Think you might be pregnant? Did you know there are better times than others to take a pregnancy test to get the most accurate results?
While some pregnancy tests may be able to produce early results, taking a test too early often results in a false negative. For the best and most accurate results, it is recommended that you wait until at least a week after a missed period. Doing so allows for hCG, “the pregnancy hormone,” to build up in your body and to be detectable in your urine, giving a more accurate pregnancy test result.
How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
At-home pregnancy tests are designed to detect human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. It’s often called the “pregnancy hormone” because it comes from the placenta, which connects the fetus to the woman.
HCG levels increase dramatically during the first 8 to 11 weeks of pregnancy. These higher levels allow for easy pregnancy detection and determination in blood and urine tests.
If you already received a negative pregnancy test result but still think you might be pregnant, it may be because the test was taken too early while hCG levels were too low. You can test again in a few days for a potentially more accurate result.
Signs to Take a Pregnancy Test
While missing your period is the most obvious sign to take a pregnancy test, there are other indicators. You should take a pregnancy test if you:
- Miss your period
- Have breast fullness/soreness
- Urinate frequently
- Experience nausea or vomiting
- Have abdominal bloating
- Feel fatigued
What’s Next?
Even if you tested positive at home, false positives after a miscarriage could occur with at-home tests. It’s essential to validate your pregnancy result with a quality pregnancy test and ultrasound.
We offer free-of-charge pregnancy testing and ultrasound to confirm a pregnancy.
Schedule your confidential appointment today to confirm your pregnancy.