Is That Early Pregnancy Test Really Positive?

An early pregnancy test is designed to indicate pregnancy by detecting a specific hormone in the body. How soon will a pregnancy test read positive? Urine tests are most accurate if you take them one or two weeks after a missed period. Blood tests at a healthcare provider's office, in contrast, can detect pregnancy earliest. A blood test can confirm pregnancy about six to eight days after ovulation.

An at-home test's accuracy is best if you take it in the morning, at least one week after a missed period. Read on to learn more about early pregnancy tests, including whether they are accurate and when to see a healthcare provider.

How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?

A pregnancy test detects the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your body. Placental cells produce hCG during pregnancy. Even a tiny amount of hCG means the fertilized egg has implanted in the uterus.

The variance between at-home pregnancy tests is the amount of hCG they can detect. Early pregnancy tests are designed to detect low hCG levels.

How Accurate Are Early Pregnancy Tests?

Early pregnancy tests claim to detect pregnancy one day after a missed period. You might use this type of test to learn if you are pregnant as soon as possible, but they may not be reliable. Research has found that at-home early pregnancy tests are not accurate this soon after an expected but missed period.

Blood tests offer increased accuracy when it comes to pregnancy. These tests can detect hCG earlier in pregnancy, so they can confirm pregnancy before a missed period.

Certain factors can affect accuracy, including chemical pregnancy and false negatives. Chemical pregnancy, for example, produces a positive test but results in pregnancy loss weeks later. False negative test results can happen when a person tests for pregnancy too early.

How Soon Can Pregnancy Be Detected?

You can detect pregnancy with an at-home test one to two weeks after you miss a period. That's because hCG shows up in the urine of people with a 28-day menstrual cycle between 12–15 days following ovulation. Ovulation typically happens two weeks after the first day of your last period. A blood test, in contrast, can detect pregnancy six to eight days after ovulation.

When Should I Take an Early Pregnancy Test?

You'll want to take an early pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant and have symptoms. Some of the most common early pregnancy symptoms include a missed period, fatigue, nausea, and swollen breasts.

Taking an early pregnancy test may be necessary or helpful in some cases. It can help you:

• Determine if you need to make any healthcare or lifestyle changes: Pregnant people cannot take all types of medications, herbs, or supplements. It's also important to stop or avoid alcohol and tobacco use if you are pregnant.
• Make decisions about potential contraception use: You might consider birth control after a negative pregnancy test result if you have had unprotected sex. Emergency contraception, for example, is a type of birth control you can use within five days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
• Receive prenatal care: Prompt pregnancy care, or prenatal care, is essential for a healthy pregnancy.

What Time Should I Take It?

The best time to take an at-home pregnancy test is at least one week after a missed period. You'll want to take the test in the morning. There's typically more hCG in urine earlier in the day than later.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

See a healthcare provider if you think or know you are pregnant. Seek medical attention if you are pregnant and have:

• A suspicion that your baby is moving less often after week 28 of pregnancy
• Discomfort, pain, or burning when urinating
• Fever or chills
• Lower abdominal cramps or discomfort
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Severe headaches that last a long time
• Sudden or severe face, hand, or finger swelling
• Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage
• Vision problems (e.g., blurry vision)

A Quick Review

Early pregnancy tests claim to confirm pregnancy as early as one day after a missed period. These tests, unfortunately, are not always reliable. A blood test, in contrast, can offer early pregnancy answers.

Several factors can affect the accuracy of a pregnancy test, such as when you take it or if you use an expired at-home test. See a healthcare provider in any case if you think you may be pregnant. They can provide prenatal care as soon as possible.