Does the Sugar Pregnancy Test Work? MDs Explain

Getting a pregnancy test can sometimes feel intimidating. Maybe you aren’t totally comfortable going to your local drugstore and buying a test, or you’re worried somebody will see it if it comes through the mail. If procuring the test isn’t the issue, you might just want to save your money or find a more affordable alternative. These are just a few of the motivations that have led to TikTok’s sugar pregnancy test. But does it actually work?

“It’s pretty simple, all you need to do is put a few spoonfuls of white sugar in a sterilized bowl and pour your first morning’s urine over the sugar,” one couple says in a March TikTok with over one million views and 45K likes. “If the sugar clumps up after a few minutes, you’re pregnant. If the sugar dissolves and doesn’t clump up you’re not.”

The hack is apparently based on an old legend (although the exact story remains unclear). However, despite it trending on social media, experts say there’s zero scientific evidence that the sugar pregnancy test works. Still curious? Read on to learn more about the sugar pregnancy test, the theory behind it, and how accurate it really is — according to doctors.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Jennifer Wider, MD, is a nationally renowned women’s health expert, author and radio host.

Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.

Meleen Chuang, MD, is a clinical associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone.

Veleka Willis, MD, is a clinical associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone. Christine Greves, MD, is an ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

What Is the DIY Sugar Pregnancy Test?

TikTok’s DIY sugar pregnancy test is relatively simple. Based off of urban legend, it involves pouring your urine over white sugar. The results, fans swear, can tell you if you’re pregnant or not, depending on whether the sugar dissolves or clumps up.

There’s no set recipe for the sugar pregnancy test, but there does seem to be a general consensus. It starts with a few spoonfuls of white sugar in a clean bowl. From here, you’re supposed to pour your morning urine (it’s more concentrated than your pee during other times of day) over the sugar. Don’t stir or mix it — just wait. What the test doesn’t specify is how much urine to pour over the sugar. According to people who have tried the test, the sugar will clump if you’re pregnant (or there will be undissolved sugar crystals left on the bottom after a few minutes). If you’re not pregnant, it will dissolve.

What Is the Theory Behind the DIY Sugar Pregnancy Test?

It’s important to stress that this is a theory — not a fact. “The idea is that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone produced by the placenta, cannot dissolve easily in sugar,” explains Jennifer Wider, MD. “So if you pour urine that contains this hormone — which is a marker for pregnancy — over sugar, it will clump up rather than dissolve.” Again, in theory.

Is the DIY Sugar Pregnancy Test Accurate?

The short answer is no. “This ‘test’ has been around for a while, and it still has no scientific merit,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD. HCG doesn’t cause sugar to clump, she says, rendering this test practically pointless. Whether or not sugar clumps depends on a few different factors. “Sugar can clump or form lumps when mixed with certain liquid mediums or certain conditions,” says Meleen Chuang, MD. “If you pour water into sugar and let it sit undisturbed, the sugar may dissolve or form clumps depending on the temperature and concentration of the sugar solution.”

Other factors, like the temperature of the room, how much humidity is present, and the size of the sugar crystals, can also impact clumping, Dr. Chuang says. With all this in mind, “the clumping of sugar in different liquid mediums is not related to pregnancy,” she adds.

Veleka Willis, MD, calls the sugar pregnancy test a “cool idea,” but notes that there’s “no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness or accuracy of DIY sugar pregnancy tests.” If you want accurate results, it’s really best to stick with pregnancy tests you buy in the store. Otherwise, visit your doctor for an in-office test, says Christine Greves, MD. “Even the dollar-store ones are better than a few spoonfuls of sugar,” she says.

Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.