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.
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.
When To Contact A Doctor
If a pregnancy test result is positive, a person should contact a midwife or doctor. They can confirm the result with a blood test or schedule an early ultrasound.
If the person is pregnant, they should start prenatal care or discuss other options as early as possible.
If a person misses a period but is not pregnant, a healthcare professional can help diagnose any underlying cause.
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How Soon Can You Find Out If Youre Pregnant
The symptoms of pregnancy explained above are the most common ones but often the signs and symptoms experienced are very mild and easily attributed to other reasons.
If you frequently experience headaches and can confidently chalk your mood swings up to, say, a social media article that just set you off, looking for stronger indicators like morning sickness and changes in discharge would be a good start.
If you do notice a cluster of symptoms, following up with a home pregnancy test is your best next move.
The Best Time Of Day To Test
The wait to take a pregnancy test can be excruciating. But some good news is that the moment you hit the right time in your cycle, you can take it the first thing that morning. In fact, thats preferable.
You want to take a pregnancy test just after you wake up and when you haven’t used the restroom in a while. This is when your urine is the most concentrated, with the highest hCG levels. If you are a shift worker, take the test after you wake up to begin your day, or when you havent peed in a handful of hours.
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How A Pregnancy Test Works
Pregnancy tests work by measuring the levels of HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, present in your bloodstream or urine. HCG is a hormone that is only produced by women when they are pregnant.
Urine-based pregnancy tests display a positive result if HCG is detected. Some pregnancy tests use digital readouts to make the results more clear, but all urine tests work essentially the same way.
What Should You Not Do During Implantation
Its recommended that you avoid strenuous physical activities like heavy weight-lifting or high-impact cardio during your two-week wait as it could lead to uterine contractions and affect the implantation process. After the first few days of our waiting period, you can do some light exercising like walking, jogging, or swimming.
Your implant will be implanted within two to three weeks after your first day of your menstrual cycle. If youre not sure when your implant is due, ask your doctor or midwife for an estimate. You can also check with your insurance company to see if you qualify for a free or low-cost pregnancy test.
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How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test After A 5 Day Ivf Transfer
The earliest you can check a pregnancy test after a blastocyst transfer is 9-10 days.
Beta human chorionic gonadotropin , the hormone that indicates that the fertilized egg has implanted into the uterine wall, rises at around 7 8 days after implantation.
With that said, I recommend that you dont check a urine home pregnancy test. Instead, it would be best if you have your doctor perform a blood pregnancy test.
Efficacy Home Pregnancy Test
Most of the natural home pregnancy tests do not have any scientifically tested efficacy. In many instances, some of the common home pregnancy tests may give accurate results simply by coincidence. However, some of the natural home pregnancy test methods given below have been proven to be more effective than others. While it is always recommended to get a clinically approved pregnancy test kit that you can use easily at home, you can always try these natural methods to get quick results without having to rush to the pharmacy.
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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.
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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Reasons To Take Pregnancy Test After Missed Period
The basis of performing a pregnancy test after a missed period should be clearly understood. Menstruation is a physiological process happening in every womans body. In the menstrual cycle, there are two phases. They are called as follicular phase and the luteal phase. During the follicular phase, the ovum matures and ovulates on the 14th day of the cycle. Then the luteal phase starts. During this phase, the uterine endometrium thickens in order to accept an embryo if the ovum gets fertilized by a sperm.
But when there is no fertilization, the endometrium starts to shed off on the last 3days of the cycle. This shedding off of the endometrium is what the woman experience as menstruation. When the ovum meets a sperm inside the womans reproductive system the endometrium will continue on thickening to accept the embryo and the woman will experience a missed period.
Can You Confirm Pregnancy From Changes In The Sleep Pattern
A pregnant womans sleep pattern changes owing to the increased levels of progesterone in her body. However, a woman might lose sleep due to a host of other reasons, so it is wrong to conclude that someone is pregnant just because she is not sleeping well.
A combination of the above-mentioned signs can indicate that you are pregnant if only one or two affect you, you are most likely not pregnant. However, do pay the doctor a visit to confirm that you are going to have a baby if you experience some of these symptoms.
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What Should I Do After Getting A Positive Pregnancy Test
If you take a pregnancy test at home and its positive, there are a few things you should do, including:
- Take your prenatal vitamins pick a vitamin with folic acid included in the ingredient list. Its recommended that you actually start taking these vitamins before becoming pregnant. This is because the folic acid can help prevent birth defects.
- Make sure to pursue healthy habits. Its recommended that you dont drink alcohol or smoke during pregnancy. You may also want to limit the amount of caffeine you consume each day during pregnancy.
Are All Pregnancy Tests The Same
Different pregnancy tests have different sensitivities. The lower the sensitivity, the earlier a pregnancy test becomes positive. Sensitivities are indicated in mIU/mL, the lowest amount of hCG in the urine that tests positive. A sensitivity of 20 mIU/mL requires one-half the hCG level to be positive when compared with a 40 mIU/mL sensitivity level, and it may become positive several days earlier than the pregnancy test with higher sensitivity. Make sure you read the package of the pregnancy test to determine your pregnancy test’s sensitivity.
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What Should I Do If I Get A Positive Pregnancy Test
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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.
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So When Should I Take A Pregnancy Test
Maybe you’re a glutton for punishment. Perhaps you have tons of money laying around. If so, by all means, test early.
Waiting until 2 or 3 days before your period is due to take a home pregnancy test is a better option. The chances of a positive result are better at this point. Keep in mind, a negative result at this point doesn’t mean you are not pregnant. It could mean you are still testing too early. Negative results could mean your baby implanted later than calculated.
Sadly, it could also mean you are not pregnant this month. The best answer to when should you take the pregnancy test is simple. Be strong. Wait until your period has not arrived. You will get the most reliable results at this point.
How To Use A Home Pregnancy Test Kit
Home pregnancy test kits vary in their sensitivity to hCG. Most test kits are best used about one to two weeks after your period was due. Always strictly follow the manufacturers instructions. Generally speaking, most home pregnancy tests follow the same basic principles:
- You collect urine in a small container and dip the test strip into the urine. Alternatively, some kits offer a test strip that you hold under your stream of urine.
- To improve accuracy of results, it is best to test your urine when you first get out of bed. Early morning urine is concentrated and contains higher levels of hCG than at other times of the day.
- Most test strips indicate the presence of hCG by the appearance of a coloured line or dot.
- Results are rapid. Most test kits take only a few minutes to complete.
- Most kits come with a second test strip. This allows you to test again at a later stage.
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When Should I Call My Doctor About A New Pregnancy
If youve missed your period and gotten a positive pregnancy test, your next step will be to call your healthcare provider for your first appointment. While scheduling, your provider may ask if you have already started taking a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid. Prenatal vitamins are important in early pregnancy because they help in the development of your babys neural tube. The neural tube will become your babys brain and spine. Many healthcare providers recommend that anyone who could become pregnant take folic acid at all times.
If youre planning a pregnancy, a preconception appointment with your healthcare provider is a good place to start. A preconception appointment is especially important if you take medication for a chronic illness or have other medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or lupus.
During this appointment, your provider will discuss any current medical conditions, as well as your general health before pregnancy. This appointment is meant to get you into the best place for a new pregnancy.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/26/2022.
References
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When Should You Consult A Doctor
Most women avoid going to a doctor until they are well within a few months of their pregnancy. This is not recommended at all since there can be several complications during a pregnancy that needs to be tended to by a medical professional. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a doctor regarding your pregnancy at the earliest chance possible.
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What Is The Difference Between Biochemical Pregnancy And Clinical Pregnancy
A chemical pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that has been identified only through a beta hCG test but failed to progress.
In other words, it miscarries before an ultrasound can detect it. Typically the hormone levels start low and ultimately downtrend back to negative.
A clinical pregnancy is when the embryo implants in the uterus and is identified by ultrasound at 5-6 weeks of gestation.
A gestational sac and a yolk sac should be visible on ultrasound to be categorized as a clinical pregnancy.
What Are The Risks Of A Glucose Tolerance Test
I hear that there are no risks associated with a glucose tolerance test.
However, I have personally be affected by a VERY low blood sugar following the 3-hour test. Honestly, so low that I probably should have been in a coma.
SO, I always recommend that on both the 1-hour and the 3-hour test that you bring something that has a nice balance of carbs and protein to eat right after the test is over. I usually take a peanut butter and honey sandwich since its easy to keep in my bag or my car. And can easily be eaten quickly.
NOTE: This snack is for AFTER the test is over. Make sure you follow the instructions for the test during the procedure. It is really important.
If you have any questions or concerns about the test, talk to your doctor or midwife. Theyll be happy to answer any questions you have.
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How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
You can take a pregnancy test anytime after your period is late thats when they work the best. Its a good idea to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible if you miss your period or think you might be pregnant.
The earlier you know youre pregnant, the sooner you can start thinking about your options and get whatever care you need to stay healthy.
Many pregnancy tests say they work a few days before a missed period, but the results are usually less accurate then. Read the label on your pregnancy test to find out when to take a pregnancy test and how accurate itll be.
Sometimes a pregnancy test is able to find pregnancy hormones in your urine as early as 10 days after unprotected sex. But these results arent super reliable, and you may get a false positive or false negative test result.
If your periods are very irregular, or you dont get periods at all for one reason or another, your best bet for accurate results is to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after sex.
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.
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