Pregnancy Tests: When to Take One, Accuracy, and Results

Table of Content

• Irregular period, worried about pregnancy
• False positive and negative results
• How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

Something else to consider is whether you know if your period is even late. Perimenopausal women have somewhat elevated levels of circulating hCG, even when they’re not pregnant. If the urine collected has been sitting around for too long before testing—usually 30 minutes or more—a false negative result can occur. Early pregnancy test manufacturers market to your desire to get answers as early as possible. It is not hard to see the advertising on the box and read the claims of 99% accuracy along with the ability to detect pregnancy six days before your missed period.

For most home pregnancy tests, you put the end of the test in your urine stream, dip the test in a container of urine or put several drops of urine onto the test. It's often a plus or a minus sign, the words "yes" or "no," one line or two lines, or the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant." In one European study, seven pregnancy tests were tested for accuracy. Three of those seven tests were accurate 97.6% to 100% of the time.

Irregular period, worried about pregnancy

However, this actually doesn't apply to early results. If you ovulated a little late, you may have conceived later in your cycle. In this case, there may not be enough hCG for these tests to detect until closer to or after your missed period. HCG levels should almost double every 48 hours at the beginning of pregnancy. If you are pregnant and you wait a few days to take the test, it is more likely to be positive. Blood tests to detect pregnancy are rarely done routinely because they are expensive and the same results can be obtained from a urine test.

Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of a hormone called hCG in your urine. Some at-home pregnancy tests claim they're sensitive enough to give a positive result as early as five days before your next period. But you're more likely to get an accurate result if you wait until the first day of your missed period.

False positive and negative results

But some providers will see you sooner, especially if you have a medical condition or have had problems with a pregnancy in the past. It's especially important to see your provider sooner if you're having nausea and vomiting, vaginal bleeding, or abdominal pain. Some women take more than one home pregnancy test just to be sure – but that's not really necessary.

You've had a miscarriage or terminated a pregnancy in the past eight weeks, or have a molar pregnancy. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help you get the key vitamins and minerals needed to support the growth of the fetus as the pregnancy progresses . It’s recommended to start taking folic acid before becoming pregnant to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects, a birth defect to the brain and spine .

How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

Pregnancy tests can give a positive result 8 to 10 days after sex if you are pregnant.But there are a few things you need to keep in mind when testing for pregnancy. Over-the-counter tests for pregnancy are usually sticks you dip into urine. If you have a positive result and then get your period soon after, you may have had what's called a chemical pregnancy. This means the embryo implanted in your uterus and developed just enough to start producing detectable levels of hCG, but then it stopped developing.

Different tests reveal the results in different ways too. Some show pink or blue lines on the test strip, while others have a red plus or minus sign in a window. Digital tests give results in words ("You're pregnant"). Most have a control indicator that tells you whether the test is valid. Your urine is most concentrated when you first get up.

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If you don’t know when you ovulated, wait until the day your period is due. One negative result doesn't necessarily mean you're not pregnant. Every woman produces different amounts of hCG and it's not even the same for each pregnancy. Most women who have a positive pregnancy test should wait a week or two before calling the Ob/Gyn office for a pregnancy blood test or ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy.

And learn some of the possible drawbacks of home testing. When you are farther along in pregnancy, there is a greater chance of the test detecting hCG at any time in the day. With pregnancy testing, timing is everything because the amount of hCG in your urine increases as the pregnancy progresses.

If this is your situation, call your doctor, and don’t just order a test on your own. There are other reasons besides pregnancy that your period may be late. You might be wondering if you should also have a blood test to check if you are pregnant. Your doctor may order a test, or you may be thinking about ordering one yourself. Many labs now allow people to order and pay out of pocket for blood work. An at-home pregnancy test can't measure the exact amount of pregnancy hormone in your urine.

When you are trying to conceive, taking a pregnancy test can be an exciting moment. For the most reliable results, you should take a pregnancy test 1–2 weeks after your missed period, using the first urine of the day. However, it’s understandable if you’re tempted to test earlier. Waiting the appropriate amount of time will reduce your risk of a false-negative result and potentially save you some heartache.