How soon after ovulation can you take a pregnancy test

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.

When you can do a pregnancy test

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.

Where you can get a pregnancy test

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:

  • sexual health services
  • some young people's services – call the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 for details
  • Brook centres for under-25s – find your nearest Brook centre

You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP.

How does a pregnancy test work?

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.

Pregnancy test results

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:

  • do not follow the instructions properly
  • take the test too early

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 pregnancy

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 you want to be pregnant

If you're not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:

  • continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
  • having an abortion
  • continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted

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:

  • sexual health services
  • the MSI Reproductive Choices website
  • the British Pregnancy Advisory service website
  • the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory service website

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
Media review due: 5 February 2023

Pregnancy testing is all about timing. Between the time of day and the time within your cycle, it can be pretty confusing to know when to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate results. It may seem even more overwhelming when you throw in ovulation testing, but knowing more about your menstrual cycle is always helpful. So how long should you wait to test for pregnancy after getting a positive ovulation test result? 

When can I get pregnant?

If you’re actively trying to get pregnant, it’s all about planning intercourse on days that you’re ovulating and your most fertile days. This is known as your “fertile window,” and while it varies depending on your cycle, it is typically ovulation occurs the day an egg is released from the ovary (ovulation) and the five days before it. It is possible to get pregnant 12-48 hours after ovulation, but chances of pregnancy are significantly lower.ovulation-testsAssuming you had sex in your fertile window, pregnancy can be detected 12-15 days after conception. This is because pregnancy tests detect a hormone called hCG in your urine, which is produced by your placenta when you’re pregnant. If you have a regular, 28 day cycle, hCG can be picked up in a pregnancy test 12-15 days after ovulation and conception.

While a pregnancy test can detect pregnancy before you miss your period, your body might show signs of pregnancy even before a pregnancy test will.

You won’t miss your period until 15 days passed ovulation (DPO), but some women notice symptoms as early as 5 DPO such as bleeding, cramps, and breast tenderness. However, experiencing symptoms of pregnancy this quickly after ovulation is highly unlikely.

Can birth control, other medical procedures, or an irregular period make me less fertile or affect my chances of getting pregnant?

pregnancy-ovulation-test-comboFirst and foremost, birth control does not affect your long term fertility or your likeliness to get pregnant. This being said, it will take your body some time to get used to the change in hormone levels when you stop birth control and regulate your cycle, just like it took some time to get used to it when you started.

After an IUD removal, it takes on 4-6 months to become pregnant. It can take 1-3 months for your cycle to regulate after stopping taking birth control pills, though you should be able to get pregnant your next cycle after stopping.

If you used the Depo-Provera shot as a form of birth control, it usually takes 6-12 months for fertility to return to normal after the last injection. This form of birth control is not recommended if you are trying to conceive soon.

A medical abortion shouldn’t affect your fertility and, depending on how far along you were before the abortion, you can get pregnant just a few weeks afterwards even if you haven’t gotten your period yet. A tubal ligation is one of the most permanent forms of birth control and works by blocking both fallopian tubes and is a permanent form of birth control.

But just like all birth control, it is never 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Although very unlikely, one in every 200 women who had a tubal ligation are estimated to become pregnant. This procedure can also increase the chances of ectopic pregnancy due to lasting scar tissue.

Getting pregnant without ever getting your period is possible but unlikely. Missing or having irregular periods is very common, but if you’re not getting your periods many months in a row, see your primary care provider. This could mean that you’re not ovulating regularly, as menstruation marks the end of your cycle and is indicated by your period.

How soon after ovulation can I test?

Can you get pregnant after ovulation? Figuring out when to take a pregnancy test after ovulation can be tricky. This is because hCG levels increase throughout early pregnancy, so testing too early might result in a false negative result. If you are pregnant, traces of hCG can be detected in your urine eight days after ovulation.pregnancy-testsSo, if you receive a positive ovulation test result and have sex that day, you should take a pregnancy test eight days later. However, because cycles vary, it may take more than eight days to see a positive pregnancy test result.

What do I do after a positive pregnancy test result?

Your pregnancy test result is positive. Now what? At Stix, we always recommend taking two tests to be 100% sure of your results, as false positive results and false negative results can happen. Additionally, testing as early as 4 DPO can lead to false results, so wait to take a pregnancy test until at least 8 DPO, though positive pregnancy test results 10 DPO will be more accurate.

Once you have confirmed your positive result, call your primary care provider to set up an appointment to discuss your options and next steps of your pregnancy journey. If you are using IVF to get pregnant, it’s important to keep your doctor up to date when you get a positive result.

More questions about pregnancy, ovulation, or anything else? Leave us a comment and we will get back to you. No matter what your pregnancy journey looks like, Stix is here every step of the way.