Your Stories

I took my first pregnancy test in 2003 when I was 21. It was my first cycle off birth control pills and my period was two days late. I had planned on waiting another two days to take a pregnancy test, but in the middle of the night, my husband and I decided we wanted to know right away. I went to the store and bought a test. I took the test in the bathroom of our apartment and my husband waited outside. We were thrilled when it was positive.

It was a little difficult to decide which test to buy--do I want 1, 2, or 3 tests? Which one is the most sensitive? etc, but actually buying it wasn't difficult and I didn't feel uncomfortable. I ended up buying the First Response Early Result test with 3 test sticks. The first test showed a very faint positive line so I took another one in the morning just to be sure.

We definitely wanted the result to be positive. We were thrilled when it was and hugged and I called my sister to tell her the news.

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I have taken a few home pregnancy tests, the experience has been more or less the same except that was the only time I got a positive result.

My first experience using a home pregnancy test was in 1995 or 1996. I was about 31 or 32. I remember my period was late, and I had never ever been late in my life. I was a late bloomer as far as relationships and sex went. I didn't get involved in a committed, intimate relationship until 30. I was well informed by this age, regarding birth control. I mostly used over-the-counter contraceptives. I was living alone,(my boyfriend had his own apt.) and I took the test alone at home. I informed him a couple of days later about it.

The test was fairly easy to use. Yes, I used probably about 4 tests in total. I remember using a couple of generic brands, and an EPT brand. Purchasing the tests did not bother me.

Yes, I knew what I wanted the result to be. It came out negative, but I wasn't convinced, because my period was about 3 weeks late and I had NEVER EVER BEEN LATE!!! I went to Planned Parenthood to take another test (& was kind of upset, when I realized they really use a test similar to the over-the-counter tests I had already bought & taken). It came out negative also. The nurse asked me was I trying to get pregnant, and I emphatically said, "NO" I asked why was my period so late if I wasn't pregnant??? She explained some women need to take a blood test to determine pregnancy, and that if my menses didn't start in a week, to contact my regular MD & have a blood test done. The day of my appointment "Flo" showed up. I was very else was seriously wrong with me, if I wasn't pregnant. Then I remembered thinking, well if I had known it would eventually "SHOW UP" I would have enjoyed not having it.

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In my first relationship, I was happy they were negative, because the relationship was beginning to fall apart, and the possible father-to-be expressed his displeasure regarding me possibly being pregnant. He offered to help me "take care of it" but I declined his offer, saying I would give the child up for adoption, if I was pregnant. He said why go through a pregnancy, if you're only going to give it away? I said because I don't believe in abortions. Thank God I wasn't with child.

In my 2nd relationship around 2003, I had mixed feelings about possibly being pregnant, by this time I was in my late 30's & my biological clock was 'ticking', and I was sort of contemplating having a child or two. I was in LOVE & happy & at the time thought it would lead to marriage. Unfortunately it didn't. So now that this relationship is over, I'm glad the two times I thought I might be pregnant, turned out to be false alarms.

My first experience with a home pregnancy test was in 2000, I was 20 years old. I was living in an ancient college dorm with community bathrooms. I took the test at 4:30am, to ensure that I would be alone.

I purchased the test, along with two others, on the internet. I felt very comfortable purchasing them, they came in the mail anonymously, and the charge on my credit card was also fairly anonymous. I purchased the tests just to help soothe my nerves; my periods had always been irregular.

I definitely wanted the result to be negative, since I was still in college and unmarried. However, the result was positive. I was very scared, but knew I would keep the baby. I called my now husband and he went with me to planned parenthood the following week day, for a confirmatory test. This test was negative. We were both relieved, but would have been okay with the positive result too. We just would have been married younger, and I may still be working toward my college degree.

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The first test I took was the type to pee in the cup, then dip the strip in. The other was the pee on the stick type. Both seemed equally easy to me, though I never trust just one test anymore, after a false positive.

It was 2004, and I was 22. I was at my own apartment, packing to move out. My boyfriend had moved out a week before, and I was preparing to join him in a new state. I had recently switched pills and my period was way lighter than I thought it should be, and I was worried that it was "implantation bleeding". I took the test mainly to assuage the worry that had possessed my boyfriend when I told him about it.

It was easy to find - I just bought one, the cheapest, which happened to be generic. I had a slight twinge of guilt buying it, like maybe I'd meet someone I knew who would ask... but nothing happened.

In some ways I wanted it to be positive, but I felt way too young and my boyfriend was DEFINITELY not hoping it was positive. I figured it would be negative, and it was.

My first experience with a home pregnancy test was January 2005. I was 24 years old and living with my boyfriend. At the time of taking the test I was at my mothers.

The test was very easy to purchase all I needed was one. I felt very comfortable purchasing the test.

I kind of had a feeling of what the results would be. My reaction was just confirmation. Kind of like I knew it.

My first experience with a home pregnancy test was in 1988 shortly after my 22nd birthday. I was living with my parents, but I took the test at my boyfriend's house. My best friend (who was engaged to my boyfriend's brother) was present.

It was easy to purchase (since I went to a pharmacy where NO ONE knew me!) but not so easy to use. I had to pee in a cup and use a dropper to add the urine to a vial along with some sort of reagent and my hands were shaking so violently that I almost dropped it. I only used that one brand...can't remember which one...because it was the least expensive and I was broke.

I desperately wanted it to be negative. We were both young (he was younger than me) and neither of us were ready to be parents. I think I almost passed out when it came back positive. I panicked. I had a lot of thinking to do.

Since that first experience, I've taken several pregnancy tests. The new tests are SO MUCH easier to take! I still pee in a cup to collect the urine (because I can't aim) but the process is so much simpler. I've not tried the digital ones personally, but did buy them for my 18 year old step-daughter and she managed to mess BOTH of them up! I went back to the store and got her an EPT and luckily for her and us, the result was negative.

My first experience with an HPT was in June of 1997. I was 20 years old, and I was living in my first apartment. I was with my boyfriend at home when I took the test.

The test was extremely easy to purchase and use. I only used one brand, and I felt incredibly comfortable purchasing the test. It was simple - no thinking required!

I had mixed feelings about what I wanted the result to be...but was really happy when I got a positive result.

I have taken MANY home pregnancy tests. I have mixed feelings about the early tests because they allow you to get positive results, only to learn it really is a chemical pregnancy or "early miscarriage". I love the fact that HPT's allow you to learn of your pregnancy right away so you can get the proper prenatal care. Overall, my experiences with them have been very positive.

In August 2004, when I was 34 years old. I had gotten married in July 2004 and we decided to try to get pregnant during our honeymoon.

I was living in Virginia. I was at home, alone.

Test was very easy to use and very easy to locate at the store and purchase. Used more than one brand. Felt fine purchasing the tests.

I did want a certain result, and was disappointed when I didn't get the desired result. I did, of course, try to early in my cycle... went through maybe 6 pregnancy tests before finally realizing I was not pregnant. When I tried the following month, I was getting the absolutely faintest line....and only after missing my period and getting a blood test was I sure I was pregnant.

I am trying the test that says "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant" and I am not sure if I like it. It definitely is clear and there is no ambiguity...

The first time I took one of these tests was when I was about 22 or 23. I was in college and living with a couple of roommates. I was on the pill, but had been taking antibiotics. I was pretty sure that I wasn'tpregnant, but this was just to ease my mind towards the end of my cycle. My boyfriend wasn't there, but knew that I was taking the test just to be sure. I called him shortly after the results were clear...I tested negative.

The test was easy to purchase, I wasn't embarassed, and I only purchased one test.

I knew that it would most likely be negative, and that was the desired outcome. I was relieved when it showed that I wasn't pregnant.

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I am now 30 years old and am 6 months pregnant. These last couple of tests were stressful. I am living in Germany and have had to purchase the tests here. I speak German, but not fluently. The first two tests I took were negative, even thought my period was 10 days late....and I'm never late. After re-reading the test instructions I discovered that I was supposed to be taking the tests in the early morning....I don't recall having to do that with the U.S. tests....very annoying.
So I waited until the next morning, peed in a cup...because I can't aim, and then I watched. The test was supposed to show a pink dot if I was pregnant. Well it showed a very, very, very, faint pink dot.
I returned to the pharmacy and asked for another. The nosey germany pharmacist wanted to know why I was wanting to use a different brand. I showed her the quasi-positive-negative stick and she declared me "not pregnant." I insisted on purchasing another test, much to the irritance of the very german pharmacist, and left. This one had two test windows: one to indicate that the test was properly activated and one to remain clear, or to show a bluish vertical line when pregnant.
Again, I waited until the next morning to take the test....I figured why not let those HCG hormones multiply a little longer...at this point I was pretty sure I was pregnant. The next morning I peed in a cup, dipped the stick and waited. My husband and I waited and waited. After the time was up there was nothing; I was sad and he went off to work, slightly disappointed. Shortly after he went to work I went into the bathroom to throw the test away....and wouldn't you know it, there was a very, very, very, faint blue line where there hadn't been before! Of course my very german gynecologist was on vacation, so I had to go see another...Dr. Grimm. (Yes that was really her name.) She confirmed the pregnancy and said that I shouldn't be too excited because it was too early to celebrate. All very german and very serious, but the little guy has decided to stay a while...despite all of the grimm germans, and he's due in June.
After the testing experience I am not a fan of these little sticks. They are unclear! I think that they should be developed to play some sort of marching tune when positive. I hated the doubt surrounding the ever-so-faint lines that were only visible in certain lighting situations...can't they make them better!

I think it was 1998. I was 21. I purchased the test at a local drug store and then went home alone to master the delicate art of peeing on the stick. I was on birth control at the time, but had experienced mid-cycle spotting, and a nurse told me over the phone that I might be pregnant.

The test was easy for me to purchase, but I'm really comfortable purchasing 'personal' items like tampons or condoms. I only bought one brand, but two tests came in the box, and I used them both. . . for certainty (and, I'll confess, I didn't do well aiming towards the stick on the first attempt).

Strangely, though, the woman at the counter assumed that I had purchased the test with the hope of positive results. So there was an odd discussion in which she was wishing me luck and encouraging me to come back with the baby, and I was being cordial but dying to get home and get negative results.

I definitely knew that I wanted the test to be negative. It was negative, and I cried and cried from relief.

I've regularly experienced unexpected spotting, and I'm really nervous (1) about becoming pregnant and (2) about unknowingly harming a baby if I am pregnant but not aware of it, so I've probably taken more home pregnancy tests than anyone. It seems silly to repeat the pattern, but every time it happens again, I have the irrational fear that the one time I don't use a test will be the time that I AM pregnant.

It was 1999 and I was 31. My husband and I were living in an apartment and he was with me. He kept prodding me to test but I wasn't sure if it would turn out right because it was the middle of the afternoon. I had read on the internet that it was best to use first morning urine.

The test was easy to purchase, I wasn't embarassed at all. I purchased Confirm because I heard it was the most sensitive. Confirm didn't give as clear of a result as I would have liked so I also purchase Fact Plus.

I was indifferent at first because at 31 I was kind of used to not having kids. When I did get the positive result my husband was very excited but I was in disbelief.

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I've taken many home pregancy tests over the years, I think I've tried them all! After having my first child I was ready for a second, we tried for a long time and finally became pg again in February of 2005. Of all the tests I took the positive ones were of course more exciting than the negative ones. The negative ones are very depressing! :)

I was 18, and it was 1994. I was home alone. My Fiance' and I had just become sexually active that cycle. We were using protection but I was so hungry all of a sudden I KNEW something was up. I could not remeber when my period was due but I figured it was about time. So I bought a test.

It was actually easier to purchase then I thought. I had these ideas that everyone would stare at me, the cashier would make some kind of comment. Or the dreaded, "We need a price check on this home pregancy test" over the load speaker. ;) I was 18 but I looked MUCH younger. My friends would tease that I was only 14, I looked that young. So that is part of why I was so terrified.

However I went to the store after work, walked up to the section, sat in dismay at the prices for a bit, picked the store brand and purchased it. No big deal like I had envisioned. I purchased one test that night but I ended up taking 3 before it was all said and done. 1 more because my friend said EPT was the only brand to trust. 1 more because my father insisted I was not pregnant.

Yes. I wanted it to be positive. I told myself it would be "ok" if it was negative because we were young, we had plenty of time. However once the thought of us having a child was there, I wanted us to. I was thrilled when the test came up postivie but scared at the same time. How would my fiance' react? Would he be thrilled?

I knew I was emotionally ready. I was one that I did not have sex, till I knew I could handle a baby, because I knew birth control could fail. Like it did the first cycle I was active. ;) However did my fiance feel the same? Was he ready? Our Wedding was planned for March, and by my estimation I was due in March.

He was!

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Well I like the midstream. One of the first I took you had to pee in a cup and use a dropper. I don't like those. It seems like the tests work faster now, and you can test much sooner.

I have used the digital I like it except I did not like that it said Not Pregnant. Which was the first sign I was having a miscarriage. I had several positives over a few days, and I got the digital because a recent Miscarriage had me scared I would miscarry this time as well. My friends suggested I get the digital because seeing the word might make it feel "real." Well sadly I saw Not Pregnant, and started to miscarry the next day.

Overall though I love the digitals.

I was 19, it was 2002, and I was at home, alone, drunk and nervous. I had had unprotected sex for the first time with a guy I had been dating for about a year.

I was embarassed to purchase the test. I thought I looked young and I was scared the person at the register or others shoppers in the local drug store might know me so I drove about 3 cities over to buy the test. I was still embarassed, I looked down through the entire transaction. I bought 2 e.p.t's. I was also upset at the cost!

Deep inside I wanted a positive result because I wanted a child, but the negative result was a relief because my life didn't have to change. I was still young so I wasn't too upset and the I did have the comfort of things being the same.

Wow. I've taken many. Mostly negative results with 2 that I was not able to read. I took to negative tests and it turned out that I was pregnant anyway. I found out via a blood test at the hospital. I turned out to be 4 months along by the time I found out.I miscarried.

I was 22 living with my now fiance`. We had been trying for months to have a baby and finally I felt like I should test.

Buying the test was no problem for me. Things like this never bother me although I know most people do get emabrassed. Actually the day I bought the tests, I bought probably about 5-6 different kinds just to make sure. Everything ranging from EPT to First Response to ANswer and on and on. I also later purchased loads more because I had waited so long to be able to test I loved it.

POSITIVE. POSITIVE. POSITIVE. And it was, many, many, many times. Come to find out I was pregnant with twins which is why my lines were so fantastic even though my cycle was not due for another 4 days. (I later lost this pregnancy as well as a few others but finally got one)

I wasn't born until after then. But I remember speaking to my mom and she said the tests back then were horrid. She said she just sat there sometimes for hours in suspense waiting for the result even though she already knew in her heart.

I've learned from now years of testing that each and every test on the market is different. I have taken every test known to man and they work very differently. Even two tests in the same box do not always give the same result

I was living at home at the time, and seeing a guy my parents strongly disapproved of. I told my boyfriend my period was late, so we went to the 99 cents store and bought four pregnancy tests, the ones with the cup. The first test i took when he and I met for breakfast at a local restaurant. The other four I took at his house.
There was a fifth one involved, which was an expensive one, just for confirmation. This was in 2002.

The tests were self explanatory.
I was comfortable purchasing the tests. The fifth test was an e.p.t., the other four were generic.

I was hoping it would be negative. But my reaction was shocked and happy at the same time. I didn't know what to think.
But now I have a beautiful baby girl and couldn't be happier.

The generic tests required I pee in a cup and put the stick in it ,and wait. The expensive one I peed directly on. All of my test results were immediate.

In November of 1979, we (my wife and I who were just out of graduate school) purchased a home pregnancy test. I thought that at that time they were pretty common but, after reviewing this web site, realize they were quite new on the market. We followed the instructions, went out for a drive (purchased a used dining room table and chairs), and returned home to discover that "we" were pregnant. We were overjoyed! Our son is now 23 and our daughter is 16.

September 2000, I was living with my mother, in-between jobs, single. I was off the Pill, having no heath insurance and having decided taht since I was not sexually active, I needn't fill my body with expensive hormones. [I had gone to a friend's party a couple of weeks before and had drunk far past my usual one drink, feeling rather sad that I was one of very few single people at the party. I remember flirting with a guy and drinking wine, but the next thing I remember is waking up naked with him. I have no idea if I consented to having sex with him or not, though I cannot imagine I would have, even drunk as I was.]
I took the test in the bathroom at my mom's house, when my mother and brother were gone.

It was easy to purchase and use, though my hands were shaking and I peed on my finger. I was very very embarrassed to buy the test, but knew I had to know, and would rather face an anonymous drugstore employee than a doctor who would know my name and I hers or his. I used cash so my name would not show up in connection with the test, and I threw away the results in the outside trash, not inside, lest I suffer like all those women on tv whose family members "find" their pregancy tests in the trash.

I definitely did not want the result to be positive. I was terrified, single, absolutely poor, and without a job or support network in my city then, having just moved. I cried when I saw it was positive and had no idea what to do. I continued to cry for a few hours and then called a friend from elementary school. I went over to her house and she helped me decide to have an abortion and call for an appointment. She also let me use her phone to inform the "father," who I asked to contribute half of the $300 cost (which he did, sending me a check, with not even a note enclosed).

I had no idea that these tests had been developed so recently--I'm very grateful to live in an era where I can determine whether I'm pregnant privately and almost immediately, and have options to pursue regardless of the result.

I've taken about 8 since then, being ridiculously paranoid when my period comes 6 hours after I think it should. I have a 3-year monogamous relationship now, and am back on the Pill, which I take religiously, but still am worried I'll be part of the 1% ineffective group. I took one yesterday--actually, I took two, since drinking lots of water can apparently mask a positive, and I'd had 2 glasses that morning, so I didn't trust the negative and took another test a few hours later to reassure myself. I would have continued the pregnancy this time, but I did not feel ready (I'm in school and not yet married), so I was very relieved not to be pregnant.

It was 1995. I was 22, in graduate school, and living with a roommate (not my boyfriend) in an apartment in NC. The test came wtih two testtubes (one full of liquid),a little cup, and an eye dropper. Simpler tests were available, but being an impoverished grad student I bought the cheapest one. It took about 1/2 hour total to read and follow the instructions.

It was easy; no problem. I was not the least bit embarassed to buy it; on the other hand, I didn't tell anyone I knew about it, let alone my boyfriend.

It was negative (phew). I thought it would be anyway (I was on the pill), but it was still a relief.

The last one I took (2003) was after my husband and I started trying to get pregnant. It only took 1 minute (compared to 10 minutes for the first one) for the postive result to appear, and all I had to do was pee on a stick! Much faster and simpler. We were very happy it was positive, and we celebrated with sparkly grape juice.

It was 1984 and I was 36 years old. My husband was at work, so I was at home with just our dog. I took the test and, back then, you had to wait a period of time for the result...maybe a half hour? I forget exactly--but I remember it felt like an eternity! Anyway, I waited until the time was up, and then looked. I was pregnant! Our dog was the first to hear the news! My husband, of course, heard the good news when he came home.

The kit was easy to purchase. But I remember being nervous with excitment when I bought it!

I really hoped the test would be positive. We had put off starting a family for a long time. I think I screamed when I saw that I was!

The date was Oct. 25, 2002. I was 19 yrs old and had been with my boyfriend for about 4 months but we've known each other for 4 years. I was about a week or so late and had taken a test a week prior to this one and there was one line and I could see another very faint line. I didnt think it was positive and I ended up walking out on my job a couple days later. Then it was Oct.25 and i had gotten out of school early that day (I was studying to be a mortician). My boyfriend went home with me and i took the other test and walked out of the room to go eat, not worrying too much that it could be positive. He and I decided to go look at it together and UH OH!! There were 2 dark red lines! It was positive!

The test was easy to purchase. The guy that rang it up for us asked us if we hope its positive which i thought was none of his business. The ones i took that week was EPT (POSITIVE), then i tried Confirm(POSITIVE),then we went to have one done at planned parenthood (POSITIVE) I was uncomfortable buying the tests because i was so afraid they'd be positive and they were.

I wanted it to be negative since i was so young and was in school and had a new job. When I got the result, I didn't believe it. So I had him go to the store and get a different brand and i took it and it was positive, then i said take me to planned parenthood. I had 3 different types of tests in one day and all came out positive so i had to realize that day is that all the tests i took were positive and that i was really pregnant. I thought my life was over, but it had only just begun!

I wasnt even born by 1978. I was born in 1983. My mom said the pregnancy test she took with me in 82 was a home test. There was a bottle with a yellow liquid that u drop urine in and over an hour a dark ring is supposed to form in the bottom of the bottle. She said within 10 minutes there was a dark ring and she knew she was having me!

I have had to take more tests since the birth of my daughter on June 26, 2003. Ive had some scares and each time it comes out negative, i thank god that i'm not having another baby

It was November of 2003, and I was living alone in the Midwest. I was at home when I took the test, by myself.

The test was easy to purchase, although I did do two different brands, generic the first time and EPT the second ( I didnt trust the generic brand)I definitely did not want to be pregnant, and didnt really think I was - my b/f at that time and I were not having intercourse, but were sexually active in other ways. I remember feeling extremely uncomfortable buying the tests. I live in a small town and know a lot of people. I refused to go to WalMart because I just knew that I would run into someone I knew. I went out of town to get them both times.

I definitely did not want to be pregnant and I was elated with the results of negative. I remembered almost crying I was so happy and thanking God.

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I think that EPT tests were alot easier to read, use and understand ( and the stick is wider to pee on!!)

The first time I took a home pregnancy test was in 1996, I was 20 years old, and living in Duluth, MN. I was in college, and living with 4 other girls in a house. My friend and I had been friends with 2 guys from Minneapolis. We went out on a double date with these guys, and ended up having a one-night fling with them one evening. Although we had both used protection, we were both late on our period, so we got pregnancy tests, and took them together. Neither of us were pregnant.

The test was easy to purchase and use. We each purchased the same test, I don't recall what brand, just whichever one was the least expensive. We both felt comfortable purchasing the tests, as we figured we were probably not pregnant, just paranoid. We did joke about the cashier thinking bad things about us.

We definitely wanted the results to be 'not pregnant'. Since we had used protection, we figured that we were just being paranoid. We were very relieved to see we were not pregnant. I think our bodies were too, because we both got our periods with a day or two of taking the test.

I recently took a home pregnancy test, and when I heard on CNN that you could 'tell your story' this is the one that came to mind: My boyfriend and I have been together for a number of years now, and we're not interested in having children at this time. He had started teasing me, that there was a 'baby inside' and that was the excuse for every mood or desire. We had no reason to believe we were expecting a baby, but his joking, coupled with a late period got me paranoid. Finally, I couldn't take it. Although it was midnight, and we were in the middle of watching a movie, I asked him to please take me to the store to buy a pregnancy test. The first store we went to didn't have any, but the second store we went to did. We took it home, I immediately took it. While we were waiting for the results, we joked that we would name the baby 'Khan Meijer' because we had been in the middle of 'Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan' and we had purchased the test at a Meijer grocery store. We weren't pregnant, but the baby jokes still keep coming.

My very first one was when I was 20 and in the Navy, stationed in Sicily and single. Needless to say I was terrified. I was living in the barracks and my roommate and mines period were late.
It seems so wierd now to have to pee on the stick (how was I supposed to get the aim right when I was shaking like a leaf?).
That one was negative but a few weeks later I almost fainted during a ceremony and found out I was pregnant (so was my roommate)
Oh and this was in 1987.

They were (I have bought a few) easy to buy but the looks given by the people when I bought them made me feel uncomfortable. I felt like it was obvious I was single and pregnant and alone.

Everytime Ive bought one I wanted it to be negative. When I was 20 and it was negative I thought it was lying.
The last one I bought was almost two years ago. I hadnt had sex in 6mths (single again) and a friend and I had some fun, well I was late for my period so I bought a test and sat in my bathroom, peed in the cup and it was very positive very quickly.
I was in my apt alone so I sat there and sobbed. I called a friend of mine crying and she came over and helped me make the appt for the abortion.
That is one experience I dont want to ever go through again.

No I didnt but I think there is still a stigma attached if you are single or perhaps that is the way it feels. Being pregnant and single is a very isolating feeling.

The first one was horrible.. please pee on the stick and dont move it for such and such minutes. And use your first mornings sample. Terrified and upset how are you not supposed to move the stick and my aim has always been off.
The last time was very easy, pee in the cup, dip the stick in the cup count to a number and set down in dry place (or put the cap back on and wait) no aiming for a small stick involved.

It was 1988, I was 22 and married for about one year. I bought one of the tests where you had to drop urine into a well and if the dot at teh bottom of the well turned pink, it was positive.

I felt comfortable purchasing the test because it would have given me some exciting news.

I wanted the result to be positive, but it was negative. The test was really hard to read because I couldn't tell if it was slightly pink and if it was pink due to reflection or reality. Obviously not due to reality since I only became pregnant for the 1st time in 2001.

I took numerous tests over 12 years, different brnads, etc. In 2001, with a new husband, my test came out positive and we were speechless. Completely ecstatic.

I found out I was pregnant on Sept. 7, 2001 while visiting NYC. I was 32 and my husband and I were just about to celebrate our 1st anniversary. I thought my period was late, but my friend convinced me to get a pregnancy test. The package came with three tests and I had to use them all before I believed the results, even though we had been trying. It was a great feeling. We flew home on Sept. 9, celebrated our anniversary on Sept. 10, and when we woke up on Sept. 11 the world was falling apart. It was difficult to think about bringing a life into this world, but it also gave us hope.

Easy to purchase, one brand, no problem buying it.

Yes - I didn't believe it at first.

my first test was done in april of 1978. I was 21 and married for 1 year.I remember getting up in the morning to collect my first urine of the day. It took two hours for the results to come in so I had to refrigerate the urine until I came home from work later that day. The test could not be disturbed.You had to put it where it would not feel any vibration.

I do not remember having any trouble buying or findin the tests in the store.I only used one brand for all my pregnancies. I have three children. It was ept.

I wanted a positive reaction each time.I remember being scared though the first time and seeing the circle.

I did not do it until 1978.

Each experience was the same for me I was happy to get a positive result.

It was June 1989. I was 19 years old. I was living with my then boyfriend (now my husband) and his mom. We were at home, it was about 5:30 in the morning since my boyfriend had to be to work at 6:30.

I can't remember the brand, but it was NOT easy to use. I remember buying the cheapest one, because we were just starting out and broke. You pretty much felt like a chemist when you did this particular test. There were droppers to put drops of urine into a tube, you had shake it up and then put this stick with little white beads in the end into the tube and wait something like 10 or 15 mins. If it turned bluish or greenish, it was positive. That sucker turned navy blue, lol. I wasn't the least bit uncomfortable buying the test.

Well, I was only 19 at the time, so I was scared but at the same time, I would have been sad if it were negative. I was shocked and excited at my positive result! In February, 1990, our daughter was born. She'll be 14 years old soon!

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It took a simpler pregnancy test in 1990. My daughter was 6 mos. old and I thought I was pregnant again (I was REALLY freaked out!). Again, I can't remember the brand, but it was one where you just had to pee on the stick. Then you had to wait about 5 mins. for the result.

I was 20 and in college in 1994. My high school sweetheart and fiance had just visited on leave from the Army. I was two weeks late and decided to take the test. In the bathroom of my college dorm I got out the little white stick and waited for the pink line(s) to appear. Only one, thank goodness!

All of the tests I have used were very easy to purchase and use. I prefer EPT, but have used similar types in other brands. Including store brands, though I don't tend to trust the others as much. Purchasing the tests became much easier once I was married. Though my city is very liberal, there's still a perceived stigma of an unmarried woman having sex.

On my fisrt use, I wanted it to be negative. I was in college, planning on studying abroad, and not married. Pregnancy would put an end to all that and force a marriage I wasn't ready for.

When it came out negative, all my girlfriends and I celebrated.

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When I was with my first fiance, I always prayed the tests were negative. Something told me being connected to him for life through a child would not be a good thing. I was right and we never married.

Once I met my husband, I knew that he was "the one" and didn't worry about "having" to get married if we were pregnant. Though I was still nervous taking one and didn't want to be pregnant before marriage, there wasn't the same small voice telling me to run the other way if it was positive.

Once we were married and trying to have children, it was a nervous and joyous occasion. We conceived after 6+ months of trying. Unfortunately, we lost the baby at 7 weeks gestation.

Then, to our surprise, FOUR weeks later, we were blessed with a second pregnancy that resulted in a beautiful baby boy 6 months later. (Though premature, he is beautiful and perfectly healthy)

July 24, 1997... My husband and I had been married less than a month. We had hoped to get pregnant right away. The second line popped into view immediately - mission accomplished! A healthy baby boy the following April.

I purchased the test at our local drugstore. It was easy - I used the brand I had seen advertised most often. I was completely comfortable buying it, but then I had never had trouble purchasing things like tampons and condoms either...

We were so hoping it would be positive. We were also naive and thought "Of course we'll get pregnant right away!" Well, we did and we were so ecstatic.

I have taken a number of pregnancy tests since. In November 1998, my husband suspected I was pregnant again after our son's April birth. I looked at our 6-month-old son and just laughed. My husband persisted and I used one of the tests left from when I was previously pregnant. It was positive! I was shocked. Sadly, I miscarried that baby in December 1998. I remember laying in bed watching the Clinton impeachment hearings while my body rejected the new baby. After that loss we decided to try again. I was leaving on a business trip and we had a small window (according to the OPK we were using). We went for it and it worked! On Valentine's Day 1999 I secretly took a home pregnancy test and got a big positive. I presented the test to my husband as a V. Day gift. We were so happy. Our beautiful daughter was born in October 1999 - on her father's birthday. My most recent experience with HPTs was in October of this year (2003). We had planned to try for a third child in early 2004. In October, while away for a weekend, I started feeling unmistakably pregnant. How did this happen? When I returned home I tested. This test, however, was very faint. I tested a number of times over the next few days - crazily holding the tests to the light and pulling them apart to confirm the pink positive. I became a regular at the CVS - throwing around the cash to buy more tests. The faint tests were foreshadowing. I miscarried on Halloween at 5 weeks/4 days. As I type this, a box of HPTs is menacing to me from my medicine cabinet upstairs. I am currently 8 days past ovulation and have been charting my BBT. My period is due Dec. 29. The test instructions state you can test four days before your expected period. That would be tomorrow - Christmas Day! I am unsure how to proceed. Test and have the most fantastic Christmas present or wait, lest a negative impact our day...

In 1998, I was 39 years old. It had been three days since I had unprotected intercourse. I knew that I was pregnant. My husband didn't think I was and suggested that I do a home pregnancy test. I waited a while before I took the test. When I finally took the test, I tried to observe the process. It seemed like I was still urinating when the strip turned positive.

I remember once when I purchased a test, the sales person asked me if I wanted them to put it in a bag or did I just want to carry it.

I had always wanted to have children. When my home pregnancy test came back positive, my reaction wasn't what I expected. I was scared and wondered if I did the right thing.

The tests previous to my positive test were all negative and I was pleased at those results.

I'm 32, a lesbian, and my partner and I were using a known sperm donor to try to conceive. I stocked up on multiple packs of home pregnancy tests, figuring it could take a few months.

I felt fine about purchasing the tests, although I remembered back to high school and the panicked call of my friend who wanted moral support as she drove to a different town to buy a test... things certainly had changed from being 17. And yes, I used both store brands and name brands.

Well, it took me 6 months to conceive. Not surprisingly, my cycle got quite screwed up with ths stress of trying, and so there were several months where I sat in the bathroom, fighting tears, as no second line appeared on the test.

The morning in late June when I finally got a positive result was, well, terrifying, no matter how much we wanted to be pregnant. I watched the second line appear and began shaking with anxiety, and then brought the test upstairs and woke up my partner to show it to her. I'm due in March 2004.

It was 1983, I was 16, and living at home with my family. My parents did not know I was having sex at all. I bought the test from a chemist and had to set it up in my cupboard very carefully so it wouldn't be discovered or knocked over.

I can't remember the brand or where I bought it, but I am sure I was uncomfortable! The test seemed quite complicated as I recall, with a little test tube that had to be fixed on a holder, and sit there for a few hours.

I wanted it to be negative! It was positive! I could not really believe it at first, then I was petrified. I told my boyfriend, and he arranged an abortion for me. He was 18 and had just left school.

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Since then I have had three tests done at the doctor's - all were instantenous, and both were positive (as hoped for). These were all in the 1990/2000s. I think the home tests are best for terrified young girls with stern parents!

Christmas 1971 ... I was a 20 year old college junior. L., a female friend of my soon to be husband, was terrified that she was pregnant, but also feared going to the university health service to find out. I knew that home pregnancy tests were available in Canada and offered to get her one as she lived about 200 miles from Canada.

Had to go to Windsor, ON to purchase it but at that time crossing the border from Detroit into Canada was like crossing a state line--no big deal. Can't remember the brand but it was of the test tube variety and I recall the instructions explicitly stating not to disturb the vials while the test was processing.

L. most definitely did not want to be pregnant, but it wasn't clear from the results if she was or not. It was difficult to read and we decided to make another trip across the border to get another kit. Fortunately, two days later her period started so we cancelled our travel plans.

Like today, Canada was ahead of the game with pharmaceuticals. It seems strange that it took years for these tests to be available in the U.S. while they were available in Canada and other countries. Perhaps because if women were testing themselves it cut into laboratory profits?

Personally, I never used a home pregnancy test. I "diagnosed" my first pregnancy by observing the changes in my cervix (had a plastic speculum left over from the do-it-yourself pelvic exam days). I thought about buying a pregnancy test recently to have on hand just in case--I'm menopausal and not using birth control (any eggs I have at this point must be fried), but haven't.

The year was 1993. I was 32 and it was at my home. I was married with 18 month old twins through an assisted fertility process. I was told by the fertility specialist that he was 99.9% certain that I would never conceive naturally.

My husband actually went out and bought the test for me because I didn't think I could be pregnant. I recall that he commented on the high cost of the test.

I wanted the results to be negative because I already had my plate full with twins. My reaction was tears. I couldn't even tell anyone for days.

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I don't remember much about my first use except it was thankfully negative as I wasn't married yet. It was old-fashioned kind with test tube that you looked for a ring in. It had 2 test kits- I used the second one in 1988, thinking it probably would be too old. Boy did I get a positive test though!

My boyfriend purchased it. It was easy to use for someone who had lab experience, but may have been difficult for someone else.

The second time I used it, I was surprised and excited. We were going to try in six months- things just got accelerated a little.