So you have a feeling that this month just might be the one. You’re in the dreaded two week wait (that seems like an eternity) and you have a pregnancy test in your hands just counting down the days to when you can pee on a stick and find out once and for all if you really are pregnant this month or not.
Whoa, slow down sister – I know it’s tempting (I’ve been there myself), but you really need to wait if you want to get a accurate answer.
If you take the test too early it might give you a false negative (you might be pregnant but just don’t have enough pregnancy hormone for the test to show a positive result) and seeing a negative test can be heart breaking and disappointing, especially if you have been trying to conceive for some time.
So when should you take a pregnancy test?
According to FertilityFriend.com most people started to get a positive result around 12 DPO when using a early pregnancy test.
While some women will show a positive result before this, most will not. So save yourself some heartache (and money) and wait a few more days until at least 12 DPO or even longer if you can hold out.
The reason is that home pregnancy tests (HPT) measure the amount of hCG in your urine and it needs to be at a certain level before the test will show positive. While sensitive tests can detect small amounts of hCG a few days before your period is due most require you to wait around two weeks after ovulation (about when AF is due).
What about a blood pregnancy test?
Ok, so we’ve established when you should take a home pregnancy test, but what about a blood test from your doctor, will that show up earlier?
In theory yes, because a blood test can often pick up smaller amounts of hCG than a home pregnancy test. However that isn’t always the case with many women going to the doctor after a positive HPT but it not showing up with the blood test.
I guess the only real option therefore is to wait a few days, until around the time you expect your period and then take the test to be sure.
Good luck and baby dust.
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