How Soon Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

How Soon Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

When you think you might be pregnant, it feels impossible to think about anything else. You may find yourself looking for every possible sign wondering if your symptoms are from PMS or an unexpected pregnancy.

“Are my breasts sore because I’m pregnant or because my period is coming?”

“Am I having these cramps because of PMS or because I’m pregnant?”

It’s understandable to want answers as soon as possible. You’ve seen advertising for pregnancy tests claiming they can detect a pregnancy as early as five days before you miss your period.

Now you’re wondering how soon you can take a pregnancy test? We’ll answer that question and others for you here.

How Do Home Pregnancy Tests Work?

Home pregnancy tests detect whether or not human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is present in your urine, and they can be very accurate when used correctly.

During the conception process, an egg is fertilized with sperm in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg then travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Once it reaches the uterus, it burrows into the uterine lining. This is called implantation.

Implantation signals your body to produce the hCG pregnancy hormone to help the fertilized egg survive, and a pregnancy test determines if hCG is present — or not.

How Soon Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

A common question is, “How soon can you take a pregnancy test?” To get the most accurate result, wait until the first day after you have missed your period.

Yet, you could potentially get a positive pregnancy test as early as six days before you miss your period.

But is it best to take a pregnancy test so early? Next, we will discuss the pros and cons.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Taking an Early Pregnancy Test

There are benefits to knowing you’re pregnant as soon as possible. It allows you to make lifestyle changes if needed and gives you a few more days to adjust to the thought of being pregnant.

However, there are drawbacks to consider if you’re thinking about taking a pregnancy test before you miss your period, including:

False-negative results: In early pregnancy, your hCG levels will double every 48-72 hours, so waiting a couple of days increases the chances of an accurate test result.
Cost of purchasing multiple pregnancy tests to get an accurate result: If you test early, the odds are that you will need to retest, and that can get expensive.

Anxiety after a chemical pregnancy is detected: A chemical pregnancy always results in an early miscarriage. Statistically, about 50% of fertilized eggs don’t survive. In the past, women thought their periods were late, but now early pregnancy testing can detect chemical pregnancies. Despite the benefits, this early detection can cause much anxiety.

What if the Pregnancy Test Is Negative, but I Still Think I’m Pregnant?

If you think you might be unexpectedly pregnant, Corbella Clinic is here to help. Even if your home pregnancy test was negative, we have services available to you, including medical-grade pregnancy testing.

At Corbella Clinic, we see you. We not only see your beauty, but we see your strength. We are here to encourage and empower you to make the best decision for you when you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy.

Resources:

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, February 24). Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? Mayo Clinic. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/home-pregnancy-tests/art-20047940.

Nall, R. (2018, August 3). What is a chemical pregnancy? Symptoms and causes. Medical News Today. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322678.

UCSF Health. (2021, September 22). Conception: How it works. ucsfhealth.org. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/conception-how-it-works.