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One of the most important things to know if you are confused about when you should take a home pregnancy test is that you are more likely to get a negative result if it’s done too early.
How Does a Pregnancy Test Work?
Before going further, it will be helpful for you to understand how a pregnancy test works in order to know when to take one.
Pregnancy tests are made to detect human chorionic gonadotropin or the hCG hormone in the urine or blood. This is a pregnancy hormone that’s produced once a fertilized egg is attached to the uterus wall, usually starting around six days after the egg fertilization.
The hCG levels will continue to increase rapidly if you are pregnant, doubling every two to three days.
It is important to mention that there are some tests that are able to detect hyperglycosylated hCG or H-hCG, a variation of the hCG hormone.
The regular hCG is only produced after an embryo is implanted in the endometrium, while H-hCG is released earlier at some point right after fertilization.
When Should You Take a Home Pregnancy Test
You can get the most accurate result if you wait at least one week after missing your period. In addition, the result might be even more accurate if the test is done first in the morning as the urine is far more concentrated at this time. The urine-based home pregnancy tests offer about 97% accuracy.
This accuracy will depend on several factors such as how early the test is taken, if the instructions were followed closely, when ovulation occurred in the cycle, how early implantation takes place, and how sensitive the test is.
It is always best to take a pregnancy test after a late period to avoid false positive or false negative results.
If you have irregular cycles or you are not charting your cycles, it might best to take the test after passing the longest menstrual cycle.
For example, if your cycles are in the range of 30 to 36 days, it would be best to take the test at around 37 days after your last period or later.
Another thing to know is that you should not take the pregnancy test if you are using some fertility medication. An early test can detect the remnants of the medication [1].
How Soon After Sex Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
Many women take a pregnancy test right after they have sex. This is actually a huge mistake because, as mentioned above, the levels of hCG in the body can be detected several days after the fertilized egg has been implanted in the uterus.
By taking the pregnancy test too early, it can result in a false-negative result and make you believe that you’re not pregnant.
So when is the right time to take a pregnancy test after having unprotected sex? According to experts, you can take the test 10 to 14 days after having intercourse since, during this time, the hCG levels in your body are already high enough to be detected.
Many home pregnancy test kits will include this fact in their instructions to ensure that users will get accurate results.
However, this 10-to-14 day time frame is only the minimum. If you’re not in a hurry, it’s advisable to wait for a longer time before you take a home pregnancy test.
Many experts recommend that you take the test 21 days after having unprotected sex for more accurate results [2].
This might seem like a long time to wait, particularly if you’re eager to get pregnant and want to know if you’ve conceived ASAP. But it’s important to note that conception doesn’t always happen right after you have sex.
Remember: sperm can live inside your body for up to five days, which means that fertilization can take place up to five days after you had intercourse. So, if you have sex a few days before ovulation, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when you conceived.
If the actual conception happened a few days after you had sex, but you decide to take a pregnancy test exactly 10 days after your intercourse, your body might not yet have produced enough hCG levels for the test to detect.
This might mean that you’ll get a negative result — even though fertilization did happen and your egg has implanted (or is about to implant) in your uterus.
So, to get accurate results, it’s best to wait for three weeks after having intercourse before you use a pregnancy test kit.
This is also the reason why you shouldn’t hesitate to take another pregnancy test even if you’ve already taken one.
If you get a negative result but genuinely believe that you are pregnant, take another pregnancy test around a week after you took the initial test.
By this time, fertilization and implantation might have already taken place, which means that the hCG levels are high enough for you to get an accurate reading.
If you get a negative pregnancy test few days after positive urine pregnancy test, you may have experienced a phenomenon called Chemical Pregnancy that accounts of 50-75% of all miscarriages. [3]
If you can’t wait for three weeks, you can visit your doctor and ask for a blood pregnancy test.
This test detects pregnancy earlier than urine-based home pregnancy tests since hCG appears earlier in the mother’s blood than in her urine.
You can take the blood pregnancy test at least eight days after you had unprotected sex [4] although, just like with home pregnancy tests, you can get more accurate results if you wait a few days longer after having intercourse.
Blood tests can detect pregnancies earlier than urine test because these tests can detect hCG levels as low as 1 mIU/mL, while urine test strips have published detection thresholds of 10 mIU/mL to 100 mIU/mL, depending on the brand. [5]
How Should You Take a Home Pregnancy Test?
Now that you have an idea as to when you should take a home pregnancy test, you need to know how to use it.
The home pregnancy tests are easy and quick to use. Once the instructions are followed carefully you will get accurate results.
They are all made to work in the same way. You’d use one of these ways to test your urine:
- Collect some urine inside a cup and then use a dropper to place it in another container.
- Collect some urine inside a cup and dip the pregnancy test stick in it.
- Hold the pregnancy test stick under your urine stream.
For all of these techniques, you’ll have to wait several minutes to see the results. The results can show as a color, line or symbol. Some digital tests will say not pregnant or pregnant.
What is The Meaning of the Pregnancy Test Results?
When you do the test and the result is positive, this means you are pregnant. Bear in mind that this will be the case, regardless of the faintness of the color, line or sign.
It would be a good idea to contact your doctor in order to know what will come next if you get a positive result.
A negative result will mean that you are not pregnant. Nevertheless, you could still be pregnant in cases where the test is taken incorrectly, the test stick is expired, the test is done too soon, you are using certain medications like antihistamines or diuretics, and large amounts of liquid is consumed immediately before the test (which dilutes the urine).
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You could try retesting about one week after getting a negative result to get a more solid confirmation. There are some home-based pregnancy tests that will suggest this no matter the results.
Although this only happens in rare cases, a pregnancy test can give a false-positive. This means the test is saying you are pregnant, but you are not.
You could get this result if your urine contains protein or blood and if you are using certain drugs such as anti-convulsants or tranquilizers.
When you are ready to take a home pregnancy test, you can buy it without a prescription at the drugstore, or online on Amazon.
Be sure to contact your doctor if you have questions pertaining to the pregnancy test or results.
References
- https://www.verywellfamily.com/can-my-medicine-effect-my-pregnancy-test-results-2759855
- https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ureport/story/2001287100/how-soon-after-having-sex-you-can-take-a-pregnancy-test-and-how-accurate-the-results-will-be
- Chemical pregnancy facts: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/chemical-pregnancy
- https://www.babymed.com/normal-hcg-blood-level-by-week-during-pregnancy
- Waddell, Rebecca Smith (2006). “FertilityPlus.org”. Home Pregnancy Test hCG Levels and FAQ. Archived from the original on 2006-06-15. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
Hi I had my period last November 27 until November 30 and its December 28 I still haven’t my period. Am I pregnant?
Hi there Chris! You should get your periods in a week. If not, then take a pregnancy test after one week of your missed period. Regards
Hi I have the IUD in have had it in for a year now my last period was november 26th last year and cannot remember how long it lasted. i still have not gotten my period and i also have been having sex. I am still awaiting for a period but no sign and I’ve taken a a pregnancy test and it’s negative. i am now 8 days late if I’m right
Hi confused right now I had a negative PT at a medical thing on dec 6th but had sex the day before that an 2 days after the 6th. Expected period on dec 10th now 13 days late. 3 Negative test since most recent being this morning. How much longer should I wait? Or go to doctors.? ? Having nausea, nipples are sore, had a brief spotting this morning. An beyond tired. Just want to know for sure been trying for 3 years!
Hi there Danielle! You should visit a doctor and get yourself checked. Regards
Hey my last period was 21 Nov 2016 and my cycle is 28 days .I had sex with my husband Dec 03, 04 Dec and 8,9 Dec . I missed my period. I did a home pregnancy test today result is negative. Could be I pregnant?
Hi Miti, you did not say whether you had unprotected or protected sex. However if you feel you might be pregnant repeat a pregnancy test in a week.
Hi I had unprotected on the 17th but we pulled out and on the 20th I took a Ella pill what are the chances of getting pregnant becuase I feel bloated and I felt sick but I only felt these after I read them could it just be psychological ?? Thanks x
Hi Naomi,this could be psychological or you could really be pregnant, you took the Ella pill three days after unprotected sex. Pre-ejaculation could make you pregnant even though he did not ejaculate in you. If you suspect that you are pregnant do not hesitate to do a pregnancy test.
Hi! My last day of menstruation was on the 14th of November, we had sex last 28th of November and we do the withdrawal method. I am waiting with my period. Am i pregnant? Please advise. Thanks
Hi there Rhica! You can still get pregnant if you had the pull out intercourse. Sperms are microscopic and can’t be seen if they pass. Furthermore, the majority of sperm are released during ejaculation but many are released prior and it only takes one! Regards
Hi my last period started on nov 17th and it lasted 6 days. It’s the 19th of Dec and I still haven’t had my period but my cycles are a little irregular. We had Sex on the 25 of nov. Also I had eggwhite mucus last week could I be pregnant
Hi Kelly, I think you could wait a bit more before seeing your doctor.
had my last period on the 27 November 2016 and on the 16 December 2016 started to have some spotting and brown discharge. Am I pregnant?
Hi there! The bleeding you had might be the implantation bleeding and you might be pregnant right now. Take a pregnancy test after one week of your missed period. Regards
Hi I had unsafe sex on the last day of my period which was on 27th November, I had the same unsafe sex on 13th and 14th December could I be pregnant? My cycle is 28days
Hi there Esther! You have higher chances to get pregnant. Regards
Hi, We had unprotected sex on 12th November and i got my period on the 12 night . My cycles last for 3 days and are regular as clockwork. This month it hasn’t come yet, no spotting or anything. I am not getting any PMSy (mood swings, laziness etc) feelings as well. Could I be pregnant ? Should I take a test , please advice.
Hi there Nancy! You should get your periods in a week. Regards
My 1st day of my last period was october 19 and my period last only for 3days i have a regular cycle 30days. My bf and me met on october 24 he didnt ejaculate in me in that time. I missed my period but aside from nausea, migraine, bodypain, i dont feel anything. Am i pregnant? Or it is just i missed my period because of stress in my exams with migraine last 3weeks ago?
Hi there Dina! You might be pregnant now and the bleeding you had for 3 days might be the implantation bleeding. Regards
Hi so my last period started the 26th of October and ended the 31st. I had sex on the 15th of November, we used a condom and he didn’t cum. It was his first time putting on a condom and he had some pre cum on his hands but he wiped it off on his pants. I took a plan b within 4 hours of sex. Side note I also started birth control pills the 22nd. What is the chance that I could be pregnant? I don’t track my cycles, so I don’t know when I ovulate but my periods are usually regular. When can I take a test to see if I’m not pregnant with the most accurate results?
Hi there Frances! The tests taken after one week of your missed period are the most accurate. Regards
Hello,
So I went off of depo in September (never had a period on depo) have been on the pills for two months. I recently on November 21 started having (brown spotting, lite pink) what I thought was going to be a period but it wasn’t. It ended on November 24. I have taken two pregnancy test and both negative. But I feel like I am having the symptoms of shaking when I don’t eat, slight dizziness. Should I continue taking another test in the next week? It’s hard to know since I never had a real period so I don’t know any calculation of my DPO.
Hi there Azinna! The bleeding you had might be the implantation bleeding and you might be pregnant right now. You should take a pregnancy test. Regards
hi.Im asking only if i had a implantation bleeding or period…my last mens in october was 22 (based on my cycle i had 32 cycle).then i was supposed to have period in november 23 .but its early to come. (november 19 when im wake up i had spot like old brown blood when im wiped.on off spot .the novmeber 20 its begin to light flow period.sometimes brown sometimes red and white and totaly gone in the evening.) i have some symptoms of pregnancy like headaced,patique,always tired,i feel bloated.i felt theres a life at my tummy because it has had pulse on my belly,.i dont know if im pregnant or feeling pregnant..
Hi there Maria! Please refer to this article. Regards
Hiee.
I had my period on 2 Nov, n my cycle is of 30 days.
We had unprotected sex after periods.
I was on medication of ovaa shield & Folmet.
I was having early pregnancy symptoms such as cramps, abdominal pain, headache.
I took home pregnancy test on 26 it was negative.
I took beta hcg test on 25 it was 24.1 then I repeat test again on 27 then it was less than 2.
Plz confirm me am I pregnant or not.
Hi there! Your period is due, doesn’t it? If yes then you are not pregnant and you will get your periods soon. Regards
Hi! So according to my period tracker I was supposed to ovulate on the 16th. I had sex on the 20th. My last period was November 4th with a 26 day cycle on average. I ended on November 14th. I’m supposed to have a period on November 30th but I’m having some pregnancy symptoms. Is there anyway that I could be pregnant from sex 4dpo? Or is it just PMS?
Hi there Imanya! The information you gave shows that your periods are due now. The symptoms you are getting might be the PMS. Regards
I take birth control pills. I had unprotected sex with my husband october 30 and November 6 and took my pill a day late both days. My period was supposed to come between last Tuesday and yesterday, but didn’t. Could I be pregnant and is it too early to take a test?
Hi there Kirstin! You should a test after one week of your missed period. Regards