When Is the Best Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?

If you are sexually active–even if you’re using contraceptives—there is a chance that you could get pregnant. It’s empowering to know when you should consider testing for pregnancy so you can learn about your pregnancy as early as possible. The sooner you know, the more prepared you will be to make a healthy decision about your future without fear.

When should I think about taking a pregnancy test?

The most common symptom of pregnancy is a missed period. It’s wise to take a pregnancy test if you’re late so you can know as soon as possible about a potential pregnancy. 

If you do not have a regular menstrual cycle, you might be wondering how to detect pregnancy without a late period. In this case, you should monitor your body for other pregnancy symptoms such as: tender breasts, nausea, fatigue, bloating, moodiness, cramping, light spotting, food aversions, and nasal congestion, says the Mayo Clinic. 

Not sure if you are experiencing early pregnancy? Read our blog below about early pregnancy symptoms versus PMS.

PMS or Pregnancy? Understanding Early Pregnancy Symptoms

You may also want to take a test if you had unprotected sex recently. This increases your chances of pregnancy.

How does a pregnancy test work?

There are two kinds of pregnancy tests: blood and urine, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Usually, people take a urine pregnancy test at home. You can purchase a urine pregnancy test in most drug stores without a prescription. 

A pregnancy test is positive if you’re pregnant and negative if you’re not. Many tests will show two lines if positive. Some will even say “positive” or “negative” on a screen to indicate the results.

A typical pregnancy test works by detecting levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone that rises quickly in your body during pregnancy. This hormone doubles every few days during early pregnancy. If you don’t have pregnancy levels of HCG in your urine, the pregnancy test will register negative. 

When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?

Home tests differ in how early you can take them. Some tests will provide results as soon as ten days after conception. For the most accurate reading, however, you should wait until after you’ve missed your period. If you take the test too soon, you could get a false negative reading even if you’re pregnant. The pregnancy test requires a high enough concentration of HCG in your urine to provide a positive result. 

Do you think you might be pregnant? We provide free medical-grade pregnancy tests here at The Pregnancy Network! Make a free appointment at the button below to get tested.