How Accurate Are At
When used according to the directions, a home pregnancy test can be almost 99% accuratePregnancy tests. Office on Women’s Health. Accessed 7/20/2022. . If you receive a positive result on a home pregnancy test, you should contact your doctor to confirm that you are pregnant and find out what to do next.
If The Result Is Positive
Before you let your emotions take over, keep in mind that its possible a false-positive result if you have blood or protein in your urine, where the test says youre pregnant when you actually are not, Copperman explains.
Some medications can also cause false-positive results, such as:
- tranquilizers
- hypnotics
- fertility medications
If youre taking any of those and receive a positive result, Copperman recommends taking a blood test to confirm.
That said, urine tests are somewhere between 95 and 99 percent accurate.
Once youve confirmed your pregnancy status, know this: You are going to be OK! And that stands, whether youve been wanting to become pregnant for a long while, or not.
If you want to continue the pregnancy, its best to reach out to a doctor or other healthcare professional to book a prenatal appointment.
If you dont wish to continue the pregnancy, or if youre unsure if you want to continue the pregnancy, make an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood or family planning clinic. Theyll have professionals who can answer any questions you have and offer judgment-free, medically accurate advice and information.
Alternatives To A Pelvic Exam
A pelvic exam is a diagnostic tool for detecting pregnancy, but it has its own drawbacks. Although pelvic exams are effective for screening cervical cancer, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, they also have risks and can cause a great deal of stress to patients with a history of sexual trauma. Moreover, patients may experience post-traumatic stress disorder after undergoing a pelvic exam, so its important to fully explain the procedure to patients with this history.
During the process of learning how to perform a pelvic examination, medical students practice on simulator mannequins and nonpatient volunteers. During the clerkship, students typically achieve proficiency. In outpatient settings, women can easily consent to the involvement of a student and decline the procedure. In an operating room, however, consent may be more difficult and the risk of harm is higher. This article will examine the benefits and risks of alternative testing.
During the examination, patients should be honest about their sexual health and any pain they may feel. Pelvic exams are recommended annually by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , but women can also opt to have them more frequently if they have symptoms of pre-pregnancy, like back pain. A pelvic exam is a valuable diagnostic tool for women who have concerns about their sexual health.
Don’t Miss: Can You Bleed During Pregnancy
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.
How Does Hcg Doubling Affect Pregnancy
Doctors can also perform quantitative serum beta hCG levels via a blood test. Two tests are usually necessary to verify a normal increase, usually 2-3 days apart. The increase in serum hCG can be interactively monitored.
- Below an hCG level of 1,200 mIU/ml, the hCG usually doubles every 48-72 hours, though a rise of 50-60% is still considered normal and determines how early can pregnancy be detected.
- Between 1,200 and 6,000 mIU/ml serum, the hCG usually takes 72-96 hours to double.
- Above 6,000 mIU/ml, the hCG often takes more than four days to double.
Failure to increase normally may indicate that the pregnancy is not developing well, and can be an early sign of a possible miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. After a miscarriage, hCG levels fall steadily back to the non-pregnancy range. Also, an ectopic pregnancy may be suspected when hCG levels fail to double, particularly if the hCG level rises, falls and rises again.
Read Also: How Does The Beginning Of Pregnancy Feel
How To Take The Test
For the most accurate reading, Copperman recommends taking the test first thing in the morning, which is when your urine is the most concentrated with HCG.
If you take it later in the day, make sure you dont drink a lot of liquid in the hours before testing, Tecco says. This way, if youre pregnant, there will be more HCG for the test to detect.
And please make sure to take the test correctly. That means following the instructions that came with your pregnancy test e-x-a-c-t-l-y as they are written.
Cost-effective options
An at-home urine test can put you out anywhere from $1 to $20. This can add up if youre testing multiple times. One option is to buy a 3 to 5 pack, which will save you a little money per test. Or, you can buy the tests from a dollar store. You might also consider reaching out to your
It *is* possible to get a false-negative, meaning you test negative when youre actually pregnant.
According to Copperman, a false-negative is most likely to happen if you:
- take the test too early
- check the result window before the test is done developing
- use diluted urine
Ultimately, if you get a negative test but have missed your period or still think you might be pregnant, take another one, he says. Even better would be to talk with your doctor to have a blood pregnancy test or sonogram.
Missed Period During Early Pregnancy
Once implantation is complete, your body will begin making human chorionic gonadotropin . This hormone helps the body maintain the pregnancy. It also tells the ovaries to stop releasing mature eggs each month.
You will likely miss your next period 4 weeks after conception. If you typically have an irregular period, youll want to take a pregnancy test to confirm.
Most home tests can detect hCG as soon as 8 days after a missed period. A pregnancy test will be able to detect hCG levels in your urine and show if you are pregnant.
Read Also: Do You Have To Throw Up To Be Pregnant
Can You Get A False Positive Pregnancy Test What About A False Negative Pregnancy Test
Yes, you can get both a false positive pregnancy test and a false negative. But false positives are much less common than false negatives. So if your home pregnancy test is positive, it’s likely that you’re pregnant.Trusted SourceCleveland ClinicPregnancy TestsSee All Sources
If you get a false negative pregnancy test result, it’s likely either because you’ve taken the test too early or you haven’t taken it correctly as outlined on the label.
It is possible to get a false positive result on an early pregnancy test before a subsequent test comes back negative. In some cases, that’s because very early testing detected a chemical pregnancy an egg that was fertilized but for some reason never implanted. These very early miscarriages are actually extremely common, accounting for around 3 in 4 of all pregnancy losses .
If it turns out that you likely have experienced a very early pregnancy loss, its natural to feel confused or upset. Knowing the odds are in your favor to conceive again and give birth to a healthy baby can help. No matter what, its always best to see your medical practitioner to get a more definitive pregnancy test result.
Probable Signs Of Pregnancy
Probable signs are the sort of things a doctor or nurse is looking for. They may not be things you notice or that interfere with your day. However, a womans body changes in some specific ways when getting ready for a baby that a doctor can look for.
Some of the signs a medical professional might look for include:
Also Check: How To Get Pregnant After Period Fast
How Does A Pregnancy Test Work
All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin , which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation.
Most pregnancy tests come in a box that contains 1 or 2 long sticks. You pee on the stick and the result appears on the stick after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so always check the instructions.
How Soon Can A Doctor Tell If I’m Pregnant
Doctors have a few diagnostic tests to determine if you are pregnant. The examination may include a medical history, pregnancy tests , a physical/ pelvic exam and diagnostic imaging . While Ive heard of some doctors leading with physical exam, they more frequently go the less invasive route of a pregnancy test first. Imaging can also be a useful tool in the early stages of pregnancy, but that is typically used after a positive pregnancy test.
How does pregnancy testing work?
Its a good idea to discuss how pregnancy tests work. There are two main types of pregnancy tests: urine pregnancy test and blood test. Both tests detect HCG levels in the body. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone secreted during pregnancy which stimulates continued production of progesterone. After the sperm meets the egg and travels down the fallopian tube, the egg fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. During this process, the body begins to produce HCG in order to alert the body to continue to produce hormones necessary to sustain pregnancy. HCG levels rise rapidly as a healthy pregnancy progresses, doubling every 48-72 hours until they reach a plateau between 8 and 11 weeks of pregnancy.
How soon can a doctor tell if you’re pregnant?
Summary
Tags:
Don’t Miss: Where To Watch 16 And Pregnant Season 1
Pregnancy Tests At Your Doctor Or Local Chemist
Some pharmacists offer pregnancy tests for free, or you may be charged a small fee.
Your GP may offer you a pregnancy test as part of a consultation. For example, if you are not getting your periods but any pregnancy tests youve taken at home are negative.
You will need to take a sample of your urine in a clean, soap-free container. If you are going to your GP, you can get pots to put your sample in from the surgery.
You may have to wait up to a few days for the result. But if your urine sample is tested on the spot, you will probably be given the result after just a few minutes.
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.
Read Also: How To Stay In Shape While Pregnant
Improve Your Fertility And Get Pregnant Faster
Obie is your reproductive health coach, helping you reach your goal with expert personalized guidance.
Not an iOS user? to be the first to know about Obie for Android.
With most current pregnancy test kits, hCG can be detected in the urine as early as 3-4 days after implantation, though it often takes longer. If you are pregnant, on the day you miss your period about 74% of HPTs will be positive. So a negative pregnancy test is normal in about 26% of all pregnancies, and you may have to retest until you know the most accurate results. At 10+ days after the missed period, a negative HPT result makes pregnancy unlikely. Positive pregnancy test results can show up any time before or after a missed period.
Go to the Pregnancy Test Calculator and find out more
The graph below shows the % of positive urine tests by day if you are pregnant:
When Can You Confirm Your Pregnancy
If you think you might be pregnant because you missed your period or are experiencing some of the early symptoms of pregnancy listed above, you can take a home pregnancy test.These tests can confirm a pregnancy by checking your urine for the presence of a hormone called hCG.
If you think you may be pregnant, but the test says otherwise, test again after a few more days or speak to your healthcare provider. You can also ask your provider to confirm your pregnancy with a blood test. Think you might be pregnant? Take our Am I Pregnant quiz. It wonât tell you for sure, but itâs all good fun!
Recommended Reading: Is It Ok To Lose Weight During Pregnancy
If Its Been Less Than 5 Days Since You Had Sex
Ultimately, your move here is going to vary based on whether youre interested in becoming pregnant or not.
If you want to get pregnant, theres not much for you to do beyond twiddling your thumbs.
If you do not wish to be pregnant, you have two options to consider to reduce the risk of pregnancy.
The first option is to take a morning-after pill, like Plan B or ella.
Despite their name, oral emergency contraceptives can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy.
Another option would be to get a copper IUD ASAP. When implanted within 120 hours of having unprotected sex, the copper IUD helps prevent pregnancy from a recent unprotected sexual encounter, as well as any future encounters you have with the IUD in place.
Worth mentioning: Some morning-after pills are less effective for people who weigh more than 155 pounds, so keep that in mind as you decide which emergency contraceptive option is best for you.
First Response Early Pregnancy Test
With this pregnancy test, you can find out whether youre pregnant 6 days before your missed period and 5 days before your period is expected. Watch out though because its slightly less effective at predicting early pregnancy than the Clear Blue test at 62% effective 6 days before, but it is 99% effective on the day of the missed period. Get .
You May Like: Vagisil Cream While Pregnant
Recommended Reading: Can I Get Pregnant After Vasectomy
Home Pregnancy Test Kits
Home pregnancy test kits are available from pharmacists. These kits offer accurate readings if performed strictly according to the manufacturers instructions. However, many women who use home pregnancy test kits get inaccurate results.The most common mistake is to test for pregnancy too soon after the missed period. The manufacturers instructions will tell you when is the best time to use the kit. It is very important to follow the manufacturers instructions exactly.
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.
Recommended Reading: Why Is Smoking Bad For Pregnancy
When Should You Take A Blood Pregnancy Test
Depending on a woman’s cycle, a blood test can detect pregnancy between 6 and 14 days after conception.
Blood tests for pregnancy are more sensitive to hCG than home pregnancy tests. They can detect this hormone in low quantities and tell you if you’re pregnant sooner than a home test.
While blood tests can provide results sooner than home pregnancy tests, they are usually more expensive and take longer to provide results because the blood must be sent to a lab for analysis.
If the lab is in-house then it will take a few hours. But if the lab is at a different location, it could take several days to learn the results.
What About Early Pregnancy Tests
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.
But let us take a closer look, so you do not test too early for pregnancy. The first thing to consider is that the percentage provided on the front of the package is only accurate when you take the test on the day of your expected period and in a laboratory setting by professionals. The same goes for the the instructions printed inside the pregnancy test kit the claims of accuracy are elevated because they do not reflect real-life testing in real-life situations. The results from a University of New Mexico study reveal the chances you can anticipate getting the right answer from an early home pregnancy test:
- One day past your expected period: 100% of pregnancies detected
- On the day of your expected period: 96% of pregnancies detected
- On the day before your expected period: 93% of pregnancies detected
- Two days before your expected period: 81% of pregnancies detected
- Three days before your expected period: 68% of pregnancies detected
- Four days before your expected period: 42% of pregnancies detected
- Five days before your expected period: 33% of pregnancies detected
- Six days before your expected period: 25% of pregnancies detected
Read Also: How Many Days To Check Pregnancy
