How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

by Angela
(Evanston Il USA)

I was intimate with my partner at the beginning of the month. My period is not until the end of the month. Do I have to wait until then to determine if I am pregnant? How soon can you take a pregnancy test after conception and before your period?

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How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

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How soon can you take a pregnancy test?
by: Samantha

Just a few years ago, you had to wait at least five days after your missed period to take an over-the-counter pregnancy test.

Now, there are tests available that allow you to find out if you are pregnant as many as five days before your period.

However, if you must know beforehand, then it is time to visit your doctor, because a blood pregnancy test is more accurate than an over-the-counter pregnancy test.

This type of test can detect pregnancy as soon as a week after conception. The urine test that is taken at the doctor?s office is usually accurate to 7-12 days after conception.

All pregnancy tests detect the level of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in your body. This hormone is produced by the placenta of pregnant women.

The best way to ensure an over-the-counter pregnancy test does not give a false reading is to follow the instructions to the letter.

This means that you need to take the test with the first urine of the day. The hormone, if present, will be best detected with that urine sample.

The most common mistake that women make when reading the test strip is that they do not wait the right amount of time before reading the test.

It is really important to read all the directions and follow them exactly. If you decide to try the test before the recommended time, just remember that a negative result may not be reliable.
How Soon?
by: Anonymous

I'm going through sort of the same thing. I was intimate with my partner 2 days before I was due to start my monthly period. Now it has been 3 days past when I was due to start and I still have not started yet. I was wondering when I should take a test?
You have to wait for your cycle
by: Anonymous

The reason you have to wait is because until your regular menstrual cycle comes around again your body won't usually be showing enough of the hormone for it to be measured by the test. Some tests claim they can get a reading a few days before the period is due, but that is rare. Most women have to wait until the day they would normally start their period, and often have to wait another week after that, in order to see the result on a home pregnancy test. But a blood test at a clinic can find out much sooner and those tests are often available at a very small fee. Call and ask your doctor about it.

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