The Push For An Early Pregnancy Test
Knowing if you’re pregnant early allows you to promptly make educated health and lifestyle changes that can increase the chance of delivering a healthy baby. This could include smoking cessation, getting vaccinations, and ensuring a healthy weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Charles Lockwood, MD, the chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital, adds that “the risk of exposure to agents causing birth defects doesn’t start until two weeks after conception.”
There is no denying that trying to conceive is suspenseful. This is why a person might want to know about pregnancy as soon as possibledespite the emotional risk of learning about brief chemical pregnancies, which are miscarriages that occur within the first five weeks.
How Soon Can You Use A Home Pregnancy Test
Different pregnancy tests will come with different instructions, and its important to follow those instructions closely to have the most accurate pregnancy test possible :
- While most pregnancy tests will detect a pregnancy on the first day of a missed period, some tests are designed to detect a pregnancy as early as six days before your missed period .
- Start testing about two weeks after ovulation.
- You can technically take the test at any time of the day, but its best to take it in the morning using your first void , which will have the highest concentrations of hCG.
- If your periods are irregular, making it hard to figure out when your next period would have started, you can track ovulation and luteinizing hormone surges and use that information to test instead.
Learn Whats In Store For You And Baby
Among the things to know when expecting a baby? Understanding whats in store for you for the next nine+ months. One of the coolest things after finding out youre pregnant is tracking babys growthfrom the size of an apple seed to a watermelon!and the many changes in your own body via The Bump Pregnancy Week-By-Week guide
While every womans body reacts differently, youre bound to have at least some of the standard early pregnancy symptoms: nausea, cramping and spotting, sore breasts, acne, mood swings, frequent urination, headaches and food cravings and/or aversions, to name a few. Youll also likely experience a level of exhaustion that rivals all the all-nighters you may have pulled. Youll be eating for two and sleeping for two, Minkin jokes. This please-let-me-lie-down kind of tiredness, courtesy of an uptick in progesterone, peaks between 8 to 12 weeks and then starts to ease up.
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How Long After Implantation You Need To Take A Pregnancy Test
How early you can take a pregnancy test depends on a number of factors such as the sensitivity of the home pregnancy test , levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in your body, and the regularity of your menstrual cycle.
A pregnancy test can only become positive when an egg is fertilized after ovulation. According to the American Pregnancy Association, ovulation happens about 11 to 21 days from the start of your last period.1 At ovulation, an egg is released and lives for up to 24 hours in the fallopian tubes waiting for a sperm that lives long enough to fertilize it. Some signs of ovulation include discharge, light abdominal cramping, and some ovulation spotting.
When the fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of your uterus, implantation occurs. As soon as implantation happens, your body produces hCG and the pregnancy hormone can be detected in a pregnancy test. At the same time, you may have other signs of implantation such as light spotting that lasts a day or two, mild cramping, tender breasts, and an increased need to pee.
The length of time after implantation you need to take a pregnancy test to check if its positive or not depends on the sensitivity of the pregnancy test that is carried out. The two types of pregnancy tests to check for early pregnancy are:
How Likely Is It To Get A False Negative Pregnancy Test
Most home pregnancy tests are highly accurate if you wait until the first day of your missed period to take it. If youre testing earlier, your chances of a false negative result are higher. The reasons why you might get a false negative include:
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If Your Pregnancy Test Was Negative
A negative result can be less accurate. It may not be reliable if:
- you dont follow the instructions properly
- take the test too soon
- you are taking medicines that affect the results.
Ask your pharmacist if your medications may affect the results of a pregnancy test.
If you continue to have symptoms or you still dont get your period, take another test in a weeks time. Talk to your GP if you continue to get negative results and still don’t have a period.
I had been desperate for this to happen with me for years and when that positive line showed up I expected to be sobbing with joy. But instead I felt numb, then guilty because I felt I should have been more ecstatic. I was in shock and needed time to process. I think it was curse of social media, where women share videos of them finding out and they and their husband are overjoyed and sobbing. Since talking to other mums to be, turns out I was normal after all!
Natalie
When Should I Take A Pregnancy Test
If you think you could be pregnant, its a good idea to take a test and make sure. Home pregnancy tests can differ in how early theyll detect a pregnancy. In many cases, you might get a positive result from an at-home test as early as 10 days after conception. For a more accurate result, wait until after youve missed your period to take a test. Remember, if you take a test too soon, it could be negative even if youre pregnant. If you get a negative test and then miss your period, take another test.
What time should I take a pregnancy test?
In general, the best time is when you have your first morning pee. However, some pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect HCG no matter what time of day you take the test. When possible, try to wait until its been three hours since your last pee before you take the test. You could also take two pregnancy tests to confirm you get the same result.
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False Positive And Negative Results
When a test result is inaccurate, its either a false negative or a false positive . Several factors can cause false negative results:
- Having too dilute urine after drinking a lot of water or testing later in the day.
- Testing too soon when there has not been enough time for a fertilized egg to implant and start hCG production.
- Using a pregnancy test that doesnt detect lower levels of hCG. You can check the package insert for more information about the level at which the test will be positive.
Sometimes an egg will implant briefly but will not be sustained. This is also called a chemical pregnancy hCG is produced, but the pregnancy doesnt continue. A test performed several days before an expected period can show a positive result, but the woman still gets her period soon or on time. Rarely, certain tumors can produce hCG, causing a pregnancy test to be positive even when a woman is not pregnant.
Related reading:It’s not your fault: Understanding miscarriage
How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The pregnancy tests you get at the drugstore work 99 out of 100 times. Theyre just as accurate as a urine pregnancy test that youd get at a doctors office.
Pregnancy tests work by checking your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . Your body only makes this hormone if youre pregnant. HCG is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus when pregnancy begins. If your pregnancy test results are positive, it means you’re pregnant. If theyre negative, it means youre not pregnant.
Pregnancy tests are most accurate when you take them after youve already missed your period.
A pregnancy test will be less accurate if its expired or if you dont use it the right way. So always check the expiration date on the package, and carefully read the directions that come with your pregnancy test.
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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.
Your Pregnancy Test Was Positive Now What
While not as accurate as a blood test, the home pregnancy tests you have stashed under your bathroom sink are actually quite effective 97 percent effective, in fact, according to OB-GYN Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals.
Your healthcare provider may ask you to come in for an in-office pregnancy test, which measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood. Gaither says these in-office blood tests are about 99 percent effective.
Many people experience symptoms before they even see a positive pregnancy test. In fact, those strange urges, cravings, and feelings of nausea are often the reason many moms-to-be take a pregnancy test.
If your period comes like clockwork, a missed cycle could be your first sign that a positive pregnancy test is inevitable. You may also feel like you live in the bathroom. Frequent trips to the potty are a result of increased blood flow to your pelvic area . Your kidneys work to process all the extra fluid, which means you have to urinate more often.
Nausea, feeling tired, and sore breasts, which often hurt a LOT more than before your period, are other signs that indicate that its time to break out the pregnancy tests.
While rare, a home pregnancy test can result in a false positive result. This can happen with chemical pregnancies, a recent miscarriage, or certain medications or medical conditions.
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Pregnancy Test Soon After Implantation How Accurate Is It
A positive pregnancy test is almost certainly correct and is usually very accurate. However, you always need to follow the instructions of the home pregnancy test correctly.
Doctors from the National Health Service say that if the pregnancy test results are positive, then you are probably pregnant. However, a negative test result is less accurate and isnt necessarily an indicator that youre not pregnant. Sometimes, taking the pregnancy test too soon after implantation doesnt allow for high enough levels of hCG hormone to develop.7
Pregnancy tests can show a positive result when the concentration of the pregnancy hormone is high enough to be detected in a blood test or urine sample.
According to Dr. Traci Johnson on WebMD, there are 6 factors that can affect how accurate a pregnancy test is soon after implantation. Some of these are:8
However, if you are pregnant, then pregnancy test result is usually positive within 7-10 days after you have missed a period.
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.
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Positive Pregnancy Test: When And How Long After Implantation
Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health
A pregnancy test can show a positive result a few days after implantation has occurred. Most women who want to get pregnant are very keen to take a home pregnancy test to see if the result is positive. Depending on your body and the levels of hCG hormone, early pregnancy can be detected by a pregnancy blood test as soon as 3-4 days after implantation. Usually, a urine home pregnancy test takes a few days longer to detect a pregnancy and may show a positive result as soon as 5-7 days after implantation.
Even if the home pregnancy test result is negative, it doesnt necessarily mean that you are not pregnant. How soon an early pregnancy can be detected depends on the levels of the hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . This hormone is produced during pregnancy. Blood and urine pregnancy tests check for elevated levels of hCG which start to rise right after implantation. A positive urine home pregnancy test will undoubtedly mean that you are pregnant and should visit your doctor for hCG blood test.
If you have already waited for a few days after your missed period to take a pregnancy test, and it is still negative, chances are that you are not pregnant.
Youre Not Pregnant: Evaporation Line
Taking a home pregnancy test and getting a faint positive line doesnt always mean youre pregnant. Sometimes, what appears to be a positive line is actually an evaporation line. These misleading lines can appear in the results window as urine evaporates from the stick.
If a faint evaporation line develops on your home pregnancy test, you may mistakenly think that youre pregnant.
It can be hard to determine whether a faint line is a positive result or an evaporation line. The primary difference is that evaporation lines appear in the test window several minutes after the recommended time for checking the test results.
If you take a home pregnancy test, its important to read and carefully follow the instructions. The package will let you know when to check your test results, which can be within three to five minutes, depending on the manufacturer.
If you check your results within the recommended time frame and see a faint positive line, youre most likely pregnant.
On the other hand, if you miss the window for checking the results and you dont check the test until 10 minutes later, a faint line may be an evaporation line, which means youre not pregnant.
If theres any confusion about whether a faint line is a positive line or an evaporation line, retake the test. If possible, wait two or three days before taking another one.
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Make Sure You Follow The Instructions
Make sure you read the instructions on any Clearblue® or any other brand of pregnancy test first. Although many tests will have a similar procedure to follow, other details, like how long you need to wait for the results, interpreting the results, and even when you can take the test will vary. If you need the instructions for any of our tests, you can download them below.
What Happens After You Get A Positive Pregnancy Test
Andrea Chisolm, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has taught at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. She has over 20 years of clinical experience and is currently is in practice at Cody Regional Health in Cody, Wyoming.
It’s normal for a positive pregnancy test to bring about a variety of emotions, worries, doubts, and anxiety. Try to take a few deep breaths. Whether this was a planned pregnancy or not, there are some important next steps you should think about and take.
If, like many people, you’re not sure what these next steps are, here’s a handy list of things to do when your pregnancy test is positive.
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