Q&A: Why Do People Put a Wedding Ring on a Pregnancy Test in Photos?

Aug 26, 19 ● 2 min

We've heard this question a lot, so thought you'd be curious, too.

Question:

On the TTC Facebook groups, people are always putting their wedding ring on the pregnancy test. Is there some reasoning behind this?

Jessica, Rochester, MN

Answer:

The quick answer is that the ring can help the camera focus on the lines, especially when the test line is faint.

Remember, hCG is the pregnancy hormone that can be detected ~12-14 days after conception by a home pregnancy test. In fact, with our early-result pregnancy tests, you can test up to five days before your expected period with 99% accuracy. However, hCG levels will double every 72 hours, so if you test early, the line will be faint. You may hear this faint line referred to as a “squinter”, meaning you have to look really hard to see it. Some women put a ring around the test window to help the camera focus on the results before sharing the photo with friends or in a group. Another trick you may see is people inverting the photo.

We don’t recommend either of these “tricks” because they may show a line that is actually not a positive test result. Sometimes, a faint line is actually an evaporation line. Evaporation lines can appear in the test result window as urine evaporates from the stick. It doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant.

If you have a “squinter'” we recommend testing again tomorrow or the next day. If you are pregnant, then the test line will get darker as the hCG in your system increases. Of course, you’re still welcome to include your ring in the photo if you like!

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Have a question? Email us team@natalist.com

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Halle Tecco, MBA, MPH, Natalist Founder

Professional Experience

Halle Tecco is the Founder of Natalist. She is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, the host of The Heart of Healthcare Podcast, a Co-Founder of Cofertility, and a... Read More