How Soon to Take The Home Pregnancy Test?

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” This quote by Osho aptly puts the significant life change event called “The Motherhood”. Those pretty ladies out there trying to tread on the path of motherhood often are excited to know whether they have conceived successfully. Missed periods, blood tests or gynaecological appointments are some of the traditional ways which most women use to determine whether they are pregnant.

Video of When to Do a Home Pregnancy Test?

How Soon Can I Take the Home Pregnancy Test?

It all depends on the sensitivity of the chosen pregnancy test. Some pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect low levels of hCG in your urine up to 4 days before the period due date. Others state that they can test for pregnancy two days prior to the period date. The less sensitive ones (most commonly available) are can test for pregnancy on the period due date.

Some advanced pregnancy tests can be administered as early as seven days after conception. The test not only indicates if the test taker is pregnant but also mentions the approximate date of conception.

How to Take a Home Pregnancy Test?

The pregnancy test is taken through the urine sample. Given below are the steps for taking the pregnancy test at home.

These tests can be taken either at the hospital or at home.
Read the instructions carefully before taking the test.
You will need to collect your urine sample, preferably your first urine in the morning.
Place the urine drops on the test strip as per the instructions.
Within a few minutes, the lines start appearing.
Another way is when a pregnancy stick can be dipped in the pee sample
The results are in the form of a single or double pink line or a sign like “- “or “+” and even by wording like “not pregnant” or “pregnant.”
The results can then be cross-checked by the doctor.

A positive result indicates pregnancy even if the sign, colour or line might be a faint one.

Ideal Time to Take the Home Pregnancy Test

The pregnancy test should ideally be taken once the periods don’t happen on the due date or a day to two later. This is the ideal time for getting accurate results and reducing the chances of a false negative test.

Even though many tests can even detect pregnancy much earlier before a missed period, the accuracy of the results could be in question. This is because your body may not develop enough hCG hormone to show up in the urine tests.

It is even seen that some specific pregnancy tests can detect the HCG hormones present in the urine as early as about ten days if done after having sex without using contraceptives. Still, these tests might not be too reliable and could lead to false results as well.

For those who have irregular periods cycle, it is best to test the pregnancy test after three weeks of having sexual intercourse.

The best practice is to take the test only after missing a period as that is one of the very first signs that indicate pregnancy or wait for a week after missing your period cycle for the best accuracy of results.

If the test is taken much earlier in the cycle, there are chances of inaccurate results.

What Duration Does it Take For hCG to Show in Urine?

In case one is pregnant, the HCG hormone can be detected in the urine post ten days once the period cycle has been missed. This is also the time when the fertilised egg gets implanted in the uterus. The HCG levels increase rapidly in the initial week to 10 days of the cycle.

Indicators For Taking a Home Pregnancy Test

If you are a first timer, you may wonder what symptoms to look out for before taking the all-important pregnancy test. Here are a few pointers for you

1. Missing the Period

A missed period is one of the most reliable indicators of pregnancy, so it is best to keep track of the period’s cycle. If you have not got a period a day or two after your expected period date, it may be the time to take a test.

But there are factors other than pregnancy that can cause you to miss your period.

Stress, physical exercise, a change in routine or even a change in diet can cause you to miss your period.
Hormonal changes other than those related to pregnancy can delay your period. For example, thyroid disorder.

Many women can confuse implantation bleeding or spotting in the initial days of pregnancy with a proper period. Implantation bleeding can happen when the fertilized egg attaches itself into the lining of the uterus causing slight bleeding or spotting.

2. Cramps

The feeling of implantation also feels like the feeling of cramping and can be experienced in the early stages. In case one feels cramps, but the menstrual cycle does not occur, then it is time to take the test.

3. Breast Discomfort

As the pregnancy advances, the production of progesterone and estrogen increases, making changes in the body that help with the growth of the baby. The breast becomes soft and increases in size due to the higher blood flow. The nipples, as well as the vein, start appearing dark as well. Some women also feel breast discomfort before the period cycle starts, so it cannot always be a sign of pregnancy for all women.

4. The Different Feel

Just the feeling of being different, internally or outside, getting a metallic taste in the mouth, all can indicate pregnancy and are signs to get tested. Cramping and discomfort in the breast can even lead to food cravings and aversions, nausea, increased frequency of urination, tiredness etc. All these signs become stronger with time and are the signs that it is time to get tested.

Home Pregnancy Tests Before Missed Period

Missing the period is one of the strongest indicators of pregnancy. However, taking the test too soon even whilst using the highly sensitive tests may yield false results, often negative since the amount of hCG hormone in your body may be too low yet. If you are pregnant, then the hCG will rise during the period due date. It is therefore recommended to retest on the period date.

Most pregnancy tests claim 99% accurate results on the day of missed period. If you choose to undergo pregnancy testing before you miss your periods, be sure to purchase highly sensitive tests.

Early Pregnancy Testing

Waiting for testing closer to your period date could be frustrating. However, testing too early provides relief but the chances of error are high. The level of hCG hormone is relatively low after conception, therefore testing too soon will yield negative results. In order to avoid disappointment from undertaking a test that is going to give negative results, it is recommended to wait till your period is missed. Or you can opt for sensitive tests which detect pregnancy two to three weeks after conception. But again their accuracy varies.

[Read: All About Home Pregnancy Tests]

Effectiveness of Home Pregnancy Tests

Most of the over-the-counter pregnancy tests have varying accuracy rates between 95% to 99% but on or after the date of the period. A number of factors may further influence the effectiveness of these tests, they include:

1. Incorrect Usage

Not all the tests are administered in the same way. Read the test instructions carefully and understand them before testing. Incorrect administration will yield incorrect results.

2. Expired Test

Yes the pregnancy tests have an expiry date. Using the tests past their expiry may affect the effectiveness of test.

3. Improper Storage of Test

Some of the tests contain a litmus paper strip for testing the hCG hormone. Exposure to sunlight or wet and humid conditions may impact the test.

4. Using Inappropriate Test

Using tests with low sensitivity during period dates may yield dicey results.

In order to confirm the results, it is recommended to repeat the test. For instance, if you took a pregnancy test couple of days prior to your period date, repeat the test a day or two after a missed period as well to confirm the verdict. For this purpose, use the same test of the same brand which you used previously.

[Read: Pregnancy Test – Can It Be Reused?]

Do’s and Don’ts of Home Pregnancy Tests

Here are some of the do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while taking the home pregnancy tests:

Always check the expiry date of the pregnancy kit.
Do not attempt to reuse the one-time pregnancy tests. Most pregnancy kits contain resources only for one test.
Perform the test with the first urine of the day. Most kits recommend doing so since the concentration of hCG is highest in the morning.
Carry a clock or stopwatch with you, when performing the test. Most pregnancy tests require you to hold the pregnancy tester for a certain time under the urine stream and then remove it and wait for certain minutes for test results. Goofing with time here will definitely affect the results. It’s best to keep easy to use a stopwatch or a clock on which you can keep an eye on a time.
Avoid drinking too many liquids before administering the test as this may dilute the hCG concentrations rendering the inability of the test to detect the required hCG quantity.
Do not perform the home pregnancy tests immediately after an unfortunate miscarriage. The test may still detect hCG in your urine. Wait for a couple of weeks till the hCG goes back to zero.
Do not perform the pregnancy test after ingesting hormone medications. These medicines may result in showing false positives i.e, indicating pregnancy when it is not the case.

How Long Should I Wait to Take a Pregnancy Test After a Negative Result?

Most pregnancy tests comprise an instruction manual that advises waiting for a week if the test results are negative and then retaking the test. Negative results do not always indicate that one is not pregnant.

A negative home pregnancy test can indicate the following.

The pregnancy test has been taken too early or not taken properly.
The urine sample could be diluted.
The test is not taken at the right time.
Most tests require the first-morning urine or FMU to get the right results, especially in the early days of pregnancy.
These tests are sensitive and detect pregnancy by the level of HCG hormone in urine, so if the body does not get adequate time to produce the hormone, the test results will be negative.
Reading the test at the right time is important. Allowing the test to sit for too long after placing the sample can render the test invalid.

Can You Be Pregnant And Never Get a Positive Test?

Though extremely rare, it is possible to get a negative test despite being pregnant. Cryptic pregnancy is one such condition which can make it difficult for conventional methods to detect.

An important part of doing a home pregnancy test is keeping yourself stress-free and composed. Wait for at least 2 to 3 days post your missed period for the most accurate results. You must read all the instructions carefully before performing the test since inappropriate testing will render the test useless and loss of money.

A little patience and you will surely obtain the desired results!