An early pregnancy test can rapidly confirm your hopes or reduce your anxieties, depending on whether you were hoping for a big ‘positive’ answer or negative results. Hence, it is crucial to take a pregnancy test as soon as you realize you are late on your period.
Here we are going to discuss in detail how soon can you take a pregnancy test and the best time to take it.
Should you wait for some days after intercourse to perform pregnancy tests?
- It is preferable to wait until your period is a week late to receive the most accurate result, despite the fact that you might be anxious to take a pregnancy test right away.
- Experts say to allow at least one to two weeks to pass after having sex before checking your pregnancy if you cannot wait until your period.
- Waiting after sex is important because your body needs to produce enough hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)—the pregnancy hormone—so that a pregnancy test can successfully detect it.
- According to studies, this hormone typically starts to produce in the body after an egg has successfully implanted itself in the uterus, which does not typically happen right away after sex. To know in more detail, consult a sexologist right now.
You may also read the Early Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy
What are the best days to test for pregnancy?
The FDA states that even if a woman is pregnant, 10 to 20 out of every 100 will not receive a positive pregnancy test result on the day they believe they have missed their periods.
Moreover, keep the following things in mind to know what are the best days to do a pregnancy test.
- After your period has missed its due span of seven days, this is the ideal time to perform a pregnancy test. Your chances of experiencing false negatives will be reduced after this.
- Gynecologists suggest that one day after the day you anticipated the start of your menstruation is the earliest time to test.
- Remember that even if you are pregnant, the earlier you test, the greater the chance that you may receive a false negative.
- The optimal time to take a test would be on day 37 of your cycle or later, if your cycle lasts between 30 and 36 days, on average. You can also take help from a gynecologist in this matter.
Have a look at How to Check Pregnancy at Home Naturally – 8 Instant Ways
When to do a pregnancy test – Morning Or Night?
You might also be interested in knowing when the ideal time to perform a pregnancy test is; Is it better to do it in the morning or more preferable at night? Let’s see what experts say.
Why do specialists prefer to do a pregnancy test in the morning?
The majority of specialists advise taking a pregnancy test in the morning to ensure an accurate result. Why? The reason is;
- The concentration of hCG in your urine increases while you are asleep.
- So the optimum time for early pregnancy detection is in the morning unless you have to get up in the middle of the night to urinate.
Caution – Avoid consuming more water than usual before a pregnancy test. A lot of water consumption can alter the outcome of your test by diluting your urine.
When is it too early to perform a pregnancy test?
You need to keep in mind the following points while going for a pregnancy test too early.
- It is possible to obtain a false negative if you take a pregnancy test eight days after your ovulation (DPO).
- This happens because hCG, the pregnancy hormone that these tests are supposed to detect, can only be produced by fertilized eggs once implantation is complete.
- According to doctors, implantation occurs 6–10 days after ovulation in about 85% of the cases.
- Your hCG levels will begin doubling every 48 hours after implantation.
- Pregnancy tests at this point will be able to gauge your hCG levels more accurately, guaranteeing a positive result if you are, indeed, pregnant.
If the test came back negative but you still believe you might be pregnant, try again in a few days. Although it is uncommon, false positives and false negatives do occur. Hence, it can be a good idea to retake the test.
Read also- Pregnancy Planning Tips
Take a confirmation of your pregnancy from an expert
No doubt, pregnancy tests are really effective and can help you find out if are you pregnant or not. But at the end of the day, it is always better to take confirmation from an expert to ensure a safe pregnancy experience.
Specialists can help you take good care of your unborn baby during your pregnancy. So book a meeting with one of the best gynecologists in Pakistan.
FAQs
1- Can you take a test at 1 week of pregnancy?
For the best reliable results, you should wait to take a pregnancy test until the week after your missing period. Or at least, you should wait for one to two weeks after having sex if you don’t want to wait till you have missed your period.
2- What should you not do before a pregnancy test?
Avoid consuming excessive amounts of fluids, even water, before taking a pregnancy test. Hold off on taking a test if your urine is diluted or pale yellow since too much fluid can affect the accuracy of the results.
3- How does your lower stomach feel in early pregnancy?
The most usual time for lower abdomen pain to occur during pregnancy is between 18 and 24 weeks. Your uterus is expanding, which is tugging and straining the muscles that hold it up. You can have “sharp aches” or “just a slight pulling sensation.”