"Eighteen dollars to pee on a stick?" she whispered to herself. As a grad student living on caffeine and prayer, that was three days' worth of groceries.

Inside, the vibe was different—less sterile, more chaotic. She navigated past the seasonal tinsel and the wall of off-brand chips until she found the health section. There, tucked between the bandages and the aspirin, were the "New Choice" tests. They were $1.25.

When the single, lonely control line appeared on all of them, Mia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She was broke, but she wasn't pregnant, and she had enough money left over for a very celebratory burrito.

The price tags, however, were the real shock: $18 for a two-pack.