To not understanding obsessive pregnancy testing

[Paninotogo]

When I was last pregnant back in the dark ages (nineties/noughties) pregnancy tests were very expensive, so people didn't test until after their period was late. Now people seem to test as soon as they have unprotected sex, then they post pictures of the test online because they can't make out a discernible line. They often follow this up with tests taken every day for comparison. Why? Testing before your period is due doesn't make you more pregnant, but it does appear to turn people into crazed obsessive bores. What is this all about?

Plus POAS is so easy and takes seconds. If the test involved drawing your own blood or something it would be a lot less popular. And it's almost fun in a perverse way, you feel a bit like a doctor /scientist or is that just me

I have secondary fertility issues and I don't really get it either. In fact I really begrudge propping up the test industry as a lot of the more expensive tests really seem to prey on women's anxiety. We only use the cheap tests but I still refuse to keep paying for them when all they will tell me is that I'm not pregnant, which is something I'd find out if I just waited a few days anyway! I bought a pack of about 10 tests a few years ago and I've only used a couple.

I have never experienced miscarriage though, just not got pregnant at all, and I have a regular cycle, so my situation is different to others. And I'm lucky not to have an anxious personality too.

I agree to an extent.

"Back in the day" I would assume it was a much simpler time and you would just wait until you missed a period to test.

But because nowadays you can test before your period and earlier it adds a whole new level of stress to people TTC as they could be getting false negatives from testing too early.

Also with ovulation tests. Most people I know no longer have a relaxed approach to TTC. It's all stress and testing etc

But it's understandable to be excited and want to find out as soon as possible.

Maybe I'm a crazy obsessive bore because we've been ttc for four years, had 8 miscarriages and now it's looking unlikely.

I think this is the first thread I've ever hidden.

My dc are all in their twenties and pregnancy tests back then were really expensive and I would only use one a few days after a missed period. I know that if I was having babies now I would be using them everyday because they are so cheap.

I had an ectopic in March and knew something was amiss even before I tested, but still tested anyway. If I'd just thought my periods had been funny that month, not tested and come again later when I started period-like bleeding at 7 weeks, I could have easily had the worst case scenario outcome and been more likely to have died as a result.

Early testing helps peoppe for many reasons, reassurance that their hunch they are pregnant is correct, to allay / confirm fear or anxiety about a situation they may/may not want etc.

When I was pregnant with my DD, I did about 6 tests and said my GP, they wouldn't all be false positives? He just smiled and said a positive usually can't be wrong. I just needed that reassurance of knowing it as true and to confirm I actually was pregnant, plus seeing the lines on diff tests come up again and again was exciting.

Maybe we are all 'obsessive crazed bores'... I thank God I had the good fortune to be able to test early otherwise I might not be here today after my ectopic.

You're not coming across as very sensitive OP.

It's hard to explain to those who haven't been through it, but crazy and obsessive is exactly what struggling with infertility does to you. I find it very hard to focus on anything else. And it's exhausting, both physically and emotionally to be constantly scanning your body for signs of something happening.

I understand the POAS compulsion totally, as it's an attempt to control, to understand more, holding on to the hope that one day that line will present itself. I don't do it myself as I find it too hard to confront the absence of a line. I'm also afraid of a faint line, which led to a chemical pregnancy some months ago.

POAS may not be rational, but nothing you do in this state is rational, trust me.

a twat-biscuit for you OP. Of all the things in the world to be unable to understand!