How Many Days After Conception Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
If you think you might be pregnant, you know the anxiousness of waiting until you know for sure. Its particularly difficult when a possible pregnancy is unplanned. You question every symptom, wondering if its due to pregnancy or premenstrual hormones. And you wonder how soon you can take a pregnancy test so you dont have to wait any longer for the answer.
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Home Pregnancy Tests
After a fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall, a womans body starts producing a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . A home pregnancy test detects the hCG hormone in a womans urine.
Sometimes, you can take a home pregnancy test, and the results are confusing. Your mind feels like its playing tricks on you. Is that a faint line? Or are you imagining a faint line? You might question the reliability of the test.
There are claims that home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate, but its important to know the percentage of accuracy is not that high when the test is taken right at the time of a missed period.
Now you might be wondering how soon you can take a home pregnancy test and still get an accurate result.
How Many Days After Conception Can I Take a Pregnancy Test?
However, according to theMayo Clinic, it is advisable to take a pregnancy test after the first day of your missed period to reduce the chances of getting a false negative result.
How Long Does It Take Hcg Levels To Be Detected By Home Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy doesn’t necessarily start the day that two people have sex. An egg can be fertilized by sperm up to six days after intercourse.5 And then, it can take between six and ten days for the egg to implant itself in the uterus.
The hormone that home pregnancy tests look for starts being released from when the fertilized egg implants itself, which is why you have to wait for them to be effective.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, HCG is made by cells formed in the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it is has implanted itself in the wall of the uterus.4
Levels of HCG can be detected by two kinds of tests:5
- Blood testâaccurate as early as 11 days after conception
- Urine testâaccurate as early as 12 to 14 days after conception
So, if you don’t know when your period is supposed to start and you think you might be pregnant, you should test about two weeks after you had sex and possibly conceived.5
If it’s negative and your period still hasn’t come and you still think you might be pregnant, test again in another week.
What Are Five Common Signs Of Pregnancy
There are several signs of early pregnancy that you could experience. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms, and some women may not feel any of these things. Pregnancy symptoms throughout the entire pregnancy can vary dramatically between women. Its important not to compare your pregnancy to someone elses.
Common early pregnancy symptoms can include:
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How Soon After Unprotected Sex Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
how soon after having sex without a condom can i take a test to see if im pregnant
Home pregnancy tests work best if you take them after youve already missed your period. Some tests say they can tell you if youre pregnant a few days before a missed period, but theyre not as accurate before that missed period.
Pregnancy actually doesnt start the day you have sex. It can take up to 6 days after sex for the sperm and egg to join, and then it has to form into a fertilized egg. It then takes another several days for the fertilized egg to grow, travel to the uterus, and implant itself into the lining of the uterus to start a pregnancy. So from when you have sex to when pregnancy happens can be up to 2-3 weeks.
If you dont want to be pregnant and youve had unprotected vaginal sex, you can use emergency contraception within 5 days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
When Pregnancy Is Unintentional
If you had unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure and fear you could get pregnant, emergency contraception is an option. Commonly called the “morning-after pill,” medications are available over-the-counter that can prevent pregnancy if taken within five days of having unprotected sex.
The sooner you take these medications, the more effective they are in preventing an unintended pregnancy. These medications do not cause an abortion, but rather prevent a pregnancy from being established.
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Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy
These are some of the symptoms you might experience within your first six weeks after conception,2 and organised roughly by when you might expect to experience them.
There have been many other rarer and less common early symptoms reported as well so keep an eye out for any unusual or unexpected changes.
Another confusing factor when trying to determine if you are pregnant is that all of the symptoms of pregnancy can be symptoms of other conditions.
So detecting the very early signs of pregnancy without a test can be tricky, especially if it is your first pregnancy.
Once you are on to pregnancy two, three, or four, you will more than likely recognize the signs quite quickly. Testing, however, should always be your first course of action, and is especially helpful to confirm your symptoms.
There are several early signs that can tell you that you may be pregnant. The most obvious is missing your period or having light spotting instead of a proper period.
Early Changes To Breasts: Tingling Aching Growing
Breast changes can occur between weeks 4 and 6. Youre likely to develop tender and swollen breasts due to hormone changes. This will likely go away after a few weeks when your body has adjusted to the hormones.
Nipple and breast changes can also occur around week 11. Hormones continue to cause your breasts to grow. The areola the area around the nipple may change to a darker color and grow larger.
If youve had bouts with acne before your pregnancy, you may experience breakouts again.
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How Soon Can You Find Out If Youre Pregnant
The symptoms of pregnancy explained above are the most common ones but often the signs and symptoms experienced are very mild and easily attributed to other reasons.
If you frequently experience headaches and can confidently chalk your mood swings up to, say, a social media article that just set you off, looking for stronger indicators like morning sickness and changes in discharge would be a good start.
If you do notice a cluster of symptoms, following up with a home pregnancy test is your best next move.
Other Reasons For Missing Your Period
Here are some possible reasons for missing your period but having negative pregnancy tests:
- Menopause
- Starting a new birth control method
- Illness
- Hormone imbalance
If you suspect one of these reasons may be disrupting your normal menstrual cycle, and you have a negative pregnancy, test then you should speak to a health professional.
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Youre Visiting The Bathroom Significantly More Often
Do you find yourself urinating more often during the day or waking up in the middle of the night to take care of a full bladder? This could be a sign youâre pregnant. Because your body makes significantly more blood during pregnancy, your kidneys are filtering more liquids â resulting in a greater number of potty breaks. Though youâll be doing plenty of urinating, pregnancy actually increases your chances of constipation, meaning that going #2 may be a little more difficult.
What’s The Soonest You Can Find Out If You’re Pregnant
The only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is through a positive pregnancy test. The earliest home pregnancy test is accurate up to six days before the day of your missed period for 76% of women who take the test .1
So, the soonest you might be able to find out for sure that you’re pregnant is by testing with a First Response home pregnancy test no earlier than six days before the day of your missed period.
So if you’re expecting your period on a Saturday, you would be able to test the Monday before .
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Pregnancy Blood Vs Urine Tests
Blood tests:
- are more expensive than home urine tests
- have to be given at a doctor’s office
- can be done just one week after ovulation
- can take up to 48 hours to produce a result
- are more accurate than urine tests.
Urine tests:
- are only accurate when done seven days after a missed period
- produce more false positive results than blood tests.
Get To Know Your Cycle
How much do you know about your menstrual cycle? Really understanding helps you know when you’re most fertile, says Hillard.Ovulationis the best time to get pregnant. “This is the time to focus on having sex,” Hillard says.
It helps to become aware of the signs of ovulation, such as a change in your cervical mucus. It usually becomes thin and slippery when you are most fertile. Some women may also feel a one-sided twinge of pain.
Ovulation prediction kits can also help you predict the best time to get pregnant, says James Goldfarb, MD, director of the infertility service at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. Not only can they help assure you that you are ovulating, “if you are having infrequent intercourse, this tells you when to have it to increase your chances of getting pregnant,” he says.
Here’s how it works: The first day of your menstrual period is considered day one. “Start testing on day nine and keep going until you get a positive,” advises Joanne Piscitelli, MD, an associate professor of gynecology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Women with a 28-day cycle tend to ovulate on day 14. But many women have longer or shorter cycles, so casting a wide net can help you be sure.
Continued
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/13are There Any Benefits To The Tests
Homemade tests do have some benefits to them. If you have an unplanned pregnancy and want to hide it from your close ones, homemade supplies won’t doubt suspicions. Plus, since most of these ingredients are easy to find, you can take it in the comfort of your home without having to step out. Many of the supplies do not even have an expiry date so can be used safely.
Risks Of A Pregnancy Blood Test
Pregnancy blood tests are safe and unlikely to cause any major side effects. But the needle might pinch a little bit, and you might have some mild, temporary bruising at the site of the injection.
Its not unusual to feel nauseous, dizzy, clammy or even faint during a blood draw or even beforehand, if having blood taken makes you anxious. Eating or drinking something sugary or salty before your test can help just make sure to check with your provider first.
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.
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You Get Inexplicably Tired
Any of us would expect to be exhausted after a long and difficult day. This is totally normal, and, when considered by itself, is probably not a sign youâre pregnant. However, pregnancy causes women to experience fatigue, even when theyâre taking things easy and slow. The hormone responsible for making you tired goes off the charts when youâre expecting a baby, so your significantly lower energy levels may be something to look into. This intense fatigue can begin as early as one week after conception.
Pros Of Blood Testing
- Blood tests can detect pregnancy earlier than a home pregnancy test, about 6 to 8 days after ovulation, or about 7 – 12 days after possible conception .
- This could mean that you get a result as early as 9 days after possible conception, or 5 days earlier than a home pregnancy test would be able to detect .
For most women, it makes more sense to wait and do a pregnancy test at home because of its convenience and low cost, as well as the fact that you’d only find out a day or two earlier with a blood test .
For others, especially those with a high risk for miscarriage or other pregnancy complications, their doctor may recommend getting a blood test.
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How Do Doctors Test For Downs Syndrome During Pregnancy
The beta hCG pregnancy test is also helpful in detection of Downs Syndrome in the baby. There is no difference in either test.
Downs Syndrome is a disease when the baby has a chromosomal abnormality which causes severe mental retardation and a constant tendency to pull out the tongue. Sticking the tongue out is the most common symptom of Downs Syndrome.
How Long Does It Take To Get Pregnant After Having Sex
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Getting pregnant may seem like a rather mystical process. Once you learn the science and timing, it makes a bit more sense. Still, you may wonder how long it takes to actually conceive after having sex.
The short answer is that the egg and sperm can meet within minutes to up to 12 hours after ejaculation. But to see that second line on the pregnancy test, you still have some hurdles to cross.
Heres more about how reproduction works , as well as how to time things and possibly up your odds of getting pregnant.
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If You Dont Have Health Coverage
- Health coverage makes it easier to get the medical check-ups and screening tests to help keep both you and your baby healthy during pregnancy.
- If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a life event like moving or losing other coverage, you may be able to enroll in a Marketplace health plan right now. Being pregnant doesnt make you eligible, but the birth of a child does.
- Create an account now to apply for Marketplace coverage through the Open Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period. If you select the option to get help paying for coverage on your application, youll be asked if youre pregnant. Reporting your pregnancy may help you and your family members get the most affordable coverage.
- If you dont qualify for a Special Enrollment Period right now, youll be eligible to apply within 60 days of your childs birth. You can also enroll in 2021 coverage during the next Open Enrollment Period this fall.
- If eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, your coverage can begin at any time.
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2. Notice breast changes: The breasts will become tender during the first few weeks of pregnancy. This change often signals to the woman that their period is coming unless they are trying to get pregnant.
3. Feeling tired:Fatigue is one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you are feeling unusually tired, but have few other symptoms you may be pregnant.
4. Nausea and vomiting:For women who do not watch their period cycle closely, nausea and vomiting are often the reason they go to the doctor in the first place. Morning sickness is a great sign that you are pregnant.
5. Spotting and/or cramping:Many women do not believe they are pregnant because of the cramping and spotting that occurs. This spotting has nothing to do with a period. When the egg implants in the uterus some spotting and cramping can occur. This is what the woman is feeling.
6. Frequent trips to the bathroom:In very early pregnancy, the frequent trips to the bathroom have nothing to do with the weight of the fetus on the bladder. It does, however, have to do with the body preparing for pregnancy by increasing the fluid in the body.
9. Take a home pregnancy test:The home pregnancy test measures the level of hCG in the urine. Commonly, if the urine tests about 20 mlU/ml the test will be positive.
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How Do Home Pregnancy Tests Work
Home pregnancy tests work by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin , a pregnancy hormone your body produces after conception. When a fertilized egg implants in your uterus, your body begins to release hCG into your blood, and some of it passes into your urine. The amount of hCG in your urine doubles every two to three days. A pregnancy test measures the amount of hCG in your urine.
Use A Cycle Charting App
Phone apps can help you chart your cycle. You record details like the first day of your period, OPK results, and basal temperature. You’ll get alerts when you’re likely to be more fertile.
The drawback is most use a standard 28-day cycle, with ovulation on day 14, which isn’t accurate for many women.
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