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. If 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 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 Many early signs of pregnancy can be nonspecific and easily mistaken for other causes. For this reason, it may be difficult to know when or whether to take a pregnancy test. In this article, we list 11 early signs that can indicate a person should take a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test will not show positive as soon as a person becomes pregnant. It takes time for the body to release enough of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to show up on a test. This will be around 12–15 days after ovulation if a person has a 28-day cycle. Some medical bodies suggest taking the test on the first day a period should have occurred. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that the results on this day may not be accurate for 10–20% of people. Instead, they suggest taking a test 1–2 weeks after missing a period. Some tests are more sensitive, however, and a person can use them earlier. Another option is to wait at least 21 days after having sex without birth control. Blood tests take place in a medical office, and they can show if a person is pregnant around 6–8 days after ovulation. What are homemade pregnancy tests, and do they work? If a person is pregnant, it is best to find out as soon as possible. Not only can they start planning the next steps, but there may also be health considerations and lifestyle changes to address. Some people notice early signs of pregnancy, such as fatigue or breast tenderness, before they miss a period. The early signs include:
1. Missed periodOften, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. There are many reasons for missed periods, but if a person is sexually active, a missed period can signal pregnancy. Most pregnancy tests are very accurate when taken after a missed period, but sometimes the hormone levels might not be high enough to trigger a positive result. If someone misses a period and a pregnancy test is negative, they should repeat the test after a few days. 2. Breast changesBreast changes are common in early pregnancy. These are due to hormonal changes that eventually prepare the body for lactation. Common changes are:
Which breast changes are a sign of pregnancy? 3. Light bleedingAround 25% of people experience implantation bleeding, which is light bleeding that happens when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. Implantation bleeding tends to be lighter and shorter than a menstrual period. Implantation bleeding happens around 6–12 days after conception, but light spotting is not uncommon during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. 4. CrampsCramps are common before or during a menstrual period, but some people also get cramps when implantation occurs. If cramps occur around or before a period is due, but there is no bleeding, or the bleeding is much lighter than usual, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test. How do I know if cramps are a sign of a period or pregnancy? 5. Nausea and vomitingMorning sickness, or nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, may start 2–8 weeks after conception. Nausea does not just happen in the morning. It may occur at any time during the day or night. If nausea happens for no apparent reason, especially with other possible signs of pregnancy, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test. 6. FatigueFatigue is a common symptom of early pregnancy, and a person may feel the need to rest or nap for no apparent reason. It is typically due to changes in the hormone progesterone. Fatigue typically eases in the second trimester, and the person may find they have more energy again. 7. HeadacheHormonal changes may also trigger headaches in early pregnancy. They typically ease over time. A person can take paracetamol for a short time to treat a headache, but it is best to check with a doctor or midwife first. Other pain relief drugs may not be safe to take. From week 20 of pregnancy and after, headaches can be a sign of preeclampsia, a potentially life threatening condition that needs urgent medical attention. What does headache mean in pregnancy, and how can I manage it? 8. Food aversions or cravingsUnusual cravings and food aversions are common in the first trimester, though they sometimes persist through the entire pregnancy. Some people crave nonfood items, such as dirt or ice. This is known as pica. Anyone who craves things that are not food should consult a healthcare professional. A person may also find they no longer enjoy foods they previously enjoyed or that their taste and smell become more sensitive. Do food cravings only happen during pregnancy? 9. Changes in bathroom habitsBowel and bladder symptoms can appear in early pregnancy. A person might experience frequent urges to urinate during the day and night. They may also have constipation, which affects 11–38% of people at some time during pregnancy, according to 2012 research. In the early stages of pregnancy, the rise in hCG levels boosts blood flow to the pelvic area, increasing the need to urinate. Learn more about frequent urination in pregnancy. 10. Feeling “different” and mood changesAnecdotal evidence suggests many pregnant people report feeling “different” early in pregnancy, with some feeling an awareness that they are pregnant before taking a test. However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm this. Physiological and hormonal changes during pregnancy may cause a person to feel different. Feeling different may also be due to mood changes, which can begin within a few weeks after conception. Anyone who believes that they may be pregnant should take a test for confirmation. Is it premenstrual syndrome or pregnancy? 11. Missed birth controlA person should consider taking a pregnancy test if they are sexually active and have not used birth control within the last month. Many birth control options effectively prevent pregnancy, but a broken condom or missed birth control pill can increase the chance of conception. Pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone hCG, which the body starts producing after conception. According to 2014 research, hCG is detectable in the blood around 8 days after conception. As the pregnancy progresses, levels rise by around 50% a day. HGC is detectable in urine a few days later than in the blood. Tests for home use are urine tests. A person will need to go to a healthcare facility for a blood test. A range of pregnancy tests are available for home use, and some are more sensitive than others. This means they can detect hCG at lower levels. Many tests claim to be 99% accurate, but experts note that not all of them undergo rigorous scientific testing. A person may also get a false-negative result if they take the test too early, do not follow the instructions precisely, or do not handle the test as the manufacturer intended. Some medical bodies suggest taking a test on the first day of a missed period, but many people do not know when their period should arrive, for example, if they experience irregular menstruation. When taking a test, a person should:
The FDA notes that a positive test is usually but not always accurate. If a test is negative, they suggest avoiding alcohol and other substances that may be harmful to a fetus and repeating the test at a later date or seeking medical advice. Why might a person get a false-positive pregnancy test result? Some people experience menstrual irregularities, breast changes, and other pregnancy-type symptoms without being pregnant. These can happen for a variety of reasons. Possible biological factors include hormonal changes due to another health condition. Psychological and social factors can sometimes play a role. In rare cases, a person can have pseudocyesis, sometimes called false pregnancy, where they firmly believe themselves to be pregnant and have signs of pregnancy without being pregnant. This condition is not well understood and can happen for various reasons. Anyone who has signs of pregnancy but is unlikely to be pregnant, for example, because of menopause, should seek medical advice. They may have a health condition that needs medical treatment. If a pregnancy test result is positive, a person should contact a midwife or doctor. They can confirm the result with a blood test or schedule an early ultrasound. If the person is pregnant, they should start prenatal care or discuss other options as early as possible. If a person misses a period but is not pregnant, a healthcare professional can help diagnose any underlying cause. The earliest sign of pregnancy is often a missed period, but breast changes, fatigue, headaches, and other changes can also appear within the first few weeks. Anyone who has had sex without birth control and experiences early signs of pregnancy should do a test. Anyone who has signs of pregnancy but is sure they cannot be pregnant should seek medical advice. The healthcare professional may wish to rule out other health conditions or provide treatment if required. Can I take home pregnancy test 4 days before 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.
Is it possible to get a negative pregnancy test 4 days before missed period?Even the most sensitive, 'early detection', pregnancy tests available can only detect pregnancy up to six days before your missed period (which is five days before you expect your period) and even then, these tests won't be able to detect every pregnancy that early.
Can I test positive 4 days before my missed period?Trace levels of hCG can be detected as early as eight days after ovulation. That means you could get positive results several days before you expect your period to start.
How accurate is a pregnancy test taken 5 days before period?Provides early detection of the pregnancy hormone. 71% of pregnancies can be detected 6 days before the missed period (5 days before the expected period).
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How accurate are pregnancy tests 4 days before period
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