The timing of a pregnancy is an important step in the fertility process, and this post will provide you with all there is to know...
- Experts say that the best time to take a pregnancy test is between 10 and 14 days after conception sex (assuming you are having sex on an ovulation day).
- Most standard home urine tests are accurate 14 days post ovulation. Some urine tests can be used as early as 10 days post ovulation.
Here's how standard home urine tests work:
- Typically conception will occur within a narrow, 24-hour window following ovulation.
- Sperm fertilizes a woman's egg in the fallopian tube. Then, the fertilized egg--or embryo--nests in the uterus 7 to 10 days after ovulation and begins to grow.
- While growing, the embryo releases the pregnancy hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which can be detected with a blood test or urine home test kit.
- Blood tests are the most sensitive pregnancy tests available and can detect hCG in the early stages of pregnancy, when hCG levels are low in the body (usually, blood tests give accurate readings 10-12 days post ovulation).
- The standard home urine tests, on the other hand, are less sensitive: It is best to wait 12-14 days after ovulation to conduct urine tests if you want accurate results. If the urine test is checked too early, it may not detect hCG and it may be falsely negative.
What happens if you don't know when you ovulated?
Not a problem. The best way to prevent a false negative is to check a pregnancy test on the day of your expected period.
What happens if you get a negative result, but still don't get your period?
Recheck your results with another test! Unfortunately, pregnancy tests aren't always foolproof.
Some other things to keep in mind:
- Check the expiration date on your pregnancy tests. If they're expired, get new ones!
- Be sure to follow the test's instructions.
- Take your pregnancy tests in the early morning, when your urine is less diluted.
Last but not least?
If you take a test and don't get a positive result and you don't get your period, visit your healthcare provider and they'll help you find out whether you're pregnant or not.
