The Best Time In Your Cycle
The best time to take a pregnancy test is after your period is late. This will help you avoid false negatives. If you’re not already keeping a fertility calendar, proper pregnancy test timing is a good reason to start one.
If your cycles are irregular or you dont chart your cycles, do not take a test until you have passed the longest menstrual cycle you usually have. For example, if your cycles range from 30 to 36 days, the best time to take a test would be day 37 or later.
Something else to consider is whether you know if your period is even late. According to the FDA, out of every 100 people, between 10 and 20 will not get a positive pregnancy test result on the day they think is just after their missed period, even if they are pregnant.
Tests labeled for early pregnancy detection may be able to detect a pregnancy several days before your expected period. However, the most accurate results come after your period is late.
Family History And Risk Assessment
Once you and your doctor have thoroughly covered your medical history, they will ask about your family history and ethnic heritage, as well as that of the other parent. This can help them evaluate your risk for certain genetic or inherited conditions.
Ethnic heritage is important because some medical conditions occur more frequently among certain populations. Its important for your doctor to know if you have a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure.
A family history of diabetes puts you at an increased risk of developing the condition during pregnancy or at some other point in your life. If are at risk for diabetes, your doctor may want to perform a screening test sooner rather than later.
Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes, and it can increase your risk for a large baby, the need for cesarean section, and delivery complications.
Similarly, if you have a family history of high blood pressure, one of the problems that can develop during pregnancy can be preeclampsia, and it can be life threatening when left untreated.
If you are at risk for high blood pressure, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure very closely throughout your pregnancy.
Your familys obstetrical history may be important. Your doctor might ask you if you have a family history of twins, recurrent miscarriages, and stillbirths.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Tests
If I get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, does that mean I am pregnant?
A positive result from a home pregnancy test shows the presence of the hormone hCG in your system. When an egg is implanted in a womans uterine lining, hCG hormones begin to develop and multiply. This is a sign that you have become pregnant.
If I get a negative result on a home pregnancy test, does that mean I am not pregnant?
A negative result can mean that you are not pregnant, you took the test too early, or you took the test wrong. Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity , and you may not have given your body enough time to produce enough hCG hormones that will show up on the test.
Also, if you let a test sit for too long , the test is invalid. It is best to follow the instructions and wait until you have missed a period before taking the test. Most pregnancy tests come with two in a box, and it is a good idea to take both.
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Can Any Medication Or Medical Conditions Affect The Result
Testing too soon after using fertility drugs that contain hCG can give misleading results. If you have recently stopped taking hormonal contraception or are using fertility treatments such as clomiphene citrate, your periods may be irregular leading you to test too early.
If you have recently been pregnant you may get a false pregnant result. Ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts, menopause and some very rare medical conditions may give misleading results.
If you have a pregnant result it is possible that you later find that you are not pregnant due to loss of the pregnancy in the early stages. Some women who are more than 6 weeks pregnant may get misleading results due to high hCG levels .
If you get unexpected results you should talk about them with your doctor.
Taking A Home Pregnancy Test
You can buy a home pregnancy test from a chemist or supermarket or on the internet. Every pregnancy test is different, so make sure you read the instructions carefully. You can take the test at any time of the day, it doesnt have to be in the morning.
You need to hold the end of the pregnancy test in a stream of wee , or collect your wee in a clean container and dip it in. Check the instructions to find out what symbol will display on the test if it is positive.
The test will tell you if you are pregnant within minutes. If it says you are pregnant, it is almost certain that you are.
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Does The Day I Take The Test Affect Pregnancy Test Accuracy
The earlier you test, the more likely you will get a false negative. Implantation usually occurs about nine days after ovulation, and periods usually start about 14 days after ovulation, says Schram. That means that if you test too soon before your expected period, you will get a negative test result, even if you are pregnant. From a results perspective, the best time to test is the day of your expected period or afterwards.
What Is Phantom Hcg
Phantom hCG is a false positive pregnancy blood test.
In these cases, the blood test for hCG cross-reacts with non-pregnancy related proteins in the blood called heterophile antibodies.
“When this occurs, it can actually have serious consequences unless your physician is aware of this false positive risk,” says Dr. Mark Trolice. “What are the risks? Ectopic pregnancy, where an embryo implants outside the uterus. This is a potentially life-threatening event but is often conservatively treated using an injection of the chemotherapy agent, methotrexate.”
But if the blood test for hCG is a false positive, and there is, in fact, no ectopic pregnancy, the woman may be needlessly exposed to repeated injections of methotrexate with risks of serious side effects from this medicine.
Another condition that can lead to a false positive, says Dr. Trolice, is gestation trophoblastic disease, or cancer of pregnancy tissue. In this scenario, persistent low levels of phantom hCG can be misinterpreted for this disease resulting in aggressive but unnecessary medical intervention. How to avoid over-treating a false positive hCG test? The urine pregnancy test, because heterophile antibodies are not present in urine.
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What Are The Chances Of A False Positive Pregnancy Test
Truly false positive pregnancy tests are rare. The risk of a false negative pregnancy test is much higher than the risk of a false positive. Below are some possible explanations for false positive pregnancy tests :
Early Pregnancy Test: How Soon Will A Pregnancy Test Read Positive
An early pregnancy test can read positive as soon as 11-15 days after conception, 1 day after a missed period. However, more accurate results can be obtained 2 days after a missed period.
A home pregnancy test detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin , which is produced in a pregnant woman. Traces of hCG can be seen in urine 3-4 days after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, and the amount doubles every 48 hours. When there is enough hCG in the body, a pregnancy test can detect it and produce a positive result.
If your periods are irregular, however, and your test result is negative, you should repeat a home pregnancy test after 1 week.
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Pregnancy Tests That Your Doctor May Do
Your GP will probably do a urine pregnancy test to detect whether you are pregnant.
It is always a good idea to bring a sample of urine to the GP surgery with you if you think you may be pregnant. This will mean your appointment is not delayed.
It will also avoid the ‘stage fright’ that can occur when you are trying to pee and you know someone is waiting on you.
The pregnancy testing kit that your GP will use is like the kits that you can buy over the counter.
Your doctor may perform a blood test to check the level of hCG in your blood. This test is done if you have had some bleeding from your vagina or if you have severe pains in your tummy. Your GP may also carry out a blood test if you have severe morning sickness.
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.
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What To Do If You Feel Pregnant But The Test Was Negative
Talk to your provider if youve had a negative pregnancy test result, but are having symptoms of early pregnancy such as:
- Breast tenderness
- Sensitivity to smells
- Nausea and vomiting
Since the amount of hCG increases rapidly when you are pregnant, you may need to retest in a few days.
How Likely Is It To Get A False Negative
If your pregnancy is in its early stages and your body has not yet produced enough hCG for the test to detect, you could get a false negative, which means youre actually pregnant, even though the test says youre not. The earlier you test, the higher the chances that this scenario will occur. If you get a false negative but still suspect that youre pregnant, repeat the test in a few days. If you miss your period, test again and book an appointment with your healthcare provider if you still get a negative result. Its reasonable to visit your doctor for more-definitive blood work and see if there is another reason why you havent had a period, says Schram.
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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.
How Early Can Home Pregnancy Tests Show Positive Results
Since the earliest recorded history, women have had a strong desire to know whether they are pregnant as early as possible. The body goes through countless changes in the first trimester, and one of the first indicators is a change in the hormones that leave the body through urine.
Ancient Egyptians relied on a form of urine testing to determine pregnancy status way back in 1350 BCE. A woman urinated daily on wheat or barley seeds and if the plants grew, it meant she was pregnant. Modern-day validation suggests that test was about 70% accurate in detecting human chorionic gonadotropin , a hormone produced by a womans body soon after implantation of a fertilized egg inside the uterus.
Thankfully, urine-based pregnancy tests have evolved substantially. Women now have access to advanced tests that can detect a pregnancy as early as eight days after ovulation. But while many home pregnancy tests are marketed as simple and effective, getting accurate results comes down to how early in your ovulation cycle you take the test.
Ovulation generally occurs around day 15 of a 28-day cycle. In a normal pregnancy, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and then travels into the uterus, where it implants in the uterine wall. After implantation, production of hCG starts from cells in the developing placenta . Trace levels of hCG can be detected as early as eight days after ovulation.
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Blood Test Result Timetable
Blood tests are able to detect a smaller amount of hCG and they can detect it slightly earlier than standard at-home pregnancy tests, usually nine to 12 days after conception. Blood test results are usually available the same day or within a day.
Blood tests aren’t often done to detect pregnancy because they are expensive and at-home urine tests are quite accurate and sensitive. However, people who are undergoing fertility treatments may have blood tests as part of their care.
How Long Should I Wait Before Taking A Pregnancy Test
Pregnancy tests only work when the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin has built up in your system. This usually happens around 11 12 days after ovulation. Most women get their period around 14 days after ovulation.
If you dont know when you ovulated, you can approximate this window by taking a pregnancy test two days before your period is due.
Keep in mind that if you test before your period is due, you may get only a very faint line on the pregnancy test.
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How Does The Clear & Simple Pregnancy Test Work
In a woman who is not pregnant the hormone hCG is normally present in urine at very low levels . When you are pregnant the body produces much more of this hormone. At the time of the first missed period the level of hormone is detectable by this test. Our test detects hCG in urine at a level of 20mIU/ml.
Which Pregnancy Test Provides The Earliest Results
First Response and Modern Fertility can both detect pregnancy up to 6 days before your missed period. However, its important to note that the accuracy isnt as high. Its still ideal to test after your missed period for the best results. Most at-home pregnancy tests can be up to 99 percent accurate on the day of a missed period.
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Are All Home Pregnancy Testing Methods The Same
Most brands of at-home pregnancy tests are reliable. Although the exact testing method of different pregnancy tests can differ from one type to the other, they all look for hCG in your body. Some tests might do this through urine while others look for the pregnancy hormone in your blood. If youre using an at-home test, most will give you the same result. The difference with your at-home tests will be the sensitivity of the test. Some might be more sensitive than others and produce a positive result detect hCG in your urine sooner than others. For the most accurate reading, its still recommended that you wait till youve missed your period. At that point, all tests should be accurate.
