New article in Women's Health journal emphasizes the importance of early pregnancy detection

Dec 9 2009

A new article published in the peer-reviewed journal Women's Health emphasizes the importance of early pregnancy detection. Using research conducted on behalf of Church & Dwight Co. Inc., the makers of First Response, the article reviews data that shows not all at-home pregnancy tests are created equal -First Response® brand pregnancy tests are more sensitive and able to detect key variants of the pregnancy hormone better than other at home pregnancy tests.

"The first days of pregnancy set the stage for healthy fetal development and a safe, healthy experience for mom," said Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., study author and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. "By choosing a highly sensitive pregnancy test like First Response, a woman can confirm she is pregnant very early and begin to make healthy choices for herself and her fetus."

All at-home pregnancy tests work by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the primary pregnancy hormone; however, levels of sensitivity vary by test. In early pregnancy, hCG is found in a woman's urine in very small amounts, and home pregnancy tests vary in their ability to detect low levels of the hormone. In addition, there are other forms of hCG that are present in the urine during early pregnancy, and home pregnancy tests also differ in their sensitivity to these variants. Minkin's article concludes that there are clear benefits to detecting hCG variants, including a more sensitive result.

The sensitivity of First Response tests is further reinforced by a study recently published in the journal Clinica Chimica Acta. This study showed that First Response® was able to detect the lowest concentration of hCG in early pregnancy urine compared with other over-the-counter brands. First Response also consistently detected the variants hCGn, hCGβ, and hCGβn.

Why Early Pregnancy Detection is Important
Knowing early pregnancy status will help a woman begin prenatal precautions including:
•Seeking prenatal care: Babies whose mothers don't receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than babies whose mothers receive prenatal care.
•Changing her diet and nutrition: Pregnant women should make sure they're getting enough folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin D, and cutting out saccharin, caffeine, unpasteurized dairy, deli foods, raw eggs, herbal teas, and some types of seafood.
•Avoiding potential hazards: Pregnant women should avoid smoking, alcohol, certain medications and herbal remedies, narcotics, exposure to cat feces (which can cause toxoplasmosis), and certain chemicals.