New Books Network Karen Weingarten, "Pregnancy Test" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Nov 27, 2025
Karen Weingarten, a Professor of English and cultural historian, delves into her book, Pregnancy Test. She highlights the revolutionary impact of the home pregnancy test in the 1970s, which shifted reproductive control from men to women. The discussion reveals how pregnancy tests have complicated the narrative of clear-cut answers, linking early detection to modern abortion debates. Weingarten also explores the commercialization of pregnancy and its cultural implications. With personal anecdotes and historical insights, she paints a nuanced picture of reproductive technology.
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Pregnancy Tests Are Not Definitive
- Pregnancy tests detect hCG but that signal can be transient and ambiguous.
- Karen Weingarten shows a positive result may reflect very early, non-viable implantation.
Family Triggered The Research
- Karen recounts her sister's chemical pregnancy that produced a brief positive test then bleeding.
- That family experience prompted deeper research into what pregnancy tests actually reveal.
Early Tests Relied On Animals
- Early reliable tests (1920s) used animals and required killing them for results.
- Public euphemisms like "the rabbit died" came from this invasive lab practice.
