For centuries now, women have been trying to figure out the best way to determine if they are pregnant as early as they can. Thankfully, with advances in medical care, at home pregnancy tests are readily available and can be taken at your leisure. But how can you know whether or not it’s too early to take a test, and what tests will have the most accurate results? Figuring out whether or not you’re pregnant can certainly be a stressful time, but there are some steps that you can take to help make sure the results will be the most accurate when you do decide to take a pregnancy test.
Calculate Your Menstrual Cycle
Before you take a pregnancy test, you need to be familiar with your menstrual cycle, specifically when you expect your next period to start. For the most accurate result from an at home pregnancy test, you’ll need to take it a few days after a missed period, or it might not be as accurate. There are some more advanced tests that can get you a result sooner, but you’ll still generally get the most accurate results if you keep track of your period and wait to take the test.
When To Take an At Home Pregnancy Test
If you’ve missed your period by more than a few days, then it might be time to take a pregnancy test. When an egg has been fertilized and attached itself to your uterine lining, then the pregnancy hormone hCG will be detectable in your urine. There are more advanced (and more expensive) digital pregnancy tests that can sometimes get you an accurate result up to 6 days before your missed period, but you’ll still get the most accurate results from the test detecting hCG in urine a few days after your missed period.
When You Should See Your Doctor
To be sure if you are pregnant, it’s always best to get a blood test from a doctor, which can be a bit more conclusive than at home pregnancy tests. And for trustworthy doctors specializing in women’s health, come see the staff at Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN!
