What Do I Need To Know Before Starting A Test
First, for you. Then, there are a few things you should do before taking a pregnancy test, like:
- Check the expiry date on the box. Even if youve bought the test recently, its always a good idea to make sure the test youve purchased is still valid. An may give you an unexpected result.
- Use the first urine of the day if youre testing early. Pregnancy tests look for the presence of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in your urine, which is more concentrated first thing in the morning. If you havent missed your period yet, your levels of hCG may not be high enough to be detected in more diluted urine. However, you can test any time of day if youve already missed your period as the pregnancy hormone level will be high enough to give a positive result at any time of the day if you are pregnant.
- Do not drink too much liquid before testing. How much you drink before testing is especially important if youre testing early, as too much liquid can dilute the hCG levels in your urine.
- If you want to collect a sample, have a clean cup to hand you can use. If you choose to test directly in your urine stream, make sure you have the test ready to use.
- You may want to use a timer. Keeping track of the time you need to wait to read the results can help you be sure youve waited long enough.
What Should I Do If My Pregnancy Test Is Positive
If you take a pregnancy test after you miss your period and the result is positive, that means youre pregnant. You can always take another test to be sure, if you want.
You may want to go to a nurse or doctor, family planning clinic, or local Planned Parenthood Health Center to get a follow-up test. Theyll talk with you about your pregnancy options, and help get you the care you need. Be careful not to visit a Crisis Pregnancy Center, because they might not give you real medical care or truthful information about your pregnancy and all of your options.
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Follow My Babys Growth
This doesnt mean you cant take a pregnancy test later in the day. It just means that youre more likely to get a false-negative, especially if youve been drinking a lot of water. Its easy to forget in the morning, so it might be helpful to leave yourself a note the night before. You can close the lid of the toilet and leave a note there to remind yourself.
What if you have an unconventional sleep schedule and cant test your urine first thing in the morning? You can increase the level of hCG in your urine by not using the bathroom for at least four hours.
Before taking a pregnancy test, dont drink more water than you normally would. Drinking a lot of water can dilute your urine and affect the result of your test.
If you got a negative result but still think you might be pregnant, take the test again after several days. False positives and false negatives are rare, but they do happen. Repeating a test can also be a good idea.
How Soon After Sex Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
If you think you may be pregnant, waiting to take a pregnancy test can feel excruciating. If youve recently had unprotected sex or experienced contraception failure, you probably want to know as soon as possible. Before you begin to worry or make any plans, taking a home pregnancy test is a good first step. Of course, if you want to, skip the home test and come see us first. We can provide lab-grade pregnancy testing for you free of charge.
When Should You Take a Pregnancy Test ?
Before You Miss Your Period
The earlier you take a test, the less accurate it will be. Taking a test before you miss your period or less than two weeks after sex can cause a false negative.
Some women take a test too early and assume they are not pregnant. This can be especially confusing if they spot or bleed during their first-trimester, making them believe they had their period.
We see women already in their second trimester before they notice more obvious pregnancy symptoms. They are often shocked to find out how far along they are.
Two Weeks Later
Many women test according to the two weeks rule. This means waiting to take a test until two weeks after unprotected sex. It can provide accurate results for women who are on a predictable 28-day cycle and who ovulating once and at a regular interval.
However, some womens cycles are not as predictable, or medications such as birth control and antibiotics can change their cycle and date of ovulation. Even stress can cause interruptions.
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Best Time Of Day To Take A Pregnancy Test
Taking a pregnancy test first thing in the morning gives you a better chance of getting an accurate result. Assuming you have not been waking up to drink a lot of water through the night, your urine will be more concentrated right when you wake up.
More concentrated urine means there will be a build-up or higher content of hCG in it if you are pregnantespecially if you are testing before your period is expected or just a day or two late.
When you are farther along in pregnancy, there is a greater chance of the test detecting hCG at any time in the day.
What Is A Conception Calculator
Have you wondered when your little nugget was conceived? Well, a conception calculator helps you figure that out. Whether youre trying to have a baby or avoid it, this is a great tool to use. A conception calculator lets you know the range of days a woman is most likely to conceive. You can use your due date, the date on your ultrasound, or your last period.
to figure out your own conception date.
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How Soon Can I Take A Home Pregnancy Test
It is recommended that you wait until you have missed a period to take a home test. A missed period is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you cannot wait that long to find out and you know the day you may have conceived, then the earliest you can take a test would be 14 days from possible conception.
If You Have An Irregular Cycle
If you donât know when your period is going to come, and the difference between your longest cycle and shortest cycle is more than 7â9 daysââthat is, if the timing your period is highly variableâââthen unprotected sex or exposure of sperm on your genitals at most times represents a higher risk because itâs harder to estimate when you were exposed.
You can take a pregnancy test about two weeks after your last unprotected sexual encounter, though waiting a few days longer will help improve the accuracy of the results.
If you are using an active form of natural birth control or are tracking fertility signs for body literacy, you will have a better idea of your timing of ovulation and can use that to assess your risk of pregnancy.
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You Were Pregnant: Early Pregnancy Loss
A faint positive line can also be a sign of a very early miscarriage, sometimes called a chemical pregnancy, which occurs within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy, often much earlier.
If you take a home pregnancy test after a miscarriage, your test may reveal a faint positive line. This is because your body may have residual pregnancy hormone in its system, although youre no longer expecting.
You may experience bleeding that resembles your menstrual cycle and light cramping. Bleeding can occur around the time when you expect your next period, so you may never know of the early miscarriage.
But if you take a home pregnancy test while bleeding and the results show a faint positive line, you may have had a pregnancy loss.
Theres no specific treatment, but you can talk with your doctor if you suspect a miscarriage.
Early pregnancy losses are not uncommon and occur in about 50 to 75 percent of all miscarriages. These miscarriages are often due to abnormalities in a fertilized egg.
The truth is that women who have had a very early pregnancy loss dont necessarily have problems conceiving at a later time. Many women eventually have healthy babies, although recurrent pregnancy loss is a reason for further evaluation.
What If I Get A Negative Pregnancy Test Result
If you get a negative test result, but still believe you may be pregnant, wait a few days and take another test. You may want to avoid close sexual contact during this time. If it has been more than 21 days since you had unprotected sex and your test is negative for pregnancy, you are not pregnant. If you are still experiencing signs of pregnancy after a second negative test result and your period hasnt returned, you may want to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Remember, there are things other than pregnancy that can delay a period.
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Early Signs Of Pregnancy
- Slight morning nausea
Depending on whether a positive pregnancy test would be good or bad news, symptoms like these may fill you with dreador excitement. But heres the good news: pregnancy symptoms do not mean you are pregnant. In fact, you can feel pregnant and not be pregnant, or not feel pregnant when you really are expecting.
Whats Next If The Results Are Positive
Your next steps depend on two things: whether youre pregnant and whether or not you planned to get pregnant.
If your test results are positive and youve been planning to have a baby, take another test to make sure youre pregnant. Then, see your doctor before you reach the 8-week mark. You can ask them about prenatal care options or specialists who can help guide you through your pregnancy. Ask your doctor about any changes you need to make to your lifestyle, medications, or diet to keep yourself and your baby healthy for the next nine months.
If your test results are positive but you didnt plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor about available options, including:
- carrying the pregnancy to term for adoption
- what to do if you want to continue your pregnancy
You can also receive help from a clinic or health center that specializes in reproductive health and child care, like Planned Parenthood.
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When To Take A Home Pregnancy Test
The length of time from the first day of a period to ovulation can vary by several days from month to month. Sexual activity around ovulation leads to the possibility of fertilization of an released egg by sperm. But even then, the time frame for a fertilized egg to implant can vary. And hCG isnt produced until after implantation has occurred.
For the most accurate results, we recommend testing in the morning on the day you expect your period to start. This allows for variability in the timing of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. Testing in the morning provides a more concentrated urine sample.
Follow the directions carefully to get the best results. Before you take the test, make sure you understand what the readout for pregnant and not pregnant will be. Some tests still use two lines to indicate you are pregnant and one to indicate that you arent. However, many tests have switched to words such as yes and no, or pregnant and not pregnant for additional clarity.
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Should You Take A Pregnancy Test In The Morning Or Night
If youre testing before your period is due, its best to take a pregnancy test in the morning, when the concentration of hCG in your urine is highest. If your period is due or late, your hCG levels are likely high enough that you can test any time of day and still get a positive result if you are pregnant.
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I Missed My Period And I Dont Want To Be Pregnant
Ok, we can help. First and foremost, take a deep breath and know you are not alone. Abortion is a common thing that 1 in 4 people who can get pregnant will experience in their reproductive lifetime. Its a good idea to get as much information as soon as possible about your options. Reviewing our website or calling carafem is a great place to start.
Our staff will often start the call or ask online if you know the day your last period started. This is how we can date how far along you are in your pregnancy so we can provide you with abortion options specific to your needs. You can also access our website for information about choosing the abortion pill vs. an in-office abortion procedure.
My Pregnancy Test Says I Am Pregnant What Should I Do Next
If a home pregnancy test shows that you are pregnant, you should call your doctor to schedule an appointment.
Your doctor can use a blood test to tell for sure whether you are pregnant. Seeing your doctor early in your pregnancy also means you can begin prenatal care to help you and your baby stay healthy.
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What Are The Different Types Of Pregnancy Tests
There are two main types of pregnancy tests: urine and blood tests.
Urine tests are typically done at home though you can have a urine test done at your healthcare providers office while your provider performs a blood test.
At-home pregnancy test
An at-home test uses your pee to look for HCG. They contain special strips that detect HCG. Most at-home pregnancy tests are about 99% effective when used correctly. Thats about the same accuracy rate as pregnancy tests done in your healthcare providers office. These tests are available in most drug or grocery stores. Theyre easy to use and inexpensive. Its important to read the instructions on these tests before taking them.
There are three ways to take an at-home pregnancy test:
- Pee in a clean cup. Then, place one to several drops of your pee on a chemical strip.
- Place the pregnancy test strip in your urine stream while you pee.
- Pee in a clean cup and then dip the test strip in the pee while its still in the cup.
For many of these tests, HCG can be detected in your urine about 10 days after conception. However, taking it after you miss your period reduces the chance of getting a false-negative result. A missed period typically happens around 14 days after conception.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you take a home pregnancy test, including:
Blood test
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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Can You Get A False Negative Result
Yes, itâs possible to get a false negative result on your pregnancy test when you are actually pregnant. What can cause a false negative pregnancy test? False negatives typically occur if
-
you take the test too soon
-
your urine is too diluted from drinking liquids
-
you donât wait long enough for the results.
That last point begs the question how soon will a pregnancy test read positive or negative? Depending on the test and its instructions, you may need to wait as long as 10 minutes to get the most accurate result. Follow the instructions on your test closely and give the test time to work. If youâre feeling anxious or excited, you may even want to set a timer and find a distraction, so you donât look too soon!
