Blog - How to take a Clearblue® test
How a revolutionary Clearblue® test redefines early pregnancy detection for people over 40
In the dance of life, change is inevitable — especially when it comes to parenthood. For those over 40, thinking about how you test for pregnancy changes too. The innovative Clearblue® Early Detection Pregnancy Test with groundbreaking DualSense™ Technology is specifically tailored for the unique hormonal landscape of those who may be in perimenopause and may prevent false positive results in a very small number of women. Here we look at the science behind this technology and why it’s so important.
In this article
Let’s be really real: What are the chances of getting pregnant over 40?
Pregnancy over the age 40 is possible! Many of us know parents who gave away all their baby gear only to (surprise!) find themselves pregnant over 40. Data from the CDC shows birth rates have increased for women in their early 40s since the 1980s: “The birth rate for women aged 40-44 was 12.0 births per 1,000 women in 2021, up 2% from 2020.”1 According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “For healthy couples [trying to conceive] in their 20s and early 30s, around 1 in 4 women will get pregnant in any single menstrual cycle. By age 40, around 1 in 10 will get pregnant per menstrual cycle.”2
Why should I be worried about a false positive pregnancy test over age 40?
The typical age for menopause is 51, and perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, can last four to eight years.3 Pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin), which appears during early pregnancy soon after implantation.4 Although false positives when testing for pregnancy are rare, a very small number of non-pregnant women may have low levels of hCG in their urine during the menopause transition.3,4 Clearblue® studied urinary hCG in nearly 500 women, and in one study of over 100 perimenopausal non-pregnant women ages 40-50, the level of hCG ranged from 0 to 8.9 mIU/ml, and in 3% of the participants, hCG concentration was more than 5 mIU/ml.5
Pregnancy testing hCG and FSH — why both matter when you’re over 40
If you’re over the age of 40 and wondering if you’re pregnant, your FSH levels may help determine where your hCG is coming from.6 In a very small number of non-pregnant women, elevated levels of hCG and FSH can occur during perimenopause and postmenopause.6 But when you’re pregnant, hCG rises and FSH remains low.7
Enter Clearblue® Early Detection Pregnancy Test with DualSense™ Technology
The new Clearblue® Early Detection Pregnancy Test features DualSense™ Technology. For the very small number of non-pregnant women who may have low levels of hCG in their urine, this technology can help reduce the risk of false positives by detecting hCG while also recognizing the presence or absence of high levels of FSH in some of these women. If hCG is raised in the presence of high levels of FSH, the hCG is unlikely to be due to pregnancy, and thanks to DualSense™ Technology, the test should deliver a negative result.
The Clearblue® Early Detection Pregnancy Test is over 99% accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day you expect your period.8 This test can tell you if you’re pregnant 6 days sooner than your missed period (which is 5 days before you expect your period).9
As you enter the later stages of your reproductive years, choosing the new Clearblue® Early Detection Pregnancy Test with DualSense™ Technology offers you the clinical benefits of early testing, and for the very small number of non-pregnant women who may have low levels of hCG in their urine, it offers the potential for a reduced risk of false positives.
Related Articles
Sources and Disclaimers
- Osterman MJK, Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Driscoll AK, Valenzuela CP. Births: final data for 2021. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2023;72:1. Accessed March 21, 2024.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-01.pdf - The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Having a baby after age 35: how aging affects fertility and pregnancy. Updated February 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/having-a-baby-after-age-35-how-aging-affects-fertility-and-pregnancy - The Menopause Society. Menopause 101: a primer for the perimenopausal. Accessed February 20, 2024.
https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal - StatPearls [Internet]. Betz D, Fane K. Human chorionic gonadotropin. Updated August 14, 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532950/ - Data on file.
- Hage LE, Hatipoglu B. Elevated hCG can be a benign finding in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2021;88(11)635-639. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.88a.18069. Accessed February 20, 2024.
https://www.ccjm.org/content/88/11/635 - Zinaman, MJ, Johnson S, Warren G. HCG and FSH levels during early pregnancy and reproductive aging [24A]. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2020;135:14S. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000663040.89933.37. Accessed February 20, 2024.
https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2020/05001/HCG_and_FSH_Levels_During_Early_Pregnancy_and.46.aspx - >99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels. Note that hormone levels vary. See insert.
- Clearblue® Early Detection: 77% of pregnant results can be detected 6 days before your missed period.
Find the right pregnancy test for you
Our range of pregnancy tests are especially designed to meet your individual needs, whether you need fast, early, or digital results or more information about your pregnancy.
Experiencing symptoms like period changes & hot flashes?
Clearblue® Menopause Stage Indicator with FREE-to-download app makes it easy to track your symptoms and helps you take control of your menopause journey