What Is the Best Time for a Home Pregnancy Test?

Do you think you might be pregnant and want to know the best time to take a home pregnancy test? Read on to find out the answer and other important details.

What Is the Best Time for a Home Pregnancy Test?

Although some home tests are highly sensitive and can detect pregnancy several days before the expected period, the best time for a home pregnancy test depends on whether your menstrual cycle is regular or not. Here’s the explanation:

• Regular Menstrual Cycle 

You can take a pregnancy test on the first day of your missed period, but the best time is to take the test a few days to a week after your missed period. 

The reason for not testing too early is that home tests measure the level of the pregnancy hormone (HCG) in the urine. This hormone is only released after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall (implantation), which happens about 10 days after conception. 

While traces of this hormone can be present 6 days after conception, it takes about 7-10 days for the body to produce enough of this hormone for the test to detect it. Therefore, testing too early may result in a false negative even if you are pregnant.

• Irregular Menstrual Cycle 

The best time for a home pregnancy test for women with irregular menstrual cycles is at least 21 days after the last unprotected sexual intercourse.

What Is the Best Time of Day to Take a Home Pregnancy Test?

The best time of day to take a pregnancy test is early in the morning when you first urinate after waking up. However, you can take the test at any time of the day. Many pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect the pregnancy hormone, but it’s recommended to wait at least 3 hours after the last urination before taking the test.

How Accurate Are Home Pregnancy Tests?

Home pregnancy tests can be up to 99% accurate when instructions are followed correctly. However, inaccurate results can occur in rare cases. The results can be either false negatives or false positives for various reasons:

• False Negative 

A false negative, where the test shows you are not pregnant despite being pregnant, can occur in the following situations:

1. The urine is too diluted, which can happen if the test is taken after drinking large amounts of water.
2. Taking the test too early in the pregnancy, meaning the body hasn't produced enough pregnancy hormone yet.
3. Checking the test result too soon, as some home tests require a few minutes before the result is visible. Checking too early can result in a false negative.

• False Positive 

A false positive, where the test shows you are pregnant when you are not, can occur in the following situations:

1. A chemical pregnancy, where the egg is fertilized and attaches to the uterine lining but only briefly (pregnancy loss occurs). The body produces the pregnancy hormone, and if the test is taken early, it may show a positive result despite the pregnancy not continuing.
2. Certain tumors may produce the pregnancy hormone, leading to a positive test despite not being pregnant.
3. Taking a pregnancy test shortly after using fertility drugs that contain the pregnancy hormone.
4. Ovarian issues or menopause may also cause a false positive.

For the most accurate results, we recommend getting a blood pregnancy test. Blazma offers a Beta-hCG test that does not require fasting or any other conditions.