When should I use a home pregnancy test

Before visiting your gynecologist, it may be a good idea to take a simple home pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.  You can take a pregnancy test from the day that your period is due.  Although home pregnancy tests are not 100% reliable, if performed correctly, they are over 95% accurate. These tests diagnose the pregnancy by detecting the presence of the hormone hCG (human Chronic Gonadotropin) in the urine. 

All you need to do is to add a few drops of urine (preferably when you wake up in the morning) to the solution provided, and wait for about 5 minutes to read the results.  If the solution changes color and becomes lighter, then it means you are pregnant.  Although it may be able to detect your pregnancy as early as the first day of your missed period, the accuracy of the results increases with each passing day.  If you are unsure of the results, repeat the test after a week or so.  It is best to purchase two test kits at the same time, so that if you did not perform the test correctly, you can take it again.  

What are the popular home pregnancy tests available in the market

Some of the popular pregnancy tests include First Response, One-Step, Advance, E.P.T, Answer, Fact Plus, Clearblue Easy, Confirm, and Conceive.  Most of these tests are very good and are equally effective. Many of these test kits come in packs of two, and can certainly be more cost-effective.  

Are there any home pregnancy tests available in India

There is one pregnancy test available in India called Pregcolor.  It costs roughly Rs. 45, and is available at most chemist shops.  The only drawback of this test is that it requires a 30-minute waiting period before one can read the results.