From simple observations of body changes to physically feeling the belly and even home tests, women have always had a variety of ways of testing for pregnancies since time immemorial.
One of the popular traditional pregnancy tests is the salt pregnancy test. Here is everything you need to know about this traditional pregnancy test, from what it is, how to do it, and how accurate it is.
What Is The Salt Pregnancy Test?
The salt pregnancy test is a do-it-yourself (DIY) home pregnancy test that has been around for a long time and has grown in popularity in recent years, despite a lack of scientific evidence to back up its accuracy.
The test involves mixing urine with salt and then observing the mixture for certain reactions that supposedly indicate whether or not the person is pregnant.
Requirements For Performing The Salt Pregnancy Test.
To perform the salt pregnancy test, you need the following readily available items:
- A tablespoon of salt. (You can use any type of salt, such as table salt or sea salt).
- Urine sample. (Preferably your first-morning urine, which is the most concentrated urine of the day).
- A clean, dry plastic container. (Preferably a clear container so that you can see the results better).
How To Perform The Salt Pregnancy Test.
- In a clean and dry container, collect a small amount of your first-morning urine.
2. Next, add a tablespoon of salt to the urine in the container.
3. Mix the salt and urine well.
4. Wait a few minutes, about 5-10 minutes, and then observe the mixture.
How To Read The Results Of A Salt Pregnancy Test.
According to several sources, if the urine and salt mixture appears milky or forms a clump, it is a positive result, indicating pregnancy.
If, on the other hand, the mixture remains clear and does not form a clump; it is considered a negative result, indicating that there is no pregnancy.
Is The Salt Pregnancy Test Accurate?
The salt pregnancy test has no medical support, scientific foundation, or physician endorsement, and it is not regarded as a reliable or accurate method of detecting pregnancy.
You can, of course, do it just for fun, but if you have a strong suspicion that you are pregnant, it is best to use a scientifically validated pregnancy test, such as a urine or blood test, to confirm your pregnancy.
Alternative DIY Pregnancy Tests.
%20(1).jpg)
There are many readily available DIY pregnancy test kits that you can get at the nearest chemist to you at an affordable price, usually from as low as Ksh 100 and they are more accurate than the salt pregnancy test.
The pregnancy test kits work by detecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your urine.
The HCG hormone is usually released at the start of a pregnancy (when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus). This hormone is only found in the body of pregnant women, and its presence in a woman's urine is one of the most accurate indicators of pregnancy.
Most home pregnancy test kits include a plastic stick that has a strip which detects HCG hormone in urine.
Depending on the instructions in the kit, you are supposed to either place the stick under your urine stream or collect your pee in a small container and then dip the stick in the urine.
After waiting for the time indicated in the kit’s instructions, check the stick for results. While in some tests, a single line in the result window shows that you are pregnant, in others, a plus sign is the indicator of pregnancy; again you just have to read the instructions.
After waiting for the time indicated in the kit’s instructions, check the stick for results. While in some tests, a single line in the result window shows that you are pregnant, in others, a plus sign is the indicator of pregnancy; again you just have to read the instructions.
Read Also: Family Planning Methods Available In Kenya.