How Does Sugar Pregnancy Test Work & How Accurate Is It?

This non-scientific, homemade test can be easily conducted but may not be accurate.

Reviewed by Dr. Umera Zakiahmed Saiyed, BHMS Dr. Umera Zakiahmed Saiyed Dr. Umera Zakiahmed SaiyedBHMS Follow MomJunction on LinkedinFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Writer, poet, and bloggerExperience: 5 years
Written by , MSc shreeja pillai MSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pharma and HealthExperience: 2.5 years
Edited by , BSc Rebecca Malachi BSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pregnancy, Health and WellnessExperience: 12 years
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Sugar Pregnancy Test

Image: MomJunction Design Team

Couples trying to conceive might often want to know if they are pregnant even before missing their period. Some couples may try DIY pregnancy test ideas, such as a pregnancy test with sugar, to have some preliminary findings. The sugar pregnancy test is popular due to the easy availability of its materials. But is the test accurate?

Read this post to know more about the steps, accuracy, and other attributes of a sugar pregnancy test.

In This Article

Key Pointers

  • You may use a urine home pregnancy test or clinical blood or urine tests to confirm pregnancy.
  • A sugar pregnancy test is considered positive if the sugar clumps while pouring the urine.
  • There is no scientific evidence or approvals from medical organizations defining the accuracy of sugar pregnancy tests.

What Is A Sugar Pregnancy Test?

It is a homemade pregnancy test that uses sugar and urine to confirm pregnancy. This DIY method detects the presence of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine to determine if you are pregnant.

How Is The Homemade Sugar Pregnancy Test Done?

To take the test, you need pure white sugar crystals, a sample of the day’s first urine, and a sterilized cup (preferably a transparent one to read the reaction).

      • Take a few spoons of simple sugar crystals in an empty cup.
      • Collect your urine sample in a separate cup.
      • Pour the urine into the cup containing the sugar and wait to see the result.
      • If you notice sugar clumping in the mixture, then it is said to be positive.

How Is The Sugar Pregnancy Test Said To Work?

There are no scientific studies that explain how sugar reacts to the hCG hormone in the urine to give off a reaction. Some proponents state that hCG makes it difficult for sugar to dissolve and forms clumps instead. However, there is no medical backing to this claim.

How Accurate Is Home Pregnancy Test With Sugar?

Homemade pregnancy tests may not be 100% perfect, and the same is the case with the sugar test for pregnancy. It neither has any evidence from any medical organization nor does any medical expert talk about its accuracy. If you still want to try this test, you should back it up with a pregnancy kit that can be used one to two weeks after you have missed your periods (1).

When Should You Take The Sugar Pregnancy Test?

Take pregnancy test with sugar a week after your missed period

Image: Shutterstock

If you like to give it a try, then do it a week after you miss your period. It usually takes around two weeks for the hCG level to increase in the urine after implantation (2). You should take the test in the morning with the first urine sample of the day when the hCG content is high (1).

How To Read Sugar Pregnancy Test Results?

It is believed that leaving the solution untouched for some time could give the results.

      • A positive test result shows sugar chunks. They claim that hCG reacts with sugar crystals to give the reaction.
      • A negative result is when there is no such reaction, and sugar gets dissolved in urine.

If you feel you might be pregnant, then over-the-counter pregnancy test kits are the only options that may work in determining your pregnancy. Comparing the sugar test to traditional methods highlights the importance of accuracy and reliability in pregnancy testing. While DIY methods may provide initial insights, they should never replace professional medical advice.

How To Test For Pregnancy?

Pregnancy could be detected by the following test methods:

      • Home pregnancy test kits detect the presence of the hCG hormone in the urine (3). They are known for their affordability, accessibility, and reliability, making them a useful indication of pregnancy. Taking a pregnancy test at home is pretty simple and straightforward. Yet, sometimes, they might result in false-positive or false-negative test results. To get an accurate reading, you may consider taking the urine pregnancy test at least one week after the missed period. Also, taking first-morning urine has the highest levels of pregnancy hormones.
protip_icon Quick fact
Around 10 to 20 women out of 100 cannot detect their pregnancy on the first day of their missed period because they may have irregular periods or miscalculate when their periods are due (1).
      • Clinical pregnancy tests include a blood test and urine test, or either of them to detect the pregnancy. The urine testing method works similar to the home pregnancy test, but the sample is sent to the laboratory for testing. Blood tests are again of two kinds – Qualitative (check the presence of pregnancy hormone) and quantitative (detect the amount of hCG hormone) (4).
Confirm your pregnancy with home and clinical pregnancy tests

Image: Shutterstock

When To See A Doctor?

If you have missed your period or had unprotected sex, then you may check for early pregnancy symptoms by consulting a doctor. The symptoms may include missing your period, morning sickness, constipation, bloating, abdominal cramps, fatigue, and breast tenderness (5). If you have concerns about the reliability of home tests, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for accurate testing.

protip_icon Point to consider
Some women may even experience spotting or light bleeding as a sign of pregnancy. This is called implantation bleeding, which happens when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall (5).

A pregnancy test with sugar could be an inexpensive way to determine pregnancy. But its inefficiency is incomparable to store-bought pregnancy kits.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often can I perform a pregnancy test with sugar?

There is no suggested frequency for using sugar as an alternative pregnancy test because it’s unreliable. For accurate results, use a trustworthy pregnancy test kit or seek medical advice.

2. How can I dispose of the materials used in a pregnancy test with sugar?

Flush the urine and sugar mixture in the toilet. Wrap the cups in old newspaper or plastic and throw them in the trash. It is not advisable to reuse them for hygiene purposes.

3. Can a pregnancy test with sugar detect an ectopic, chemical, molar pregnancy, or a miscarriage?

No. It is unreliable for determining pregnancy or identifying pregnancy-related complications.

4. What are the common misconceptions about a pregnancy test with sugar?

Common misconceptions about a sugar pregnancy test include its reliability, miscarriage detection ability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. However, it lacks accuracy and cannot detect miscarriages, causing misjudgments that may affect maternal and fetal health.

5. Can a pregnancy test with sugar be used to determine the gender of a baby?

No, a pregnancy test with sugar cannot be used to determine the gender of a baby.

Infographic: Important Points To Know About The Pregnancy Test With Sugar

When you cannot wait to test for pregnancy at a healthcare facility, you may be curious to explore homemade tests to know whether you are pregnant. Skim through this infographic for a quick look at what to know before performing a DIY pregnancy test with sugar.

testing for pregnancy with sugar (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

1. Pregnancy; U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2017)
2. hCG levels; Healthdirect
3. Signs of Pregnancy/The Pregnancy Test; The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
4. Signs of Pregnancy; Beaumont Health
5. Early Signs of Pregnancy; American Pregnancy Association

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Dr. Umera Zakiahmed Saiyed
Dr. Umera Zakiahmed SaiyedBHMS
Dr. Umera Zakiahmed Saiyed is a homoeopathic consultant and runs her own clinic Noor. She pursued her BHMS from Yerela Medical College in Kharghar, Mumbai and worked as an assistant doctor under a gynaecologist in Surat, Gujarat.

Read full bio of Dr. Umera Zakiahmed Saiyed
shreeja pillai
shreeja pillaiMSc
Shreeja holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and diploma in Drug Regulatory Affairs from the University of Mumbai. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a research analyst with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company.

Read full bio of shreeja pillai
Rebecca Malachi
Rebecca MalachiBSc
Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi
Reshmi Das
Reshmi DasMSc
Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

Read full bio of Reshmi Das
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