you pregnant or not? But now there’s a way to get a little more info—and you still don’t have to do anything besides pee on a stick. On September 1, a new home pregnancy test hits the market—and it tells you both whether you’re pregnant and about how far along you are.

Sold in Europe since 2008 and recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the U.S., the Clearblue Advanced Pregnancy Test With Weeks Estimator ($19.15 for a three-count) provides a crystal-clear digital readout that’s 99 percent accurate in determining whether you’ve got a bun in the oven (so long as you take it on the first day of your missed period or any time after that). What’s more, the test is 93 percent accurate in determining the number of weeks you’ve been pregnant (1-2 weeks, 2-3 weeks, or 3-plus weeks)—and you can get your results within three minutes.

So how does the new Clearblue pregnancy test work? Like all home pregnancy tests, it contains a testing strip that detects the presence or absence of the pregnancy hormone Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in your urine. (If hCG is there, you’re expecting.) But the new test one-ups other options: It also contains a second strip that measures the amount of hCG in your urine—a sign of how pregnant you are. There is a catch, though: If you’re carrying twins, your hormone levels will throw off the week estimator. (The basic pregnancy test should still be spot on, though.)

Getting a sense for how far along you are is helpful since most doctors estimate your due date based off of the date of your last period, which you might not know off-hand (and if your period is irregular, your doctor’s estimate might not even be accurate).

Of course, you’ll still want to schedule an appointment with your OBGYN for more info once you get your results, says Rebecca Brightman, M.D., a board-certified OBGYN based in New York, who is affiliated with the brand. After all, a doctor’s visit is still the only way to monitor the baby’s health and find out exactly which lifestyle changes your particular pregnancy requires.

Women’s Health Mag