How Soon Can I Take a Pregnancy Test
Summary: You and your husband have been trying to get pregnant for awhile and now your period is late so you may be wondering how soon can I take a pregnancy test?  I have been there  you want to know the moment you conceive.

Unfortunately our technology is not yet at that point.  There are new tests that can  confirm pregnancy even before you miss a period, but about 10% will test negative even though they are indeed pregnant.

Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs and cigarettes if there is a chance you might be pregnant or you are trying to become pregnant since these substances, as we all know, can damage the growing baby.

Home pregnancy tests are tests that measure the level of HCG in your urine.  There are two different types of tests available.  The difference is in the way the tests are performed.  With a dip test you fill the container that comes with the kit with urine and dip the strip in the urine for a certain amount of time.

The other is a midstream test.  In this case you hold the strip in your urine flow.  Read the instructions carefully and keep your fingers away from the actual test part of the strip as you skin oils could mess up the test results.  Both types of tests are reliable.  It is best to perform the test  at the time you miss a period.  If you get a negative test result try again after the time your period was due.  You can also try again a couple of days later because your HCG levels rise steadily early in your pregnancy.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you want to know early on whether or not you are pregnant.  She can do a blood test to check the HCG levels at lower amounts (earlier in the pregnancy).  Even the doctor can’t get a level until six to eight days after ovulation.  HCG isn’t produced by the baby until implantation.  Home tests may be able to measure your levels at about seven days after ovulation but a negative result doesn’t mean you aren’t pregnant it could be that your hormone levels are not at a measurable level.  You should do a home pregnancy test with the first morning urine since the HCG levels are more concentrated at this point.

If you get a faint line or color on your test strip it can be considered a positive result.  It may be that the urine has been diluted due to the consumption of fluids.  This is why it is a good idea to test when you get up in the morning.

Maybe you aren’t particularly trying to get pregnant, but not trying to prevent it either.  Here are some signs of pregnancy that may prompt you to take a pregnancy test:  tender swollen breasts, unexplained fatigue, slight bleeding, nausea, aversion to or craving certain foods, nausea and vomiting early in the pregnancy, mild headaches, mood swings (and your husband thought you were crabby during your period).

Of course all or most of these symptoms could be the flu.  However sudden onset of one or more of these signs may be a reason to do a pregnancy test, especially if your period is late.

If your home test is positive make an appointment with your healthcare provider for confirmation so that you can get started right away with prenatal care and monitoring.