Pregnancy Testing: Timing, Effectiveness, and Other Considerations.

You may be wondering how long it takes to take a pregnancy test after having sex. For the most accurate results, wait until one day after your period is late to take a pregnancy test.

That said, some over-the-counter (OTC) early pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect pregnancy a few days before a missed period and give results within minutes.

This article will go over the types of pregnancy test strips and the factors that can affect the results. It also includes how to decide when to take a pregnancy test and when to try again after receiving a negative result.

Types of pregnancy tests

As recently as the 1970s, you had to miss your period before taking a pregnancy test, and results can take up to two hours. Nowadays, you can find out you are pregnant much earlier, faster and more accurately using home pregnancy test methods.

Home pregnancy tests are easy to use and almost as accurate as a healthcare provider’s office pregnancy test. However, there are some things to consider when deciding which pregnancy test is right for you.

Urine pregnancy test

Urine tests can be done at home with an over-the-counter kit or at your healthcare provider’s office.

To use an OTC home pregnancy test, you pee on the tip of the stick, which checks for hCG in your urine. If you take a urine pregnancy test at your healthcare provider’s office, you will urinate into a cup and the provider will dip the test strip into your urine sample.

Sometimes small amounts of hCG can be detected in the urine about 10 days after conception or pregnancy.

If you take a urine pregnancy test earlier than 10 days after conception, the tests may give a “false negative” result. If you test early and the results are negative, you should continue testing if your period is late.

For the most reliable results, wait after the first day of your period to take a pregnancy test.

Pregnancy blood test

Blood tests to detect pregnancy are rarely done routinely because they are expensive and similar results can be obtained with urine testing.

However, your healthcare provider may order a blood test if you have a high-risk pregnancy, are undergoing fertility treatment, or are concerned that you may have a multiple pregnancy, miscarriage. (miscarriage before 20 weeks) or complications such as an ectopic pregnancy. pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube).

Pregnancy blood test results take longer than urine tests, but they can detect smaller amounts of hCG. Your provider may use one or both of the following blood tests:

• Qualitative hCG blood test: Qualitative pregnancy blood test for overall picture. It tells your provider if hCG is absent or present in your blood. The accuracy of these tests is slightly higher than that of urine tests.
• Blood hCG quantitative test: Quantitative refers to a quantity or quantity. The results of this test are given as an exact number. This gives your provider more detailed information about where you’re pregnant and how it’s progressing.

Pregnancy test time

With a pregnancy test, timing is everything because the amount of hCG in your urine increases as your pregnancy progresses.

hCG levels almost double every 48 hours in early pregnancy. If you’re pregnant and wait a few days for the test, it’s more likely to be positive.

Best time in your cycle to take a pregnancy test

After you become pregnant, it takes some time for hCG to rise to detectable levels.

The best time to take a pregnancy test is after you miss your period. If you don’t want to wait until your period is late, at least wait one to two weeks after sex to get tested.

Each person’s window of conception (when they can get pregnant) is different, depending on when they ovulate.

Menstrual bleeding usually 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.

It is best to wait until you are sure that you are late to take a pregnancy test. If you’re not sure when you’re ovulating, you can try an ovulation kit or monitor your basal body temperature.

What is the 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 don’t wake up to drink a lot of water throughout the night, your urine will be more concentrated as soon as you wake up.

More concentrated urine means there will be a build-up or higher of hCG in it if you’re pregnant — especially if you tested before your period or just a day or two late.

The further you are in your pregnancy, the more likely you are to have a test that detects hCG at any time of day.

When to take early results pregnancy tests

You can take an early pregnancy test a few days before your period is late. These tests are more accurate for people who conceived (get pregnant) earlier in their cycle.

If you ovulated a little late, you may have conceived later in your cycle. In this case, there may not be enough hCG for these tests to detect until near or after you miss your period.

If you’ve received an hCG-activated shot to help boost your fertility, it’s best to wait two weeks after the shot to take a pregnancy test. The trigger shot can cause a false positive if the pregnancy test is taken before the drug is out of your system.

How Effective Is Early Pregnancy Test?

If you want to take the test before you miss your period, weigh the pros and cons before taking it.

Accuracy of pregnancy test

Most tests promise 99% accuracy on the day you miss your period. However, this really does not apply to the initial results.

In a European study, seven pregnancy tests were tested for accuracy. Three of those seven tests were accurate 97.6% to 100% of the time. The other four tests had lower accuracy rates, ranging from 81.6% to 95.9%. Research has noted that the regulations for these tests in Europe are different from those in the United States, and results can also vary from user to user.

User error is also a factor to consider. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the accuracy of a pregnancy test greatly depends on how a person follows the instructions and interprets the results. The FDA also notes that while these tests can detect hCG, someone testing too soon may not have enough hCG for the test to detect. This can give them a false negative.

Summary

You can start taking a pregnancy test 10 days after conceiving, but a pregnancy test too early can give a negative result – even if you’re pregnant.

Pregnancy hormones increase rapidly. The longer you wait for a pregnancy test, the better your chances of getting an accurate result.

The best time to take a pregnancy test is the day after your expected period, in the morning, when you pee for the first time of the day.

A very good word

When you’re worried about getting the results of a pregnancy test, it’s understandable that you want to try it as soon as possible. Testing too early can give you an inaccurate result, which can make the process more difficult.

Let your provider know as soon as you receive a positive home pregnancy test result. They can confirm that with a more accurate test and help you decide on next steps.