How soon can I take a pregnancy test?

It depends on the pregnancy test that you use. All pregnancy tests measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone, in your body. Home pregnancy tests detect the presence of hCG in your urine.

Some home pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others. The more sensitive tests may be able to detect low levels of hCG as early as four days before your period is due, or seven days after conception.

The sensitivity of a pregnancy test is described on the packaging as mIU/ml (milli-International Unit per millilitre). Pregnancy tests range in sensitivity from 10mIU/ml to 40 mlU/ml. The lower the number, the more sensitive the test, and the earlier it can detect pregnancy.

If you test too soon in pregnancy, even with a sensitive test, the amount of hCG in your urine may not be high enough to detect. Getting a false negative, when a test that says you're not pregnant and you are, can be stressful.

The test may be negative for several reasons. You may not be pregnant. Or, you may have ovulated later than you thought, and not be as far along in pregnancy as you thought.

Most home pregnancy tests will give accurate results if you test at the time your period would normally be due, about two weeks after you ovulate.

One in 10 women can have very low levels of hCG levels at the time of a missed period. If you have a negative result, but still don’t get your period, test again three days later. If you are pregnant, the levels of hormone may build up enough by then to be picked up by the test.

A blood test can also detect hCG. Blood tests are more sensitive than urine tests and can detect pregnancy from about six to eight days after ovulation. However you will not be offered a blood test for pregnancy until after your period is due, and even then only if there is a medical need.

Talk to others who are hoping to get pregnant in your community.