If you have missed a period and recently had unprotected sex, you may be pregnant. Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period. You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex. Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period. You can do a pregnancy test on a sample of urine collected at any time of the day. It doesn't have to be in the morning. You can buy pregnancy testing kits from pharmacists and some supermarkets. They can give a quick result and you can do the
test in private. The following places provide free pregnancy tests: You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP. All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation. Most
pregnancy tests come in a box that contains 1 or 2 long sticks. You pee on the stick and the result appears on the stick after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so always check the instructions. Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly. A positive test result is almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable. The result may not be reliable if you:
Some medicines can also affect the results. If you get a negative result and still think you're pregnant, wait a few days and try again. Speak to your GP if you get a negative result after a second test but your period has not arrived. Continuing with the pregnancyIf you're pregnant and want to continue with the pregnancy, contact your GP or a midwife to start your antenatal care. You can use the pregnancy due date calculator to work out when your baby is due. If you're not sure you want to be pregnantIf you're not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:
As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information – from the age of 13 – from the following:
All these services – including community contraceptive clinics – are confidential. If you're 13 or older, the staff won't tell your parents. They'll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won't force you. If you're under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service. Video: Is the pregnancy test accurate?In this video, a midwife explains when you can take a pregnancy test and how to do it properly. Media last reviewed: 5 February 2020
01/5Read on to know more!Whether you want to get pregnant or do not want to get pregnant, when to take the pregnancy test is a question that bothers most of the women. If you are trying to conceive, you might be eager to take the test and if you have missed your period or witnessing signs of pregnancy then just want to confirm whether or not that’s happened. With over-the-counter (OTC) pregnancy tests now, you do not have to wait long to know whether you are expecting or not. You just have to pee on the stick and within a few minutes, you will know the answer. But for accurate results, you have to go through the process at the right time. Taking the test too early might give you a false result even if you are pregnant. readmore02/5How the test kit worksOTC pregnancy kit tests your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is present in your pee only if you are pregnant. This hormone is released if a fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus or to your uterine lining. This process may take 6-7 days after the fertilisation of the eggs by sperm in the fallopian tube. readmore03/5When is the right time to take the test?The best time to take the pregnancy test is after your period is late. You can take the test from the first day of your missed period. Some test kits show positive as early as 4 or 5 days before your period is due. Taking the test after a missed period can help you avoid false negatives and the false positives of very early miscarriages. If your menstrual cycle is irregular then wait for 35 to 40 days before taking the test for an accurate result. 04/5The right time to take the testStudies show that taking the pregnancy test in the morning gives you a more accurate result. That’s because the urine is more concentrated in the morning, so the hCG concentration is higher. This means you are more likely to get a positive result if you’re pregnant. This is more effective when your period is late. The chances of false-negative are high when you take the test before your monthly period cycle and you are drinking a lot of water and your urine is diluted. readmore05/5The bottom lineEven if you are using birth control methods to prevent pregnancy, there’s always a chance for error. So, if you miss your period or witness any sign of pregnancy like cramps and breast soreness then you should take the test without any delay. readmore |
How accurate are pregnancy tests 5 days before missed period
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