Answer:
The quick answer is that the ring can help the camera focus on the lines, especially when the test line is faint.
Remember, hCG is the pregnancy hormone that can be detected ~12–14 days after conception by a home pregnancy test. hCG levels will double every 72 hours, so if you test early, the line will be faint. You may hear this faint line referred to as a “squinter”, meaning you have to look really hard to see it. Some women put a ring around the test window to help the camera focus on the results before sharing the photo with friends or in a group. Another trick you may see is people inverting the photo.
We don’t recommend either of these “tricks” because they may show a line that is actually not a positive test result. Sometimes, a faint line is actually an evaporation line. Evaporation lines can appear in the test result window as urine evaporates from the stick. It doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant.
If you have a “squinter’” we recommend testing again tomorrow or the next day. If you arepregnant, then the test line will get darker as the hCG in your system increases. Of course, you’re still welcome to include your ring in the photo if you like!
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