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01/4Morning vs Night
The decision of when to take the pregnancy test to get an accurate result can at times be a major source of anxiety. Whether you are eagerly waiting to get pregnant or you don't want to get pregnant, in both cases, the last thing you want is an inaccurate result. Most of us rely on a home pregnancy testing kit to get the primary confirmation, only after this we opt for proper lab testing. Urine home pregnancy tests are about 99 per cent accurate. But at times it can be influenced by factors like the irregular menstrual cycle, low hormone level, lifestyle factors and others. According to popular belief, taking a pregnancy test in the morning is the best as the chances of getting a false negative is higher at night. Here we have tried to figure out how much truth is there in this claim.
readmore02/4Can you take a pregnancy test at night?
It is alright to take the pregnancy test at night, but whether doing so can be a reason for the negative result or not is yet unclear. That's because the home pregnancy test responds to the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) present in your urine. The hormone is produced by the placenta and by the tenth day of the ovulation, the amount of hCG
reaches a level where it can be easily detected by a home test kit. Taking the test in the morning is mostly recommended because of the concentration of the urine. Since you would not have drunk water or pee at night, the level of hCG will be higher in the urine and it will be easy to detect if you would be pregnant. At night, your urine would be diluted and the level of hCG would be low, leading to negative pregnancy.
03/4What to do if you test negative at night
The at-home pregnancy test kit mostly gives accurate results, but the chances of getting a negative pregnancy still remain. If you are trying to get pregnant or witness any
pregnancy-related symptoms and your test kit shows a negative result, we recommend you to take another test in the morning or after a few days. Several things can influence your result and can give a negative result like taking a test too early, not following the direction and others.
04/4The best time to take a pregnancy test
The best time to take the pregnancy test is after your period is late. Some test kits show positive results within 4 or 5 days before your period is due. But taking the test after a missed period is better to get a more accurate result and avoid false negatives. In case of irregular menstrual cycles, wait 35 to 40 days before taking the test. Taking the test in the morning is more preferred over the night to get an accurate result.
Home pregnancy tests can pick up HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). After the fertilized egg has attached to the wall of your uterus, your placenta’s cells produce HCG. This hormone helps the egg grow, protect it from immune reactions, and assist with progesterone production. In a home pregnancy test, you pee on a small stick that detects if HCG is in your urine.
Here are six reasons why the + or – sign may be incorrect, and you’ll want to get a second opinion.
1) Medical Reason
Cancers produce hormones, and ovarian tumors can increase the HCG hormone.
2) Diluted Urine
HCG is at its highest level in the morning when urine is fresh and not diluted by the liquid you drink during the day. If you test in the afternoon, your urine may not have enough HCG to detect.
3) Miscarriage
After a miscarriage, your body still has hormones that will lead to a positive test.
4) Medications
Most medications—antibiotics, birth control, over-the-counter medicines, won’t alter the pregnancy test’s accuracy. But if you’re taking fertility drugs or are participating in a weight loss program that uses injections, your urine may show traces of HCG.
5) Testing too early
If you take a pregnancy test a day or two after a missed period, the test may not detect HCG. To increase accuracy, take the test a week after a missed period.
6) Checking test results too soon
Set a timer according to the package instructions to give the test time to work.
What Should You Do if You Think the Pregnancy Test is Wrong?
Based on your test results, consider taking the following steps:
• Make an appointment with your doctor. You might need a blood test or
ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy.
• Repeat the test in two to three days, especially if you took the test just after a missed period.
• If you continue to get negative test results, but your period doesn’t begin, check with your doctor. Other conditions can lead to missing a period, including low body weight, excessive exercise, stress, thyroid disorders, etc.