When Is The Earliest Time To Test For Pregnancy

How Pregnancy Tests Work

Think you might be pregnant?

Even with the most effective birth control methods, theres always a chance for error. After all, it takes just one sperm to fertilize the egg. Finding out whether or not thats happened is as easy as taking an over-the-counter pregnancy test.

OTC pregnancy tests typically test your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . HCG is only present if youre pregnant. The hormone is only released if a fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus or to your uterine lining.

There are different ways to collect your urine for the test. Depending on the test you choose, you may have to:

• collect your urine in a cup and dip a testing stick into the liquid
• collect your urine in a cup and use an eyedropper to move a small amount of fluid into a special container
• place the testing stick into the area of your expected urine stream so that it will catch your urine midstream

According to Cleveland Clinic, most tests are 99 percent effective if taken after a missed period. The best part is that you can do it in the privacy of your own home. Simply open the test, follow the instructions, and wait for the recommended amount of time to view the results.

After the recommended waiting time has passed, the tests will display your results in one of the following ways:

• a change in color

The Best Time In Your Cycle To Take A Pregnancy Test

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.

Which Test Is Right For Me

All Clearblue pregnancy tests are designed with women in mind, and include unique and innovative features to make them easy to use and easy to read, so you can be confident in your result, helping reassure you when you need it most.

There are other tests out there that dont tick these boxes.

Strips and Cassettes are the most basic types of test. They are often small, and not easy to use as they involve multiple steps, including collecting a sample before testing. When you are excited or anxious , it can be easy to make a mistake or worry you have made a mistake. And studies have shown that 1 in 3 women can misread these types of tests, making them some of the most difficult types of tests to use and read.6

Nearly three-quarters of women prefer to test directly in their urine stream. Studies have shown midstream tests like Clearblue are convenient, hygienic and easy to use.6

With Clearblue you can also choose to test early Clearblue Digital Ultra Early Pregnancy Test gives results from 6 days before your missed period. Or for the most information about your pregnancy of any test, try Clearblue with Weeks Indicator, the only test that can also tell you how many weeks since you conceived. However, if youve already missed your period and just want a fast result, then Clearblue Rapid Detection could be the test for you.

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When Is The Earliest Time To Take An Early Home Pregnancy Test

As women all have different ovulation and menstrual cycles, if you know the date you ovulated and the average length of your menstrual cycle it can help you choose the day to take an early pregnancy test.

The earliest times for testing are:

DPO = Days Past Ovulation

The best times to test while not sacrificing too much accuracy:

DPO = Days Past Ovulation

What If You Have A High Risk For Certain Genetic Diseases

Genetic counseling can be beneficial if you are at risk for certain genetic diseases. This type of counseling involves taking an extensive medical history and assessing the health of you, your partner, and your respective families.

Your counselor may recommend that you, your partner, or certain family members undergo blood testing for inheritable diseases.

You may also be offered early pregnancy screening tests, such as ultrasound and amniocentesis, to assess your pregnancy for the presence of a genetic disease.

During your first prenatal exam, your doctor will complete a checkup, which usually includes a physical examination as well as blood and urine tests.

Your doctor may also complete a pelvic exam during your first prenatal visit.

Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, your doctor will listen for your babys heartbeat. Oftentimes, the heartbeat cant be heard or seen on an ultrasound until at least 6 or 7 weeks.

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When Is It Too Early To Test For Pregnancy

If you take a pregnancy test before you have missed your period, you increase your chances of getting a false negative result. This means the test will read negative when you actually are pregnant, so experts recommend waiting until you have already missed your period to prevent false-negative test results.

Is It Normal To Feel Tired During Pregnancy

Oh yes, feeling tired is very normal in pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks as your body changes, and after 28 weeks when your growing bump can make getting a good nights sleep feel like a rare event. Extent of tiredness varies from woman to woman, with some women feeling absolutely shattered throughout pregnancy while others are less affected most women, however, will feel more tired than usual while theyre pregnant.

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Do All Women Experience Early Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Each mom-to-be and each pregnancy is unique, so you may only notice some of these early signs of pregnancy. For example, the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy could occur before a missed period alternatively, missing a period may be your first clue that youâre pregnant. Whatâs more, the symptoms you notice in a second pregnancy may be different from what you experienced the first time around.

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How To Prevent A False Negative Result

The number one cause of a false negative test is taking the test too soon after you conceive. Also, if you dont follow the test instructions carefully, it could affect your result.

Urine, even in women who drink large amounts of water, should still yield a positive result. But urine shouldnt be diluted with water before taking a test. A good time to take the test is in the morning when you first wake up.

If a test is negative in a woman who suspects shes pregnant or if she has irregular cycles, she should repeat the test in one week.

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When Is A Blood Pregnancy Test Positive

The blood pregnancy test generally provides greater accuracy earlier. If you are pregnant, your blood test will usually be positive within 3-4 days after implantation or about 9-10 days after fertilization and ovulation, which is roughly 5-6 days before a missed period.

The earliest you can get a positive result on the most sensitive pregnancy tests is 3-4 days after implantation, 11-12 days after ovulation/fertilization or about 2 days prior to your next period. But the majority of home pregnancy tests will not be positive until you miss a period.

LEARN more about your pregnancy test knowledge by taking the Pregnancy Test Quiz

Implantation needs to occur before hCG is produced, and implantation generally happens between 6-12 days post ovulation/fertilization, so the HPT would be positive as early as 11-12 days after ovulation/fertilization.

For this reason, it makes sense to wait until 10-12 days after ovulation. However, even 10-12 days after ovulation, over one-half of pregnant women will still show a negative result.If you did not have an hCG injection , you can believe the positive results, but a negative result does not necessarily exclude a pregnancy. If your period is late, test again.

LEARN more about your pregnancy test knowledge by taking the Pregnancy Test Quiz

Your hCG levels should rise at least 60% every 2 days and many people won’t have a positive HPT until the first day of a missed period or even a few days later.

Whats Next If The Results Are Negative

If your test results are negative, but you want to have a baby, keep trying to get pregnant. Also make sure that you begin taking folic acid supplements, if you havent already. You wont always get pregnant from sexual intercourse depending on your menstrual cycle, so use an ovulation calculator or track your cycle on a calendar to decide when the best times are for you to get pregnant.

Learn more: Ovulation: When am I most fertile? »

If youve tried to become pregnant multiple times, consider getting a fertility test or asking your partner to get a fertility test. It can reveal whether either of you might have fertility issues that are affecting your ability to get pregnant. If youre infertile, consider other options for becoming pregnant, such as artificial insemination.

If your test results are negative and you didnt plan to get pregnant, take a second test to make sure the results are accurate. If you took the test because you were concerned that you might have gotten pregnant after unprotected sex, make sure to use any birth control necessary to prevent any future pregnancy scares.

If your results are negative but youre still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, such as a missed period, see your doctor to find out if another condition is causing your symptoms. Symptoms such as exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting are common to other conditions. Heavy exercise or excessive stress can cause missed periods as well.

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Changes In Cervical Mucus

Have you become a student of your cervical mucus? Then check it out now: If it becomes creamy and stays that way after ovulation, its a good sign youll have a positive pregnancy test.

As your pregnancy progresses, youll also notice increased vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea. This thin, milky-white discharge is normal and healthy, but speak to your practitioner if it appears lumpy or thick.

How Accurate Are Urine Tests

Urine tests or home pregnancy tests are around 97% accurate when done correctly. Home pregnancy tests are great to use because they can be done at home, they are usually low in cost , private, they give a fast result, and are easy to use.

However, if done incorrectly or taken too early, the result can be inaccurate. If you get a negative result and still have symptoms of pregnancy , wait a week and take another test or contact your doctor so you can have a blood test done.

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Different Pregnancy Tests Available

When it comes to finding the right pregnancy test for women, there are quite a few options available. These can range from different types of at-home tests to urine tests at a clinic, and even blood tests at a doctor’s office to determine that pregnancy has indeed happened. In all instances, unless the test is a dud, pregnancy tests are accurate. Therefore, unless there is a user error when it comes to reading the at-home test, women can be confident with the results they are getting. But accurate or not, it can be hard to determine which test to choose with the different ones available today. And the best answer is the one that women feel most comfortable taking.

While the urine and blood tests are fairly straightforward when women make their way to clinics or doctor’s offices to verify their at-home test results, choosing the at-home test to take can be a bit more confusing. The plus to the tests is that they are all very similar in how they are used. But, reading tests can be difficult for some, or results may take too long for others. As such, it may take trying a few to determine which one is best for each woman. Fortunately, with several options available, it should not take long to find the go-to test. Something that is a good thing given that women do not want to go months on end before they get their positive pregnancy test.

Here are all the different pregnancy tests available today.

Tips For Taking A Pregnancy Test

Using a home pregnancy test is pretty easy. All HPTs are urine tests and often use a testing stick you hold in your urine stream. Heres how to use a home pregnancy test the right way:

If youre not sure you tested correctly, simply take another test. Many HPTs come in packages of two or three. Buy multi-packs if youd prefer to double-check test results.

The accuracy of a home pregnancy test can vary, depending on how you use it and your menstrual cycle. To improve the accuracy of a home pregnancy test, you will want to pay attention to the following details:

• Testing too early. You shouldnt test earlier than 12 DPO. It is best to wait until your period is due.
• Urine is diluted. You are not using morning urine or drinking too much fluid before the test. The hCG concentration in your urine is diluted.
• Not enough waiting time. The US Office of Womens Health recommends waiting up to 10 minutes after the test to check the results. This time frame will give you the most accurate result.
• The test is not sensitive enough. Some pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others. If you want to detect pregnancy early, ask the pharmacist for a more sensitive brand.

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I Have Taken The Test But No Blue Line Has Appeared In The Control Window What Should I Do

If it is more than 10 minutes since you took the test, then the test has not worked. This may be because:

• The colour change tip was not kept pointing downwards or the test stick was not laid flat after urine was applied.
• Too much or too little urine was used.

Test again, using a new test stick, taking care to follow the instructions. You may wish to collect a sample of urine and test using the Collected Sample method.

All You Need To Know About Testing Early For Pregnancy

After the egg is fertilized, it travels to the uterus and implants itself in the uterine wall. At this stage tiny amounts of the , start to appear in your urine. It is this hormone that all home pregnancy tests detect. can tell you 6 days sooner than your 1.

No matter when you test, you can be confident in the accuracy of a ‘Pregnant’ result with any

But if you are testing early, you should be aware that even if your result , you may still be pregnant. This is because levels of hCG vary from woman to woman and there may not yet be enough hormone for the test to give a . rise rapidly in early pregnancy, as shown in the graph below, meaning that if you test again on the day of your expected period, your result will be over 99% accurate.

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When Can I Test With Clearblue Ultra Early

You can test up to 6 days before your missed period, which is 5 days before you expect your period. If you test before your expected period and get a Not Pregnant result, there is still a chance that you may be pregnant. See chart below for results of clinical testing with early pregnancy samples.

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What Are The Signs Of Pregnancy

The signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. Usually the most obvious sign is the absence of menstruation . However, some women continue to have bleeding even while pregnant. The following are the most common first signs of pregnancy. However, each woman may experience the signs of pregnancy differently. These may include:

• Extreme tiredness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Frequent urination

• Certain food cravings or aversions

• Bloating of the belly

• Darkening of the skin around the nipples .

These early signs may not positively indicate pregnancy, but may actually signal another process happening within the body. A pregnancy test can provide more accurate results.

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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.

It also helps to take the home pregnancy test first thing in the morning. The less diluted your urine, the better. Make sure you check the results within the appropriate time frame to avoid confusing an evaporation line with a positive line.