Pregnancy test tweaking explained
Pregnancy test "tweaking," as it's called in internet forums, means editing a photo of a home pregnancy test to try and see a faint second line that indicates pregnancy. It's not a scientific or medical technique. Women might tweak photos of pregnancy tests themselves or use an app that edits the photos.
To get a clear result on a home pregnancy test, you usually need to wait at least a day after you miss your expected period. But test "tweakers" claim that they can spot a positive result earlier, even if it's not easily visible to the naked eye.
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Why would I want to tweak a pregnancy test?
Some women don't want to wait for up to a week or more after their missed period to get a clear result on a home pregnancy test. They might want confirmation sooner because they've been trying to conceive and are eager to know if their efforts worked. They could be worried about an unwanted pregnancy. Or they might have a medical problem that could complicate pregnancy, so the sooner they know whether they're pregnant, the sooner they can take steps to protect themselves and their baby's health.
How could editing a photo reveal a pregnancy test result?
Home pregnancy tests detect levels of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. Your body starts making hCG after a fertilized egg implants in your uterus. But when you're very newly pregnant, your body doesn't yet make enough hCG to give a clearly positive result on a home pregnancy test.
Those who want to tweak their test use non-digital home pregnancy tests – the kind that show one line if you're not pregnant and two lines if you are. If there isn't an obvious second line indicating pregnancy after taking the test, they take a photo of the test and edit it by adjusting the light and contrast. Test tweakers are looking for a very faint second line in the edited photo. If they see one (and determine it's not a "false line," as described below), they think this means that the test is picking up very low levels of hCG and the result is actually positive.
Does pregnancy test tweaking work?
There are no scientific studies on test tweaking, so there's no proof that it's a reliable way to determine whether you're pregnant. In addition, people may tweak photos differently and interpret them in a variety of ways, so results could depend on who's looking at the photo or doing the editing.
Keep in mind that a negative result (in a tweaked or un-tweaked photo) doesn't necessarily mean that you're not pregnant – just that there's not enough hCG present to provide a positive test result.
To get a more certain result, wait a few more days and take another home pregnancy test. If you're pregnant, eventually your levels of hCG will rise enough that the second line will be clearly visible. You can also ask your healthcare provider to confirm whether you're pregnant with a blood test.
How can I tweak my home pregnancy tests?
Here are some step-by-step tips from the BabyCenter community to tweak your home pregnancy test (but remember, this technique has not been proven to be accurate):
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1. Take a pregnancy test. Use one with pink ink, not blue (blue is more likely to produce false positives). Take the test as soon as possible after removing it from the package and follow the instructions given.
2. Put the test on a flat surface and wait no longer than 5 to 10 minutes to get a result.
3. Take a photo of your pregnancy test result between 5 and 10 minutes after you took the test. Make sure the photo is sharp, not blurry. Don't photograph the test up against a light, and don't use a red or pink background.
4. Throw the test away. Pregnancy tests that sit for longer than 10 minutes can develop dark gray "evaporation lines" from the dye, which confuses the result.
5. Begin tweaking the photo of your pregnancy test. You can use your phone's photo-editing app, use photo-editing software on your computer such as Photoshop, or download an app designed specifically for test tweaking. Be sure to:
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- Adjust settings such as definition, brightness, contrast, highlight, and shadow. You can also crop the photo to get a closer look at the test panel.
- Avoid adjusting the color or saturation. This can lead to false readings.
- Avoid inverting colors on the test, because it often reveals a line that isn't there.
How will I know if I have a positive pregnancy test?
When you tweak a pregnancy test, you're looking for signs of a faint second line that could indicate that you're pregnant. The problem is, there are many factors that could lead you to mistakenly think you see a positive result. These include:
- False lines caused by inactivated dye, splashes of urine, or dye that's run
- Distortion from the editing software
- Manufacturer problems with the pregnancy test
- Wishful thinking – you might be so eager to see a positive result that you convince yourself that you see a line that isn't there
Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure whether you're seeing a real line or a fake one if you try test tweaking.
What should I consider before test tweaking?
Test tweaking is something you can do if you just can't wait for an answer. But keep in mind that test tweaking won't always work and can lead to false hope or unnecessary anxiety.
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Medical professionals are also concerned that a faint line picked up during photo editing could be a sign of a chemical pregnancy. This is a very early form of miscarriage that happens during the first five weeks of pregnancy. A fertilized egg briefly implants in the uterus but is then expelled. Your hCG levels rise but then fall. Often, you wouldn't even know this had happened – you'd bleed right around the expected time and would never know it was anything but a normal period. But getting an early positive result because of test tweaking could cause needless emotional distress.
Are there other ways to find out early if I'm pregnant?
Early pregnancy symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, sore breasts, food aversions, and frequent urination. However, you won't know for sure whether you're pregnant until you get a clearly positive result on a pregnancy test or take a blood test.
Blood tests can detect pregnancy as early as six to eight days after ovulation. However, blood tests must be ordered by a doctor. They're usually only done if your doctor thinks it's necessary or you're undergoing fertility treatments. If you keep taking home pregnancy tests and are having trouble getting a clear result, contact your doctor about ordering a blood test.
