When Is the Best Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?
The best time to take a pregnancy test is after your missed period, preferably first thing in the morning. Keep reading to find out why and learn the answers to pregnancy test questions.
Are you currently wondering whether or not you’re pregnant? Visit Elevate Women’s Center for free and confidential pregnancy tests and more in Rogers, Arkansas.
Always read the instructions before taking an at-home pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests can differ, and some are more sensitive than others, which could allow you to test sooner.
However, most pregnancy tests state they are most accurate when taken after a missed period. This is because pregnancy tests detect the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which takes time to build in a pregnant woman’s urine or blood.
False-negative results can happen when you take a pregnancy test before hCG has risen to detectable levels.
If you receive a negative pregnancy test result with an early pregnancy test, take another test after you miss your period. If you did wait until your missed period and received a negative result, but your period still hasn’t arrived, test again in a few days to a week. Even with a missed period, there’s a chance hCG hasn’t risen high enough yet to trigger a positive result.
Taking a pregnancy test right after you wake up in the morning can ensure hCG is at its most concentrated level. This is because you just slept many hours without drinking fluids.
Pregnancy tests can more easily detect hCG when urine is more concentrated—especially very early in pregnancy when hCG levels are naturally low.
Now, if the thought of taking a pregnancy test in the morning is going to make you restless and unable to sleep, there’s no harm in taking the test in the afternoon or evening—just make sure you do not drink excess liquids right before.
If it’s negative, follow it up with another test in the morning.
If you’re wondering whether or not you could be pregnant, take a medical-grade pregnancy test at Elevate Women’s Center. We offer them for free and help women confirm their pregnancies and consider their next steps and options.
Visit us today to find out if you’re pregnant. Our services are completely free and confidential, and your privacy is important to us.