It's better to take a pregnancy test after. I have a delay and the test is negative. What does it mean? What factors influence test results?
ranges from 0.2 to 3%, which is negligible. However, this possibility of error is only true in cases where the test is done within a certain time frame after unprotected intercourse or a delay in menstruation. If the test is done earlier than the specified time, the probability of error increases significantly. Thus, a test carried out 4 days ahead of schedule gives 45% errors, 3 days earlier – 14% errors, 2 days earlier – 3% and 1 day earlier – 2%. At the same time, manufacturers often write in the instructions that the test can be done from the first day of missed menstruation. This is indeed a true statement, but it is not true in all cases. Manufacturers proceed from the fact that pregnancy in most cases occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, when at least two weeks pass before the next menstruation. And since conventional tests are able to detect pregnancy from the beginning of the third week of gestation (approximately from the 15th to 16th day after conception), it turns out that when conceiving a child in the middle of the cycle, the test can work correctly already on the first day of the delay of the next period. However, a woman does not always become pregnant in the middle menstrual cycle
If a woman does not want to wait two weeks for a missed period, especially when she has an irregular menstrual cycle, then to calculate the exact date when a pregnancy test can be taken with high accuracy, she can use simple rule. Remember the exact date of sexual intercourse that could lead to pregnancy, and count 15 days from it. It is after two full weeks after sexual contact that you can take a pregnancy test, the result of which will be accurate and correct. If a woman uses such a calculation method to determine the date of a pregnancy test, then she may completely ignore the duration of her missed period.
Currently, in addition to the usual ones, highly sensitive pregnancy tests are produced, which, according to the instructions for use, can be done even before a missed period. The sensitivity of such tests is 10 IU/l, which allows them to register pregnancy from the 7th day, that is, from the second week of gestation. If a woman uses such a pregnancy test, then to calculate the exact date of the test, 7–10 days from unprotected sexual intercourse should be counted. The result of such a test, carried out on the 7th day after sexual intercourse, even before a missed period, is 88% accurate. And a test done on the 10th day after a missed period gives a result that is 99% accurate. That is why gynecologists and scientists recommend doing a highly sensitive pregnancy test on the 10th day after unprotected intercourse, regardless of the delay in menstruation.
In general, methods for calculating the specific date of a pregnancy test are more preferable than focusing a woman on the duration of the delay in menstruation, since they ensure high accuracy and correctness of the result. So, a regular test can be done at least on the 15th day after sexual intercourse, and a highly sensitive one - on the 7th – 10th day.
Regardless of whether you are planning a pregnancy or trying to avoid it, after unprotected sexual intercourse you are tempted to buy a pregnancy test without waiting for the expected start date of your period. How to do the test correctly?
What does a pregnancy test show?
It would seem that the question is simple. Pregnancy tests show the presence or absence of pregnancy, but in reality everything is much more serious. Fertilization of the egg is possible within 12-24 hours after ovulation - the release of the egg from the follicle. After the sperm penetrates the membrane of the egg and fertilizes it, the egg begins its movement through the fallopian tubes into the uterine cavity. Here the embryo is introduced into the endometrium prepared by the pregnancy hormone, progesterone. Usually implantation (attachment of the fetus to the wall of the uterus) occurs 7-10 days after the date of ovulation. And only from this moment does human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) begin to be produced, which helps the unborn baby attach to the wall of the uterus and grow and develop safely.
First, hCG begins to be detected in small quantities in the girl’s blood, and a little later it penetrates into the urine.
HCG is always found in smaller quantities in urine than in blood. As soon as the concentration of hCG in the blood reaches a certain level, it immediately begins to be detected in the urine.
A pregnancy test contains a reagent that is sensitive to human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, and therefore can indicate the presence or absence of pregnancy.
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
HCG first appears in the blood after implantation (7-10 days after ovulation), but at this time pregnancy can only be determined using a blood test. Therefore, if curiosity haunts you, you can donate blood at this time. But if it is still very small, then even a blood test will give a dubious and borderline result. Pregnancy tests at this time will show absolutely nothing. The level of human chorionic gonadotropin increases gradually, increasing according to a certain pattern every day. In the first weeks after conception, hCG levels double every 24-48 hours, but after reaching a certain stage of pregnancy, the rate of growth of hCG decreases.
Typically, the concentration of hCG reaches its maximum at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy, when the fetus-placenta system functions safely and supports the baby’s vital functions. Exactly this best time when to take a pregnancy test. At this stage, the production of hCG is no longer so important, so the rapid growth of the hormone stops. But if the expectant mother is expecting several babies, then hCG grows faster and more intensely, in proportion to the number of children.
When should you take a pregnancy test? Typically, tests can detect hCG in urine no earlier than 11-15 days after ovulation, but for the most accurate result it is worth waiting until the first day of a missed period. Don't forget: the lower the quality of the test and its sensitivity, the more likely it is that you will not receive correct result.
On what day does the test show pregnancy?
Pregnancy tests that can be done at home are popular among women. And this is logical - after all, they are easy to use. However, to find out your condition, you need to apply the test correctly.
It is known that many young women, assuming that conception has occurred, are interested in: “On what day does the test show pregnancy?” Most tests have a sensitivity of 20-25 mIU/ml, which allows them to recognize pregnancy only from the first day of missed menstruation.
There are also more sensitive -10 mIU/ml, but also more expensive tests. They can determine the presence of pregnancy even before the delay - a week to a week and a half from the moment of expected conception.
But when a pregnancy test shows a guaranteed accurate result, it’s a week after the delay. The fact is that by this time there is already a fairly high level of hCG in the urine.
How to take a pregnancy test correctly
Usually, pregnancy test packaging always contains instructions for use. But there is also general principles, which will help you get the most accurate result:
- A pregnancy test is performed no earlier than 11-15 days of the cycle, and ideally on the first day of missed menstruation, in the morning after waking up.
- Try to choose high-quality tests from a trusted company with high sensitivity: this is a guarantee of an adequate result.
- The pregnancy test package must contain instructions: do not deviate from following it under any circumstances.
- If the test shows one line, don’t be upset, perhaps you did the test too early, and after a few days it will show you the long-awaited second line.
- If the pregnancy test is positive, you should consult a doctor, especially if you have been planning a baby for a long time. You may need additional examinations and medications.
- If the tests persistently show one line, be sure to take a blood test for hCG and visit a doctor. Some diseases and conditions can affect the length of the cycle and lengthen it.
Can a test fail to show pregnancy?
It is not for nothing that manufacturers of pregnancy tests warn their future buyers that the guaranteed accuracy of the analysis is 95-99%. This means that there is a risk of a false result - 1-5%.
Every woman, wanting to become a mother, wants to find out about pregnancy as soon as possible. There are many ways to find out about pregnancy. But the most common are pregnancy tests.
The lower the number, the higher the sensitivity of the test and, as a result, the higher its reliability. Thus, tests marked 10 can be used already 7-8 days after the expected conception of the child.
If the second stripe appears very weakly, the reliability of pregnancy decreases. This is called a weak positive result. In this situation, it would be best to take another test. You shouldn't take the exact same one. It is best to change the manufacturer and type of test.
It is worth remembering that a woman can get the most reliable result only during menstruation.
Pregnancy tests have their advantages and disadvantages:
- The advantages include: convenience and ease of use, complete anonymity, early diagnosis and high accuracy of results (up to 95%).
- The disadvantages of the tests are the inability to determine the correct development, its location (in the uterus or outside it), the high cost of some tests, and there are cases of false results shown by low-quality tests.
Every girl sooner or later wants to become a mother, so a pregnancy test is familiar to almost every female representative. Almost everyone knows how to take a test, but not every girl knows some of the subtleties - for example, is it possible to take a pregnancy test after menstruation.
It is very easy and simple to determine pregnancy at home using conventional tests that can be purchased at any pharmacy. Such tests allow you to determine hCG, which increases significantly during pregnancy, which contributes to the appearance of the second line on the test.
Some girls are interested in whether it is possible to take a pregnancy test after menstruation. It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. On the one hand, menstruation means that pregnancy has not occurred. On the other hand, there are often situations when in the first months of pregnancy a woman may have bleeding, similar to menstruation.
If you have had, but the test shows a positive result, then you should urgently consult a doctor to rule out ectopic pregnancy or any other pathologies.
If during the examination the doctor determines that there is no threat of interruption, there is also no ectopic pregnancy, then there is no reason to worry. It is quite possible that this individual feature girls, so during pregnancy (or rather, during pregnancy itself) early stage) menstruation is coming.
If you don't know when to take a pregnancy test, read the following. The test can be performed as early as a week after the expected conception. Of course, for reliability it is better to double-check again later. If there is a 3-4th day of delay, but there are no periods, then the test will definitely show pregnancy, if any.
It is best to use the test and check with a doctor who can confirm or refute the test and give recommendations on what lifestyle to lead for normal fetal development.
The question of when a pregnancy test can be taken when conception is suspected is of interest to many women planning a pregnancy. To begin with, it should be noted that when diagnosing pregnancy, gestational age is of greatest importance. However, we should not forget about physiological feature female body, such as the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Let's take a closer look at this issue and try to figure out: when should a woman take a pregnancy test and whether it can be done before the delay.
How does a rapid pregnancy test work?Operating principle of all types of this product diagnostics is based on establishing the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine excreted by the body. This hormone begins to be actively synthesized literally from the first days after conception. Moreover, every day its concentration doubles and increases until 8-11 weeks of gestation. It is during this period that the concentration of hCG in a pregnant woman is maximum.
To carry out the test, a woman should use only freshly collected, and preferably morning, urine. The thing is that directly in the morning the concentration of hCG in the body is maximum, which helps to obtain an accurate result.
How does cycle length affect test time?So, according to the instructions that are included in each express pregnancy test, this type of study can be carried out from the first day of the delay. In other words, at least 14 days must pass from the moment of alleged conception. This rule applies when the duration of a woman’s menstrual cycle is the classic 28 days, and ovulation occurs on the 14th day.
The situation is completely different with the diagnosis of pregnancy in women with a long menstrual cycle - 30-32 days. In such cases, they suggest that the test can be performed earlier. However, this is not the case.
The thing is that the lengthening of the menstrual cycle itself in most cases occurs due to an increase in the duration of its first phase. In such situations, the reproductive system spends more time on preparatory processes in the endometrial layer. At the same time, the duration of the second half of the cycle, the one that occurs after ovulation, remains unchanged. That is why it makes no sense to conduct a test earlier than 12-14 days later. This is exactly the period doctors call those women who are interested in when they can take a pregnancy test during late ovulation.
When should a woman take a pregnancy test if her cycle is irregular?
Considering the above, we can conclude that such a parameter as the duration of the menstrual cycle does not in any way affect the time of diagnosis of pregnancy using a rapid test. However, the regularity of the cycle has great importance. After all, at a time when there is no ovulation, pregnancy cannot occur. However, it is very important here not to confuse with 
Therefore, if a woman feels some changes in her condition (weakness, fatigue, nausea), then it is worth taking a pregnancy test. But you need to remember that a regular test strip will not show the result earlier than 2 weeks after sexual intercourse.
At the same time, it should be noted that if you use an electronic pregnancy test, you can do it when 7-10 days have passed after sex. The fact is that such diagnostic devices have greater sensitivity (10 mU/ml, versus 25 mU/ml for test strips).
Thus, to summarize, I would like to say that the first pregnancy test can be done even before the delay in menstruation begins. However, it must be an electronic, highly sensitive test.