The salt pregnancy test is a homemade test that’s said to show you whether or not you’re expecting a baby.
All you need is a sample of your pee, a clean container, and some table salt—no need to go out and buy an expensive home pregnancy test from the drugstore. Sounds too good to be true?
That’s because, unfortunately, it is. There’s no scientific evidence to prove that a homemade pregnancy test using salt works.
A medically approved pregnancy testing kit is still the way forward if you want to find out whether you’re pregnant.
That said, if you want to go ahead and do a pregnancy test with salt at home for fun—go for it. Just don’t rely on the result. Or, in other words, take it with a grain of salt!
Let’s find out more.
How does the salt pregnancy test work?
First, a quick history lesson. People have been trying to use urine to detect pregnancy since ancient Egyptian times.
But an accurate urine-based pregnancy test wasn’t developed until the 20th century, after the game-changing discovery of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
This is the hormone that’s produced once an embryo implants in your uterus. Modern home pregnancy testing kits work by detecting hCG in your urine.
You simply need to pee on a stick or strip and leave it for a few minutes to see if the result is “positive” or “negative.”
With a salt pregnancy test, the claim is that this can also detect hCG in your pee. All you need to do is to mix your pee with some salt.
If the mixture changes (more on this below), it’s believed this is caused by the salt reacting with hCG. And this means you’re pregnant.
So, does the salt pregnancy test work?
Sadly, no. There’s no evidence that salt reacts with hCG at all (and no scientific reason why it should).
The truth is that no studies have been carried out to prove that the salt pregnancy test works, and health professionals don’t recommend it.
It’s simply not an effective alternative to a store-bought pregnancy testing kit.
How do you take a pregnancy test with salt?
If you want to have a go at doing a salt pregnancy test for fun, here’s how you do it:
- Collect a sample of your pee in a container
- Put some table salt in a clear bowl
- Pour your pee on top of the salt
- Wait (for a few minutes or hours—opinions differ on this)
Some people recommend that you do the test in the morning with your first pee of the day. This has the strongest concentration of hCG.
But, again, there’s no actual evidence that salt reacts with the hormone.
Salt pregnancy test: positive vs. negative result
Salt pregnancy test enthusiasts disagree about what exactly should happen to the salty pee mixture to give a positive or negative result.
What does a positive result look like?
In theory, if you’re pregnant the mixture will change to look “cheesy” or “milky”. It might also foam up at the top.
What does a negative result look like?
If you’re not pregnant, it’s thought that the mixture won’t change. It’ll just look like pee with some salt in it.
Alternatives to the salt pregnancy test
As we’ve mentioned, it’s best not to rely on the result of a salt pregnancy test.
Sure, the test might end up being “right” some of the time (there’s a 50/50 chance!), but it’s best to confirm your pregnancy using a medically approved test.
Here are your main options:
- An at-home pregnancy testing kit. If your budget is tight, there are plenty of low-cost kits available online.
- A urine pregnancy test at a medical center. Your insurance may cover this, or you might be able to get a free test at a family planning clinic.
- A blood pregnancy test. This is where a sample of your blood is taken by a medical technician and sent to be tested for hCG.
How can you find out you’re pregnant without a test?
Early pregnancy signs can give you a clue that you’re expecting a baby.
Here are some of the most common ones:
- Missing your period
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Tender breasts
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Peeing more than normal
It’s still a good idea to do a home pregnancy test though, or get a test at your doctor’s office. Then, if you are pregnant, you can get started with your prenatal care right away.
Good luck!
