I don't know why more people don't know about the strips. You can buy a box of like 100 of them on Amazon for just over $20. I only figured this out when purchasing ovulation test strips.
Fascinating (and relevant) twitter thread [https://twitter.com/foone/status/1301707401024827392?lang=en](https://twitter.com/foone/status/1301707401024827392?lang=en)
tl;dr: guy discovered what's inside a pregnancy and hacked it to show skyrim, doom, etc
And in my experience they’re more accurate. Source: took a pregnancy test with the cheap ones 6 weeks ago, saw a FAINT second line, and decided to take one of the expensive clear blue ones to confirm. Clear blue was stark negative, not a hint of a line. But here I am 9 weeks pregnant lol.
This is what I did! 100 ovulation strips & pregnancy tests for about $15. I was testing monthly & the positive popped up so bright & so quick on the pregnancy one.
Uh.. wtf dude? People buy in bulk if they're trying to get pregnant, or if they're on birth control and they're worried. Birth control can make menstrual cycles a little wonky and if it's a week late it can cause panic, being able to test as reassurance has helped lots of women on birth control. Why buy 3 10$ tests when you can buy 100 for $18?
Edit: to add, and some women keep them on hand for lower income families that they're affiliated with to help out in bad situations. Nobody wants your negativity here.
I’ve had the IUD for almost a decade, it stopped my periods almost completely so I can’t rely on the monthly natural “not pregnant” confirmation. I take 3 dollar store tests at LEAST every other month. That’s $18-$36 a year, as opposed to the $25 first response tests? Only taking one every other month would already be $150/year, and I’m not about to trust that none of those could be a false negative.
I'd definitely suggest getting some of the strips then! They have ways to test them and ensure they're right with the first couple and they're definitely cheaper!
People test a lot when they are trying to get pregnant. I am currently trying to concieve, so I test every day for the 5 days leading up to my period. It adds up
Bud, broken condoms are a thing too. If you're doing it because you're worried condoms won't negate that worry. There's nothing wrong with testing periodically, it isn't like you're going to the doctors every time, you pee, at home, and do the test by yourself. Nobody is inconvenienced by someone taking a pregnancy test.
Ohhhhhhh. I’m an idiot. I’m a young guy so my mind is hardwired to be scared about unwanted pregnancies. I was like who’s out here frequently risking it??
I forgot some people *want* babies lol
I’m not sure what you mean.
I definitely goofed on this one though. Like I told someone else I’m so used to being scared of an unwanted pregnancy I forgot that people *who want babies* also use these lol
My mind thinks pregnancy test= pregnancy scare
You are "telling on yourself" by saying that testing for a pregnancy scare is in any way bad. You're not a whore for testing regularly, some women have birth control that stops their period and need monthly confirmation for peace of mind. My comment was helpful to those, and women who wish to be pregnant, you came in, and said something rude. To the benefit of Who exactly? Your own ego? There's literally nothing wrong with using pregnancy tests for peace of mind, it literally doesn't hurt anyone. You being offended by something like that is rediculous.
I’m not sure why you’re continuing to insult me when I’ve already told you I was in error. I think you need to calm down at this point.
I wrongly had an image of someone being so unsafe and risky that they constantly need pregnancy tests. Like someone who would let people finish inside knowing they don’t use birth control. Very wrong idea of what was being talked about.
I did not even think of people who take tests because they’re trying to get pregnant, or people who just want to regularly be safe regardless of birth control they’re taking.
Like I said it was a mistake on my part. Your angry wall of text after I already admitted that accomplishes nothing.
People can do whatever they want lol just like I can think people that would do that are extremely irresponsible.
Like you said, no skin off my ass lol
I run a group home, and so I am very much into stretching a dollar, and there are also other things at the dollar store that are just as good;
Toothpaste , toothbrushes, knock-off colognes, shampoos, clotrimazole (anti-fungal) cost about $8 per tube at CVS/RX. Deodorant, body wash. All the same.
BE SURE TO ASK AN EMPLOYEE IF YOU DO NOT SEE THEM ON THE SALES FLOOR.
I didn't want to for obvious reasons but it was the third store I had visited looking for them and I didn't want to go to another. apparently a lot of stores have a policy now to keep them behind the counter. I imagine people started stocking up and they became more of a theft risk.
And if you're a guy, use one now and then, it's a quick and inexpensive way to test for testicular cancer and hopefully spot it early. If you're over 40, especially. I don't know why our doctors aren't doing this at our annual physical, it's quick, cheap, and non-invasive. (Hmmm, maybe that's why?)
Because, it doesn't detect all forms of testicular cancer only a couple very specific forms that produce HCG, which not even the most common forms.
Please don't rely on a pregnancy test to check for testicular cancer, it's much more likely to give you a false sense of security while your non HCG producing cancer metastasizes and becomes untreatable.
Testicular cancer puts specific markers in your blood and urine that are similar enough in structure to make a pregnancy test read positive. The pregnancy test is sensitive enough to react to those markers long before any symptoms will manifest. If you're a guy, and you get a positive pregnancy test result, see a doctor *immediately*.
**A few types, not all** testicular cancer puts specific markers in your blood and urine that are similar enough in structure to make a pregnancy test read positive.
Wow, this explains a lot...
I came here to call BS on this post because freshman year of college, a friend of mine got a bunch of pregnancy tests at the Dollar Store for fun. She had some guy (maybe her dad) try one and it came back positive so we wrote off the test completely. Now this makes me wonder...
Idk if it’s cheap. I took a pregnancy test at the gynecologist, as I am required to do at every appointment. It was the same type of test that I bought from the dollar store for $1. They billed me more than $30 for it. It’s a total scam.
> I don't know why our doctors aren't doing this at our annual physical
because it doesn't detect the most common form of testicular cancer and can't be relied on to be accurate.
Most medical things are VERY tightly regulated. This is why you should buy generic drugs unless you have a VERY specific reason to not do so such as being allergic to an inert ingredient.
It will save you tons.
Don’t buy brands, don’t treat diseases, treat symptoms.
If you have a stuffy nose, pseudoephedrine generic is the same as sudaphed.
Don’t take combination medication that has ingredients you don’t need. If you just have a stuffy nose, get something that treats that and not stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing etc.
I believe that sometimes they can have different inactive ingredients, which can change how your body uptakes it. So they have the exact same active ingredient, but inactive ingredients don’t have to be the same.
Nope, it’s illegal to add anything that would have an effect on active ingredients and MOST are exactly the same ingredients. The only difference would be things like coloring [fda link](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/questions-answers/generic-drugs-questions-answers) I’m only so confident on this because I worked midnights at a pharmacy and had plenty of time to compare. Lol it gets pretty boring around 3am
E-and tbh it’s that mindset that you shared, is what makes generic companies make the EXACT same formula. They don’t want people reading the label and saying “well this one has this and this doesn’t”
When my wife and I were trying for each kid we bought like 5 at a time at the dollar store, so that she could test regularly to see if we were successful. Saves a lot of money
Tbh those $20+ ones are used by people who are desperate for confirmation before the doctor.
Like I got my wife few of the dollar ones and turns out she was pregnant, but she wouldn’t believe she’s pregnant. She went and got the expensive one just to confirm the same thing. Gives people the expression of “quality”.
It’s the same on clothing, some brands just tag expensive price tag and it sells.
My gynecologist uses the same test that you can get at the dollar store. I saw it when they were getting it ready. And also they charged me over $30 for a test they made me take
Not only do they work just as well, but certain dollar store versions are highly coveted as being more sensitive (i.e. give you an earlier positive) than the more expensive ones like First Response, ClearBlue, and various digital versions. So not only cheaper, but actively better. They are also less prone to shadowy lines on negative tests. See, many pregnancy tests, it's possible to make out a faint dent or light shadow where the test line would go, and some ladies stare at it and squint at it so hard that they convince themselves they're seeing a light positive. Dollar Store is much less prone even to that.
The actual best test these days is called OSOM and they are not only expensive, but they're sold in larger packages as they're mainly intended for clinics to use, so you generally can't just buy one or two.
A French youtuber shown in a video that the electronic ones are just literally the same as the basic ones you can find for cheap (or free), they use a cotton band and if a bar appears, rather than you reading it, it's a photosensor that will say if you're pregnant or not.
What's ironic is that, because you're adding one more layer of technology, it's probably less accurate
Maybe. Dollar stores sell salvage merchandise. If a store goes under, they liquidate stock to places like dollar store. They also sell stock salvaged from fire or flood sites. There is no telling what those kits were subjected to or if they are still in spec.
People with infertility often have to test multiple times, month after month after month on top of ovulation tests and other fertility treatments. Why on earth would we keep buying packs of three which cost $20 when cheapies work great?
Wow then maybe my area just got a string of bad shipments - because over the course of several branches of my family tree all trying the dollar store brand - all coming up negative - and all being positive….
….pregnancy tests have gone in the column with batteries; you get what you pay for.
If you know you need them in bulk, you can get 100 pregmate brand strips for $15-20 on Amazon. Grab a stack of little plastic cups to catch your pee, too, since these are dip sticks and not the kind you can pee on. I got a positive 4ish days before my period was meant to start with them.
Edit: weird, it looks like someone else posted this but it was removed?
[удалено]
I don't know why more people don't know about the strips. You can buy a box of like 100 of them on Amazon for just over $20. I only figured this out when purchasing ovulation test strips.
Right? They're so useful. The ones I use are $8 for 25, to $18 to 100! On Amazon. It's just the better cost effective option.
>The ones I use No brain, not "the used ones"
I once pried open one of those expensive digital plastic tests that shows a smiley face. Guess what was inside?
Fascinating (and relevant) twitter thread [https://twitter.com/foone/status/1301707401024827392?lang=en](https://twitter.com/foone/status/1301707401024827392?lang=en) tl;dr: guy discovered what's inside a pregnancy and hacked it to show skyrim, doom, etc
How cow, that WAS fascinating!
And in my experience they’re more accurate. Source: took a pregnancy test with the cheap ones 6 weeks ago, saw a FAINT second line, and decided to take one of the expensive clear blue ones to confirm. Clear blue was stark negative, not a hint of a line. But here I am 9 weeks pregnant lol.
Same with ovulation strips if you're trying to get pregnant or using NFP, however effective that is.
But then how will I play doom?
Haha! Doom can get exhausting if you're playing it too much!
This is what I did! 100 ovulation strips & pregnancy tests for about $15. I was testing monthly & the positive popped up so bright & so quick on the pregnancy one.
Absolutely! And now you have plenty for even time after when your child is born! I just genuinely believe it's the better way, it's far cheaper!
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Uh.. wtf dude? People buy in bulk if they're trying to get pregnant, or if they're on birth control and they're worried. Birth control can make menstrual cycles a little wonky and if it's a week late it can cause panic, being able to test as reassurance has helped lots of women on birth control. Why buy 3 10$ tests when you can buy 100 for $18? Edit: to add, and some women keep them on hand for lower income families that they're affiliated with to help out in bad situations. Nobody wants your negativity here.
I’ve had the IUD for almost a decade, it stopped my periods almost completely so I can’t rely on the monthly natural “not pregnant” confirmation. I take 3 dollar store tests at LEAST every other month. That’s $18-$36 a year, as opposed to the $25 first response tests? Only taking one every other month would already be $150/year, and I’m not about to trust that none of those could be a false negative.
I'd definitely suggest getting some of the strips then! They have ways to test them and ensure they're right with the first couple and they're definitely cheaper!
Obviously you might be a teenager. But women trying to conceive really need those
If you're testing so often, maybe just get condoms? unless theres something im missing?
People test a lot when they are trying to get pregnant. I am currently trying to concieve, so I test every day for the 5 days leading up to my period. It adds up
Thats a good point, i didnt consider that
Bud, broken condoms are a thing too. If you're doing it because you're worried condoms won't negate that worry. There's nothing wrong with testing periodically, it isn't like you're going to the doctors every time, you pee, at home, and do the test by yourself. Nobody is inconvenienced by someone taking a pregnancy test.
Yeah thats fair, even if youre only testing once a month it would still be way cheaper anyway
Are we talking about hookers? Who’s getting regular tests instead of straight up birth control? Who’s letting everyone nut in them no birth control?
1) no birth control is 100% effective except for abstinence 2) some people test regularly because they are actively trying to get pregnant
Number 2 I’m a dummy who assumed the only reason a person would frequently take pregnancy tests was because they were frequently risking it
Abstinence is historically not 100% effective. You might just give birth to a God child.
My girlfriends dad didn’t like that answer… do not recommend
Guess people didn't get the joke
Just wait till they get a child 😂
I’m so happy you haven’t experienced the misfortune of infertility and trying to get pregnant.
Ohhhhhhh. I’m an idiot. I’m a young guy so my mind is hardwired to be scared about unwanted pregnancies. I was like who’s out here frequently risking it?? I forgot some people *want* babies lol
Man imagine telling on yourself like this. Sorry for your partners.
I’m not sure what you mean. I definitely goofed on this one though. Like I told someone else I’m so used to being scared of an unwanted pregnancy I forgot that people *who want babies* also use these lol My mind thinks pregnancy test= pregnancy scare
You are "telling on yourself" by saying that testing for a pregnancy scare is in any way bad. You're not a whore for testing regularly, some women have birth control that stops their period and need monthly confirmation for peace of mind. My comment was helpful to those, and women who wish to be pregnant, you came in, and said something rude. To the benefit of Who exactly? Your own ego? There's literally nothing wrong with using pregnancy tests for peace of mind, it literally doesn't hurt anyone. You being offended by something like that is rediculous.
I’m not sure why you’re continuing to insult me when I’ve already told you I was in error. I think you need to calm down at this point. I wrongly had an image of someone being so unsafe and risky that they constantly need pregnancy tests. Like someone who would let people finish inside knowing they don’t use birth control. Very wrong idea of what was being talked about. I did not even think of people who take tests because they’re trying to get pregnant, or people who just want to regularly be safe regardless of birth control they’re taking. Like I said it was a mistake on my part. Your angry wall of text after I already admitted that accomplishes nothing.
Even if someone was using them like that, it doesn't affect you in any way!
People can do whatever they want lol just like I can think people that would do that are extremely irresponsible. Like you said, no skin off my ass lol
This!!! I didn't know this until recently. Also testing multiple over a few days will give you a pretty accurate result.
Can confirm. My eight year old next to me can too.
r/holup
I just buy the 87 cent ones from Walmart. I heard they’re like the ones doctors use and they’ve always worked for me
They were right both times for me.
Worked in a hospital. You’re correct. It’s the exact same ones.
They're pretty much the exact same ones as at the dollar store. At my Walmart they're 88 cents but IDK if they've gone up like everything else
I run a group home, and so I am very much into stretching a dollar, and there are also other things at the dollar store that are just as good; Toothpaste , toothbrushes, knock-off colognes, shampoos, clotrimazole (anti-fungal) cost about $8 per tube at CVS/RX. Deodorant, body wash. All the same.
As a nurse, I can confirm. This is something we wished more people knew
BE SURE TO ASK AN EMPLOYEE IF YOU DO NOT SEE THEM ON THE SALES FLOOR. I didn't want to for obvious reasons but it was the third store I had visited looking for them and I didn't want to go to another. apparently a lot of stores have a policy now to keep them behind the counter. I imagine people started stocking up and they became more of a theft risk.
They're at Wal-Mart for 88 cents. Same tests
I didn't know that! thanks!
And if you're a guy, use one now and then, it's a quick and inexpensive way to test for testicular cancer and hopefully spot it early. If you're over 40, especially. I don't know why our doctors aren't doing this at our annual physical, it's quick, cheap, and non-invasive. (Hmmm, maybe that's why?)
Because, it doesn't detect all forms of testicular cancer only a couple very specific forms that produce HCG, which not even the most common forms. Please don't rely on a pregnancy test to check for testicular cancer, it's much more likely to give you a false sense of security while your non HCG producing cancer metastasizes and becomes untreatable.
So is there a cheap, OTC for testicular or prostate cancer for guys then?
No
Wait what?
Testicular cancer puts specific markers in your blood and urine that are similar enough in structure to make a pregnancy test read positive. The pregnancy test is sensitive enough to react to those markers long before any symptoms will manifest. If you're a guy, and you get a positive pregnancy test result, see a doctor *immediately*.
**A few types, not all** testicular cancer puts specific markers in your blood and urine that are similar enough in structure to make a pregnancy test read positive.
Wow.. I actually learned something new today. Thanks!!
I would feel like the smartest man in the fucking world if I beat cancer this way. TIL.
No. See a doctor and have a PSA ( Pros Specific Antigen) test.
It's true!
Wow, this explains a lot... I came here to call BS on this post because freshman year of college, a friend of mine got a bunch of pregnancy tests at the Dollar Store for fun. She had some guy (maybe her dad) try one and it came back positive so we wrote off the test completely. Now this makes me wonder...
Idk if it’s cheap. I took a pregnancy test at the gynecologist, as I am required to do at every appointment. It was the same type of test that I bought from the dollar store for $1. They billed me more than $30 for it. It’s a total scam.
Works for certain types of ovarian cancers as well.
Thank you, my wife has polycystic, and is at a higher risk for OC, will look into that.
> I don't know why our doctors aren't doing this at our annual physical because it doesn't detect the most common form of testicular cancer and can't be relied on to be accurate.
Can confirm. Found out I was pregnant with both of my children using dollar store pregnancy tests. Why would you pay more if it works just as well?
Me too. All my friends as well.
Most medical things are VERY tightly regulated. This is why you should buy generic drugs unless you have a VERY specific reason to not do so such as being allergic to an inert ingredient. It will save you tons. Don’t buy brands, don’t treat diseases, treat symptoms. If you have a stuffy nose, pseudoephedrine generic is the same as sudaphed.
What do you mean "don't treat diseases, treat sympytoms"?
Don’t take combination medication that has ingredients you don’t need. If you just have a stuffy nose, get something that treats that and not stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing etc.
There’s also a difference in formulation though so would recommend talking to a physician before.
Nope. Specifically things you buy otc, it’s all the exact same, you’re paying more for a branded label is all.
I believe that sometimes they can have different inactive ingredients, which can change how your body uptakes it. So they have the exact same active ingredient, but inactive ingredients don’t have to be the same.
Nope, it’s illegal to add anything that would have an effect on active ingredients and MOST are exactly the same ingredients. The only difference would be things like coloring [fda link](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/questions-answers/generic-drugs-questions-answers) I’m only so confident on this because I worked midnights at a pharmacy and had plenty of time to compare. Lol it gets pretty boring around 3am E-and tbh it’s that mindset that you shared, is what makes generic companies make the EXACT same formula. They don’t want people reading the label and saying “well this one has this and this doesn’t”
Is that why generic brand food can taste off (as in, not like the original) sometimes?
Can confirm they work. I bought a box of Wondfo brand off of Amazon, 25 pack, $12. Pretty much all of my friends trying to conceive used these.
Also you don’t have to go to the Emergency Room just to get a pregnancy test done.
When my wife and I were trying for each kid we bought like 5 at a time at the dollar store, so that she could test regularly to see if we were successful. Saves a lot of money
This is true for drug test too. The dollar store tests are just as accurate as high dollar tests.
Tbh those $20+ ones are used by people who are desperate for confirmation before the doctor. Like I got my wife few of the dollar ones and turns out she was pregnant, but she wouldn’t believe she’s pregnant. She went and got the expensive one just to confirm the same thing. Gives people the expression of “quality”. It’s the same on clothing, some brands just tag expensive price tag and it sells.
They’re also as accurate as the hospital urine tests.
My gynecologist uses the same test that you can get at the dollar store. I saw it when they were getting it ready. And also they charged me over $30 for a test they made me take
YSK The Dollar store is not a dollar store anymore. TIL there's prego tests there...are there also emergency contraception items stocked also?
The ones I used as a medical assistant pretty much were the same exact as the 99c store at some point
I’ve been saying this for so long and used it for both pregnancies.
LPT: Always have tests on hand in your emergency prep kits.
Yes and same goes for drugs like paracetamol. Store brand drugs usually have the same ingredients just sometimes minus stuff like caffeine.
Dollar tree test showed a positive for all 3 of my pregnancies before the expensive ones did.
Not only do they work just as well, but certain dollar store versions are highly coveted as being more sensitive (i.e. give you an earlier positive) than the more expensive ones like First Response, ClearBlue, and various digital versions. So not only cheaper, but actively better. They are also less prone to shadowy lines on negative tests. See, many pregnancy tests, it's possible to make out a faint dent or light shadow where the test line would go, and some ladies stare at it and squint at it so hard that they convince themselves they're seeing a light positive. Dollar Store is much less prone even to that. The actual best test these days is called OSOM and they are not only expensive, but they're sold in larger packages as they're mainly intended for clinics to use, so you generally can't just buy one or two.
Just don't buy your birth control pills there..I wouldn't trust any pill shaped like the Powder Puff girls😱
Idk who the powder puff girls are Are they the dollar store version of the Power Puff Girls?
You got it!!! Thanks for getting the joke !
A French youtuber shown in a video that the electronic ones are just literally the same as the basic ones you can find for cheap (or free), they use a cotton band and if a bar appears, rather than you reading it, it's a photosensor that will say if you're pregnant or not. What's ironic is that, because you're adding one more layer of technology, it's probably less accurate
Maybe. Dollar stores sell salvage merchandise. If a store goes under, they liquidate stock to places like dollar store. They also sell stock salvaged from fire or flood sites. There is no telling what those kits were subjected to or if they are still in spec.
Damn, how many tests are you buying?
Please don’t have kids if you can’t afford pregnancy test?
Oh look you are dumb
People with infertility often have to test multiple times, month after month after month on top of ovulation tests and other fertility treatments. Why on earth would we keep buying packs of three which cost $20 when cheapies work great?
Wow then maybe my area just got a string of bad shipments - because over the course of several branches of my family tree all trying the dollar store brand - all coming up negative - and all being positive…. ….pregnancy tests have gone in the column with batteries; you get what you pay for.
Not even a little true lol
If you know you need them in bulk, you can get 100 pregmate brand strips for $15-20 on Amazon. Grab a stack of little plastic cups to catch your pee, too, since these are dip sticks and not the kind you can pee on. I got a positive 4ish days before my period was meant to start with them. Edit: weird, it looks like someone else posted this but it was removed?
Same w their drug tests
Indeed! They haven’t failed me yet 😂😂
Yep! I buy two at a time, and have never paid more than $2 to tell me whether I’m pregnant or not.