When can you use pregnancy tests

Doing a pregnancy test - NHS

If you have missed a period and recently had unprotected sex, you may be pregnant. Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period.

When you can do a pregnancy test

You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.

Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period.

You can do a pregnancy test on a sample of urine collected at any time of the day. It doesn't have to be in the morning.

Where you can get a pregnancy test

You can buy pregnancy testing kits from pharmacists and some supermarkets. They can give a quick result and you can do the test in private.

The following places provide free pregnancy tests:

• sexual health services
• some young people's services – call the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 for details
• Brook centres for under-25s – find your nearest Brook centre

You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP.

How does a pregnancy test work?

All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), 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.

Will a pregnancy test work if I'm on the pill?

Yes.

Some methods of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill, contain hormones, but these hormones will not stop a pregnancy test working.

No method of contraception is completely effective, so it's important to take a pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant.

Pregnancy test results

Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly.

A positive test result is almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable.

The result may not be reliable if you:

• do not follow the instructions properly
• take the test too early

Some medicines can also affect the results.

If you get a negative result and still think you're pregnant, wait a few days and try again. Speak to your GP if you get a negative result after a second test but your period has not arrived.

Continuing with the pregnancy

If you're pregnant and want to continue with the pregnancy, contact your GP or a midwife to start your antenatal care. You can use the pregnancy due date calculator to work out when your baby is due.

If you're not sure you want to be pregnant

If you're not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:

• continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
• having an abortion
• continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted

As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information – from the age of 13 – from the following:

• sexual health services
• the MSI Reproductive Choices website
• the British Pregnancy Advisory service website
• the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory service website

All these services – including community contraceptive clinics – are confidential. If you're 13 or older, the staff won't tell your parents. They'll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won't force you. 

If you're under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.

Video: Is the pregnancy test accurate?

In this video, a midwife explains when you can take a pregnancy test and how to do it properly.

Media last reviewed: 5 February 2020
Media review due: 5 February 2023

Page last reviewed: 9 February 2022
Next review due: 9 February 2025

5 Signs You Should Take a Pregnancy Test

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The best time to take a pregnancy test is a week after a missed period. Some tests may detect pregnancy 1-2 weeks after intercourse, but the body needs time to increase its levels of HCG. Testing before a missed period can increase the risk of a false negative result.

Think you might be pregnant?

Even with the most effective birth control methods, there’s always a chance for error. After all, it takes just one sperm to fertilize the egg. Finding out whether or not that’s happened is as easy as taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pregnancy test.

OTC pregnancy tests typically test your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is only present if you’re pregnant. The hormone is only released if a fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus or to your uterine lining.

There are different ways to collect your urine for the test. Depending on the test you choose, you may have to:

• collect your urine in a cup and dip a testing stick into the liquid
• collect your urine in a cup and use an eyedropper to move a small amount of fluid into a special container
• place the testing stick into the area of your expected urine stream so that it will catch your urine midstream

According to Cleveland Clinic, most tests are 99 percent effective if taken after a missed period. The best part is that you can do it in the privacy of your own home. Simply open the test, follow the instructions, and wait for the recommended amount of time to view the results.

After the recommended waiting time has passed, the tests will display your results in one of the following ways:

• a change in color
• a line
• a symbol, such as plus or minus
• the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant”

You should wait to take a pregnancy test until the week after your missed period for the most accurate result.

If you don’t want to wait until you’ve missed your period, you should wait at least one to two weeks after you had sex. If you are pregnant, your body needs time to develop detectable levels of HCG. This typically takes seven to 12 days after successful implantation of an egg.

You may receive an inaccurate result if the test is taken too early in your cycle.

Here are some signs that you should take a pregnancy test.

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One of the first and most reliable signs of pregnancy is a missed period.

If you don’t track your cycle closely, it might be hard to determine whether or not you’re late. Many women have a 28-day menstrual cycle. Consider taking a test if it’s been more than a month since your last period.

Keep in mind that your period can sometimes be delayed or skipped due to stress, diet, exercise, or certain medical conditions.

Also pay attention to your flow if you suspect pregnancy. It’s common to experience light bleeding or spotting in the early weeks as the egg buries deeper into the uterine lining during implantation. Take note of any difference in the color, texture, or amount of blood.

Contact your doctor if you have bleeding and a positive pregnancy test.

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Implantation can also produce a feeling similar to menstrual cramps. In early pregnancy, you may feel this discomfort and think your period is just around the corner, but then it never comes.

Sound familiar? Take a test. Hormone levels vary by woman and by pregnancy.

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As your pregnancy produces more and more estrogen and progesterone, these hormones start to make changes in your body to support the baby’s growth.

Your breasts may feel tender and appear bigger due to increased blood flow. Your nipples might hurt and the veins might look darker under the skin.

Because many women also experience breast discomfort in the days leading up to their period, this symptom isn’t always indicative of pregnancy.

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Along with cramps and sore breasts, early pregnancy can cause:

• nausea
• food aversions
• exhaustion
• frequent urination

As the weeks go on, these symptoms may get stronger before your HCG levels even out late in the first trimester. You know yourself, so pay attention to your body. Any unusual physical symptoms could prompt you to take a pregnancy test.

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Birth control pills, condoms, and other types of contraceptive devices don’t provide 100 percent protection from pregnancy. In other words, there’s always a slight chance of pregnancy, no matter how careful you are.

Despite your birth control preferences, consider taking a test if you experience any of the signs we’ve listed.

Human error or defects can also result in unplanned pregnancy. Birth control pills can be difficult to remember to take each day. According to Planned Parenthood, 9 out of every 100 women on the pill will get pregnant if they don’t take it as directed.

Condoms can break and tear or otherwise be used incorrectly. According to Planned Parenthood, nearly 18 in every 100 women relying on condoms for contraception get pregnant each year.

If you’re worried about contraceptive failure, ask your doctor about alternative contraceptive methods, such as an intrauterine device (IUD). According to Planned Parenthood, less than one out of every 100 women using an IUD gets pregnant each year.

Sexually active women in their reproductive years have a chance of pregnancy every month, even when using protection. There are certain signals your body might send that should prompt you to take a pregnancy test.

For the best results, take the test after you think you’ve missed your period. Test during your first morning bathroom visit, or hold it for several hours to increase the concentration of the HCG hormone that the test measures.

Testing early helps to ensure that you get proper care for yourself and, if applicable, prenatal care for your baby. In the event of a positive result, contact your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your options and potential next steps.

Q:

How accurate are at-home pregnancy tests?

A:

Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) are quite accurate. They work by detecting the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine, which is produced when pregnancy occurs. However, different brands of tests are able to recognize different amounts of the hormone. Levels of hCG are very low in the beginning of a pregnancy, causing some HPTs to give a false negative result. If you get a negative result and still don’t have your period within a few days, you should retest.

– Nicole Galan, RN

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

When to do a pregnancy test? Maternity hospital Leleka | Blog

Pregnancy in the life of every woman is a significant event and most often unexpected.

But, even if the pregnancy came as a “surprise”, you must definitely confirm your suspicions or refute them. And you can do this with the help of an instant express pregnancy test, in a matter of seconds.

The most informative are digital and tablet tests (the strip is placed on a plastic device with two "windows"). However, strip tests remain the most popular, which means that the price of the test does not affect the result.

If there is any doubt after the test, you should make an appointment with a gynecologist.

How the pregnancy test works

Despite the whole range of pregnancy tests, the principle of action is the same for everyone - to determine the level of hCG (the first hormone of pregnancy) in the urine.

Pregnancy test procedure

Pregnancy test is performed no earlier than the first day of missed period or approximately 2 weeks after the expected day of conception. Until the zygote attaches to the wall of the uterus, hCG is not released, which means that before ten days of pregnancy, it is not advisable to carry out a test or any other tests.

At the beginning of the test, you should carefully study the instructions for its use. Although the principle of operation is always identical: one part of the test (paper) is immersed in a container with urine, the other (with a chemical indicator) determines the result in the form of red / blue stripes, the symbols “+” / “-” or the words “yes” / “no” ". The result is evaluated after the time specified in the instructions (from 1 to 5 minutes).

Sometimes there are mini-pipettes for metered distribution of urine in the tests, which are very convenient to use.

But putting the test under the urinary stream is not recommended, since this method can technically disrupt the express screening and give an error.

When to take a pregnancy test

In order not to be confused by the numbers, dates and know exactly when it is appropriate to take a pregnancy test, you need to keep a calendar, control your well-being and know the basic process of how the egg is fertilized .

In every woman with a regular monthly cycle, the egg goes through several physiological stages of development, one of which is called “ovulation”.

Ovulation is the process where a mature egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube to join the sperm. If there is no sperm in the tube, the egg dies and menstruation occurs.

If during ovulation the spermatozoa were inside the woman's genitals and conception still occurred, the fertilized egg (zygote) begins to "move" into the uterine cavity, with the help of the ciliated epithelium and the muscles of the fallopian tube itself.

This whole process takes about 1 week.

After a fertilized egg enters the uterine cavity, it attaches there, hCG rises in the blood, cells divide and further development of the fetus occurs.

Some rapid tests can determine the presence of the hormone as early as the fourth day, but it is still better to check after at least 1.5 weeks. Then the level of the hormone becomes high enough to confidently determine the condition of the woman.

When is a pregnancy test false?

Two strips on the test do not always cause delight in women, since pregnancy is not a cherished dream for all women, for most it is a surprise.

However, if you really do not plan a child and your test suddenly becomes “striped”, do not rush to panic, since a result error is not ruled out here.

False-positive or false-negative responses can range from a technical failure of a screening test to the identification of serious gynecological pathologies.

As you can see, pregnancy is not the most “terrible” thing that a test can determine, so we once again emphasize the importance of a gynecological examination.

Be that as it may, a positive test result is only the first step towards determining pregnancy. The second step is a visit to the gynecologist, who must confirm / refute the information received. Since there are situations when express screening gives a false positive answer.

Main causes of a false positive result

A false positive result is a result that indicates the presence of pregnancy, in the absence of it.

Causes:

1. Incorrect express test.

Incorrect use of the test is the main cause of a false positive response. Therefore, you always need to read the instructions and follow the specified algorithm of actions. The evaluation of the result should be carried out strictly within the specified time range, from 3 to 10 minutes. After this period, a weak second strip may appear on the test (due to evaporation of urine), and the woman will perceive the result as a pregnancy.

2. Marriage.

A defective test is a very rare occurrence, but no one is immune from such a situation. Knowing this, women buy several tests from different brands and thus the problem is leveled.

3. Postpartum period.

Pregnancy test remains positive throughout pregnancy and 3-4 weeks after delivery. Therefore, if the test after the recent birth of a child shows a positive answer, and you are not planning children of the same age, you should not worry. However, you still need to check with your doctor about the absence of pregnancy.

4. Miscarriage, abortion.

After a miscarriage, miscarriage or medical abortion, the level of hCG cannot immediately decrease, it takes time. And, as a rule, this process takes from 2 to 4 weeks. Therefore, doing a pregnancy test during this period simply does not make sense, since the result will be false positive.

5. Preparation for IVF.

Some women dream of pregnancy so much that they take tests even when they don't have to. As, for example, when preparing for IVF.

During this period, ovulation is stimulated with hormonal preparations, which also increase the level of hCG, although there is no pregnancy itself yet. Therefore, a pregnancy test done during this period can misinform a woman.

6. Oncopathology.

Sometimes a positive pregnancy test, in its absence, indicates serious pathological processes that increase the level of hCG. These are ovarian tumors, lung, brain, breast or stomach cancer.

Main causes of a false negative test

A false negative is a result that indicates no pregnancy, if any.

Causes:

1. Fertilization occurred before the start of menstruation, and the level of hCG did not have time to rise to the desired concentration.
2. There is a threat of miscarriage.
3. A woman is taking diuretics (diuretics).
4. Technical damage to the test.

If a pregnancy test shows a negative result, but the woman has specific pregnancy symptoms (morning sickness, dizziness, frequent urination, pain in the lower abdomen and chest), you need to see a doctor.

What to do if in doubt?

There are situations that make a woman doubt the correctness of a pregnancy test. For example, different tests give different results, spotting is present (similar to menstruation), screening gave a positive response, and there are no specific symptoms of pregnancy.

What to do in this case?

1. Do not look for the cause yourself, but go for a consultation with a gynecologist and approach the solution of the problem comprehensively.
2. Do not dispose of unwanted and unconfirmed pregnancies yourself.
3. Find the exact reason why the test showed a false positive result in the absence of pregnancy.

The Leleka maternity hospital is a modern medical institution where you will always receive specialized, highly qualified obstetric-gynecological and neonatological medical care at the level of world standards.

Only timely diagnosis and competent treatment will save the woman's reproductive health and there are no other options here.

We will teach you to understand pregnancy tests: when to take, what determines the accuracy, whether to believe a negative result and where to buy

There are two types of pregnancy tests: home (urine testing at home) and clinical (blood testing in a hospital). Both home and clinical tests check the same thing - the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the biomaterial (urine or blood). HCG is produced by the cells that eventually form the placenta.

What you need to know about home tests: when to take a test, what a negative result means, how to find the most accurate one and where to buy. "All pharmacies" answer these questions.

Why do tests determine pregnancy based on hCG?

This is the simplest and most reliable pregnancy indicator. It is secreted by the cells of the embryo and the future placenta. As soon as a fertilized egg implants in the lining of her uterus, the hormone enters the blood (sometimes as early as six days after the fertilization of the egg). After that, the level of hCG increases very quickly: it doubles every 48 hours until a period of 14 weeks. Gradually, excess hCG begins to be released into the urine, and there it is detected by home tests.

And everything is simple there: there is hCG - there is a pregnancy, no hCG - there is no pregnancy.

When to test?

After ovulation, it takes about a week for the egg to travel from the ovary to the uterus. It can be fertilized at any time: either in the fallopian tube, or upon reaching the uterus. But HCG production begins only after implantation of fertilized eggs into the uterine wall.

Predicting exactly when fertilization occurs is difficult: spermatozoa can live in a woman's body for up to five days. This is the reason why most home pregnancy tests advise women to wait: it is better to take the test on the second or third day of delay or approximately 15-16 days after ovulation.

If the cycle is unstable, the ideal time for the test is determined differently:

If periods occur at intervals of less than 21 days or more than 35 days, and if their periods vary from month to month, cycles are considered irregular. In these cases, a pregnancy test should be done 36 days after the last menstrual period or four weeks after the last unprotected sex.

Test negative. So no pregnancy?

This is not true: the test may be false negative. If a few days after the negative result, menstruation has not appeared, repeat the test. The second negative result will be more reliable, but even a weak second strip should be interpreted as a positive test.

Why does the manual recommend taking the test in the morning?

The probability of obtaining a reliable result is higher when the biomaterial - urine - is the most concentrated: it contains more hCG. It happens in the morning. Therefore, most tests recommend doing an analysis immediately after waking up, on the second day after missing a period.

Are there alternatives to pregnancy tests?

Among the exact tests - only blood test for hCG. No folk tests (with soda, iodine, potassium permanganate or boiling urine) are unreliable. Modern tests remain the most reliable and simple way to determine pregnancy.

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How accurate are home pregnancy tests and how to choose the most accurate one?

Home pregnancy test kits claim to be 97 to 99% accurate when used correctly.

An important indicator in this matter is sensitivity. You can determine it by the box with the test: the smaller the number indicated on the package, the more sensitive the test. For example, a test with a sensitivity of 20 IU/L (international units per liter) detects pregnancy earlier than a test with a sensitivity of only 50 IU/L.

The cost of a pregnancy test can also be an indication of its sensitivity: more expensive ones tend to detect pregnancy earlier.

Why can the test fail?

Several factors can affect the accuracy of a home pregnancy test:

• When the test is taken. If you take the test too soon after the intended conception, the test will show a negative result.
• Violations of instructions. If you do not follow the instructions, you can miss an important detail of testing and get a false result.
• Physiological features. Some women simply don't produce enough hCG during pregnancy to be detected by home tests. In this case, pregnancy can only be determined with a blood test.

Remember: with any test, false positives or negative results are always possible. It is best to confirm the test twice and consult your doctor.

Where to buy and how to choose a pregnancy test?

You can buy a pregnancy test at any pharmacy - you can choose the right one from a huge number of brands. All of them check one thing - the presence of the hCG hormone in the urine. However, depending on the principle of operation, there are several types of tests.

Important: before making an appointment with a doctor, it is recommended to take the test at least twice.

• Inkjet tests

Inkjet tests work like this: you need to urinate on a stick or strip and wait for the result - a certain color or symbol. To learn how to interpret the result, read the instructions.

• Immersion Test Strips

Immersion tests work by collecting urine in a cup and then either placing the test device in it or dropping small drops of urine onto it.

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