When is pregnancy detected

Either way, it's important to take the test at the right time to maximize your chance of getting an accurate reading. How do you decide when the right time to take a test is?

Does when you take a pregnancy test really matter? If you're trying to conceive, you may spend the entire two-week wait debating when to pee on a stick. Should you wait until your period is late? What time of day is best? Unfortunately, taking the test early may give you a negative result, even if you are pregnant.

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. 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 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. The time of day you take a pregnancy test does matter to a certain extent.

This is especially true if your period is not yet late, or if your period is only a couple days late. At-home pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin hCG in your urine.

Unless you get up in the night to pee often or you drink water throughout the night , your urine is more concentrated when you first wake up. However, you can still take a pregnancy test in the middle of the day, or even at night. Depending on whether a positive pregnancy test would be good or bad news, symptoms like these may fill you with dread … or excitement.

Many symptoms similar to pregnancy symptoms can be caused by other things, like a cold, the flu, or even a few nights of poor sleep.

Knowing how pregnancy tests work can help you understand when to take them. Pregnancy tests relay how urine reacts with a piece of paper that can detect the presence of hCG. Results are usually shown as a single or double line or a plus or minus sign. An at-home pregnancy test can't measure the exact amount of pregnancy hormone in your urine.

What it can do is detect whether a minimum amount is present. Getting a negative pregnancy test result doesn't mean your urine doesn't contain hCG. It just means it doesn't contain enough to trigger a positive result. These tests are more sensitive than standard tests but getting accurate results that early is more difficult simply because ovulation and implantation times can vary. If you have irregular periods, it can be even more difficult to know when might be an accurate time to try an early test.

If you're having fertility treatments , be aware that this may result in a false positive pregnancy test, especially those performed early. That's because pregnancy tests may detect the remains of fertility medications like Ovidrel, Pregnyl, or Novarel. If you expect your period on Wednesday, Thursday would be the day of your missed period. The accuracy of a test can depend on several variables:. Are you considering taking a test before your period is late? Consider the pros and cons before you do.

Let's say you want to take an early test, despite the possible downsides. Which test should you use? According to the research, the best early pregnancy test on the market now is the First Response Early Result, or, as it's sometimes abbreviated on fertility forums, the FRER. There are many reasons for missed periods, but if a woman is sexually active, a missed period can signal pregnancy.

Most pregnancy tests are very accurate when taken after a missed period, but sometimes the hormone levels might not be high enough to trigger a positive result. If a woman misses a period and a pregnancy test is negative, she should repeat the test after a few days.

Sore and swollen breasts are very common in early pregnancy, but they often occur just before a period, as well. Some women experience implantation bleeding, which is light bleeding that happens when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. Cramps are common just before or during a menstrual period, but some women also get cramps when implantation occurs.

If cramps occur around or before a period is due, but there is no bleeding or the bleeding is much lighter than usual, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test. Morning sickness , or nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, tends to start between the 2nd and 8th week of pregnancy. Nausea does not just happen in the morning — many women feel nauseated all day or into the evening.

If a woman feels nauseous for no apparent reason, especially when there are other signs of pregnancy, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test. Fatigue is a common symptom of early pregnancy. There may be no other likely causes, such as stress or a lack of sleep.

It may be difficult for a pregnant woman to make it through the day without a nap or the opportunity to rest. Fatigue during early pregnancy is usually due to changes in the hormone progesterone. The fatigue usually eases, and pregnant women may find they have more energy starting in the second trimester.

Unusual cravings and food aversions are common in the first trimester, though they sometimes persist through the entire pregnancy. Some women crave non-food items, such as dirt or ice. Anyone who craves things that are not food should consult a healthcare provider. Women should consider taking a pregnancy test if they are sexually active and have had a birth control mishap within the last month.

Taking another test within 1 week is a good idea, whether the first result was negative or positive. However, it is especially important if the first result was negative, if there are any signs of pregnancy, or both.

Anyone with questions about pregnancy or their test results should contact a healthcare professional. If a home pregnancy test result is positive, a doctor can confirm this with a clinical test. Next, it is important to make a prenatal care plan with the doctor, and this should include checkups throughout the pregnancy.

If a home pregnancy test result is negative, but periods do not resume, contact a healthcare professional to identify the cause of the missed periods. A person can buy home pregnancy tests over the counter or have a test that involves giving a blood or urine sample in a clinical setting. Both home and clinical tests are reliable. It is crucial to follow the instructions carefully, and it is a good idea to take a follow-up test within 1 week.

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What to know about pregnancy testing. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Types of test Early pregnancy signs How to test Accuracy The results and seeing a doctor Summary We include products we think are useful for our readers. Types of pregnancy test. Who should use a pregnancy test? How to use pregnancy tests.

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