Clear Blue Early Detection Pregnancy Test
One of the most reliable brands for pregnancy tests, this Clear Blue test is 79% accurate in testing for pregnancy 6 days before the missed period and 5 days before the expected period. It’s got a classic colour changing tip for easy to read results and currently, you can get one test for just under £6 on Amazon.
I Have Irregular Periods When Should I Test To Ensure Accuracy
If your periods are irregular and vary by more than a couple of days each month, it will be harder to know when to test for pregnancy, but results from ovulation tracking can act as a guide. If your urinary ovulation monitor, which detects luteinizing hormone the hormone that triggers ovulationgets a positive result, you can test for pregnancy about 10 to 14 days afterwards. The same is true if you track your temperature and notice the subtle rise that occurs after ovulation. Simply wait 10 to 14 days before taking a pregnancy test. If you dont want to track ovulation or find it difficult, test for pregnancy once a week, says Schram.
Do Tests That Promise Early Detection Actually Work
Some specialty tests are able to detect a pregnancy as early as six days before a missed period . But the earlier you test, the less accurate the test will be because ovulation isnt perfectly consistent from month to month and implantation can vary by two or three days post-ovulation, she says. I have seen patients get quite upset when an early test is negative, only to find totally appropriate hCG levels present the day their period is due.
Also Check: What Are Some Of The Very First Signs Of Pregnancy
Pregnancy Tests And Accuracy
A positive pregnancy test is almost always correct. Some negative tests may not be correct if you tested too early.
This is called a ‘false negative’ result. The result will present as negative, but you are actually pregnant.
This happens for a few of reasons, because:
- you did the test too early
- you didn’t wait long enough before checking the result
- your urine is very diluted because you have been drinking a lot of water
- there is a fault with the test
If the result of the test is negative, and you think you might still be pregnant, repeat the test a few days later. If symptoms persist after a few negative tests, make an appointment with your GP.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Less Expensive Pregnancy Tests
The main benefit is you guessed it theyre cheaper! But they work just as well. The results of less expensive pregnancy tests will still be up to 99 percent accurate when you use them according to the manufacturers instructions.
As for the downsides? Cheaper options have fewer features that might make pregnancy testing more convenient, like a plastic handle or a slightly shorter wait time. They may also be more likely to have basic, line-based displays instead of digital readouts, which some studies suggest could be harder for users to decipher and interpret correctly. If a line on the display is super faint, for instance, you might find yourself wondering if the result really counts.
Finally, a less expensive box might contain fewer pregnancy tests. So if you like the idea of being able to reconfirm your results, it might be worth paying more for a box with more sticks or strips.
Read Also: How To Cope With Nausea During Pregnancy
Pros Of Early Pregnancy Tests
These early detection tests may offer advantages in some circumstances. You may want to discuss your testing plans with your doctor first.
Early Detection
Except for having a physician order an early hCG blood test, which is usually done only when there are medical reasons to detect pregnancy as early as possible, early home pregnancy tests are the fastest way for you to find out whether you are pregnant during a particular menstrual cycle.
The most sensitive tests on the market can potentially give you a positive result four to five days before your period is due, meaning you don’t necessarily have to wait for a missed period, or watch for other pregnancy symptoms, to find out whether you are pregnant. However, there is a significant chance of getting a false negative with these tests.
Need to Start or Stop Medications
Very early testing can be helpful if your physician plans for you to start or to discontinue any medications as soon as you discover you are pregnant.
Birth Control Failure
Early pregnancy tests may also be helpful if you were not intending to conceive but had a birth control failure around the middle of your cycle, and you want to know as soon as possible whether you are pregnant so that you can determine your desired course of action.
Pregnancy Lifestyle Changes
When Is The Best Time Of Day To Take A Pregnancy Test
The best time of day to take a pregnancy test is first thing in the morning because at that time your urine contains the highest concentration of hCG. This is particularly important the earlier you are taking your pregnancy test. You can test later in the day, but you will have a higher chance of seeing a false-negative test result because your urine will be diluted. Tips for testing include:
- Use first-morning urine .
- Dont drink a lot of fluid that could dilute your hCG levels before your test.
- Check to make sure the pregnancy test is not expired, which can provide inaccurate results. Checking the expiration date is particularly important if you keep pregnancy tests at home just in case.
- It is understandable that once you have the pregnancy test in your hands, you want to get to the answers quickly. Plus, it seems like a no-brainer because they are designed to be easy to use. Take time to read all of the instructions and follow them precisely. Even if you have taken pregnancy tests before, little variances between them can be the difference between a result you can count on and a wrong one.
- We all know how easy it is to lose track of time, so do not try to estimate when to read your results. Set a timer so you can read your test results exactly at the time directed in the instructions. Do not read the test window after that set time because a faint evaporation line can appear, which makes your test appear to be positive when it is really negative.
Recommended Reading: How Much Fish Oil To Take During Pregnancy
When To Take A Pregnancy Test
You should wait to take a pregnancy test until the first day of your missed period. Since HCG is only present once implantation of the egg occurs, there often isnt enough of the hormone to be detected until you miss your menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy tests pick up the hormone secreted after implantation, which usually occurs about two weeks after the sperm meets the egg, says Dr. Culwell. For women who have regular periods, this usually means that HCG can be detected as soon as you miss a period.
This, of course, assumes you have a regular menstrual cycle that can be easily tracked and predicted. If this isnt the case, you may choose to instead track ovulation, or when an egg is released and makes its way to the uterus where it can potentially be fertilized. An at-home ovulation predictor kit can help you track fertilization.
If this method is used, its best to take a pregnancy test approximately 14 days after a documented ovulation, says Zaher Merhi, M.D., an OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist and founder of Rejuvenating Fertility Center with locations in New York and Connecticut.
The Best Time In Your Cycle To Take A Pregnancy Test
After you become pregnant, it takes some time for hCG to increase to a detectable level.
The best time to take a pregnancy test is after your period is late. If you dont want to wait until youve missed your period, at least wait for one to two weeks after you had sex to take a test.
Everyone’s fertile window is different, depending on when they ovulate.
Menstrual bleeding typically begins 14 days after ovulation. People who ovulate on day 14 usually expect their period on day 28 or 29. People who ovulate later in the month may not expect their period until day 31 or later.
Its best to wait until the time you are sure youve missed a period to take a pregnancy test. If you are unsure when you ovulate, you can try ovulation test kits or track your basal body temperature.
You May Like: What Helps With Sickness During Pregnancy
What Can Cause An Inaccurate Pregnancy Test Result
Inaccurate test results do occur sometimes. A false-negative pregnancy test result is more common than a false-positive test result.
A false-positive pregnancy test is quite rare but happens . It can happen with a very early miscarriage, also known as a chemical pregnancy. A false-positive pregnancy test can also occur if you still have hCG in your system from fertility medications or a recent pregnancy. It takes about four to six weeks for your hCG levels to drop after miscarriage, abortion, or giving birth.
A false negative pregnancy test occurs when you are pregnant, but the pregnancy test reads negative . There are several reasons this can happen, including:
- Testing too early
The most common reason for a false negative pregnancy test is taking the test too early for hCG to be detected in your urine. You may have miscalculated when your next period was due, so recheck the calendar for accuracy. Its also possible that something caused a delay in ovulation. This delay would also cause conception and implantation to occur later than expected in your menstrual cycle. When this happens, you wont get an accurate test result until later in your cycle.
- Making a mistake performing the pregnancy test
You can also get a false test result if you made a mistake on the pregnancy test directions. They are all a little bit different, so even though you are anxious to get answers, take the time to read the directions thoroughly before you test.
- A defective pregnancy test
Whats Next If The Results Are Negative
If your test results are negative, but you want to have a baby, keep trying to get pregnant. Also make sure that you begin taking folic acid supplements, if you havent already. You wont always get pregnant from sexual intercourse depending on your menstrual cycle, so use an ovulation calculator or track your cycle on a calendar to decide when the best times are for you to get pregnant.
Learn more: Ovulation: When am I most fertile? »
If youve tried to become pregnant multiple times, consider getting a fertility test or asking your partner to get a fertility test. It can reveal whether either of you might have fertility issues that are affecting your ability to get pregnant. If youre infertile, consider other options for becoming pregnant, such as artificial insemination.
If your test results are negative and you didnt plan to get pregnant, take a second test to make sure the results are accurate. If you took the test because you were concerned that you might have gotten pregnant after unprotected sex, make sure to use any birth control necessary to prevent any future pregnancy scares.
If your results are negative but youre still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, such as a missed period, see your doctor to find out if another condition is causing your symptoms. Symptoms such as exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting are common to other conditions. Heavy exercise or excessive stress can cause missed periods as well.
Don’t Miss: Is Smoking Weed Harmful During Pregnancy
How Do You Do A Home Pregnancy Test
There are many different types of home pregnancy tests and they cost between £6-12. Most of them work by telling you to urinate onto a small stick.
There are different ways to collect your urine for the test. Depending on the test you choose, you may have to:
- Collect your urine in a cup and dip a testing stick into the liquid
- Collect your urine in a cup and use an eyedropper to move a small amount of fluid into a special container
- Place the testing stick into the area of your expected urine stream so that it will catch your urine midstream
After the recommended waiting time has passed, the tests will display your results either as a change in colour, a line, a symbol, such as plus or minus, or the words ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’.
If a line or plus symbol appears, you are pregnant. It doesnt matter how faint the line or plus symbol is, the result is positive.
Most brands will advise you to repeat the test in a few days, no matter what the result.
If your first result is negative, it doesnt mean youre not pregnant. There might not be enough hCG in your body yet take it again in a few days.If your first result is positive, youre almost definitely pregnant. False positives are very rare, although they do sometimes happen, especially if you are on certain medication.
How Do I Use A Home Pregnancy Test
All home pregnancy tests come with written instructions. Depending on the brand you buy, the instructions may vary:
- You hold a stick in your urine stream.
- You pee into a cup and dip the stick into it.
- You pee into a cup and then use a dropper to put a few drops of the urine into a special container.
Different brands tell you to wait different amounts of time, although most are around 2 minutes. Depending on the brand of the test, you may see a line or a plus symbol, or the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant.” A line or plus symbol, no matter how faint, means the result is positive.
Most tests also have a “control indicator” in the result window. This control line or symbol shows whether the test is working properly. If the control line or symbol does not appear, the test is not working properly.
Look for the toll-free phone number on the package to call in case of questions about use or results.
Don’t Miss: How To Never Get Pregnant Again
If You Did A Test To Confirm A Pregnancy Loss
Sometimes your healthcare professional may ask you to do a pregnancy test after a suspected early miscarriage. This is sometimes needed to make sure that your hCG levels are reducing. If the test shows you’re still pregnant, you may need to have further tests.
A miscarriage can be traumatic. Find out what support is available if you or a loved one has experienced pregnancy loss.
Do Regular Home Pregnancy Tests Work With Ivf
The detection limit of many at-home pregnancy tests is approximately 25mlU/ml. Therefore, they may not be able to detect your pregnancy depending on when you check the test.
In addition, this is a qualitative test, meaning that it only tells you if the value is positive or not.
A positive test doesnt always mean that the pregnancy is healthy, and a negative test doesnt always mean that you arent pregnant.
That is why we recommend that you get an office blood test, which is a quantitative test that provides a numeric value for the hormone hCG.
Read Also: What Happens If I Get Nexplanon While Pregnant
Food Cravings And Aversions
PMS: When you have PMS, youll likely notice that your eating habits change. You may crave chocolate, carbohydrates, sugars, sweets, or salty foods. Or you may have a ravenous appetite. These cravings dont happen to the same extent when youre pregnant.
Pregnancy: You may have highly specific cravings, and you may be totally uninterested in other foods. You may also have an aversion to certain smells and tastes, even ones you once liked. These effects can last throughout pregnancy.
You could also have pica, in which you compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value, such as ice, dirt, dried paint flakes, or pieces of metal. If you have cravings for nonfood items, talk to your doctor right away.
What If The Pregnancy Test Is Negative After Ivf
If you have a negative pregnancy test at least 9-10 days after a blast transfer, the transfer was unsuccessful.
Unfortunately, a high-quality euploid embryo does not implant ~40% of the time. There is no way to predict who will and wont be able to achieve a healthy pregnancy.
Your doctor will let you know if there are any other fertility treatments they recommend before trying again.
Don’t Miss: Are Period Symptoms Similar To Pregnancy Symptoms
How To Tell If Your Period Is Late
Many people have irregular menstrual cycles, either longer or shorter than others. Sometimes its hard to remember the exact date of your last period and when to expect your next period. Between 10% and 20% of pregnant people get a negative pregnancy test because they test too early.
Tracking your cycle can help you know a few things: when you ovulated, the first day of your last period, when to expect your next period, and a general idea of the length of your cycle.
What Kind Of Pregnancy Test Is Right For Me
Since all pregnancy tests basically work the same way and are equally reliable if you take them according to the instructions on the box, what kind is right for you depends on your preferences. If you want to try finding out whether you’re pregnant a little sooner than the first day of your expected period, a pricier, more sensitive pregnancy test that can be used a little earlier might be right for you, as long as you’re willing to pay for it and you realize it might not be as accurate as if you’d waited. If budget is your priority, one of the cheaper pregnancy tests might be a better choice. And if you like extra features that make taking and reading a pregnancy test easier, then it might be worth it to you to pay more for those.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
Don’t Miss: Can You Get Lasik Eye Surgery While Pregnant
