Can you have a positive pregnancy test before missed period

Q: Can you take pregnancy test 7 days before period?

Early results pregnancy tests promise results as soon as three to six days before your missed period. These tests are more sensitive than standard tests but getting accurate results that early is more difficult simply because ovulation and implantation times can vary.

Early pregnancy tests are designed to tell whether you're pregnant five days before you miss your period. These sensitive tests aim to detect a hormone produced during pregnancy earlier than standard ones. But do they really work? Learn about these tests and how they compare to regular pregnancy tests.

Table of Contents Show

1. Missed period
2. Breast changes
3. Light bleeding
5. Nausea and vomiting
7. Headache
8. Food aversions or cravings
9. Changes in bathroom habits
10. Feeling “different” and mood changes
11. Missed birth control
How soon can you test positive for pregnancy?
Can you take pregnancy test 7 days before period?

First, a pregnancy test primer: Whether it's a blood test or a urine test done at a healthcare provider's office or in your bathroom, a pregnancy test is positive when it detects the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)—a hormone produced by placental cells during pregnancy—in your system, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

The production of even a tiny amount of hCG means the fertilized egg has been implanted in the uterine lining.

The variance between at-home pregnancy tests is the amount of hCG they can detect, with early pregnancy tests detecting lower hormone levels.

"The commercial pregnancy tests range from 20 to 50 mIU/mL. Since hCG levels double every two to three days, some tests may detect hCG two to three days earlier—so there may be some benefit to using a more sensitive test," said Seth Guller, PhD, the director of the Gyn/Endocrine Laboratory at the Yale School of Medicine.

Guller added a surprising caveat: Any benefits of early pregnancy detection should be balanced by the fact that most pregnancies ending in miscarriage—or sudden pregnancy loss before 20 weeks—occur during the first seven weeks of pregnancy, according to MedlinePlus.

Knowing if you're pregnant early allows you to promptly make educated health and lifestyle changes that can increase the chance of delivering a healthy baby. This could include smoking cessation, getting vaccinations, and ensuring a healthy weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Charles Lockwood, MD, the chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital, adds that "the risk of exposure to agents causing birth defects doesn't start until two weeks after conception."

There is no denying that trying to conceive is suspenseful. This is why a person might want to know about pregnancy as soon as possible—despite the emotional risk of learning about brief chemical pregnancies, which are miscarriages that occur within the first five weeks.

There are biological factors that may affect the results of these tests. These super-sensitive tests claim to identify a pregnancy a whole week before a missed period, but embryos can fully implant (and start producing hCG) at different times. So, even if you're using the most sensitive test, your embryo may not immediately produce a positive pregnancy test. It may take several days.

"Embryo implantation is a process that unfolds over a number of days rather than a single event," said Hugh S. Taylor, MD, the chief of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Yale School of Medicine.

According to UCSF Health, it can take up to six days after fertilization for the embryo to become a blastocyst (mass of well-organized cells) and begin the implantation process.

"Embryos do grow at different rates; they can vary by about one day prior to implantation," Dr. Taylor said. "Pregnancy tests vary by the growth rate of the embryo and because of maternal body size and hydration status."

So every person may test positive on a different day, regardless of how fancy the test may be. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if waiting to find out works for you or not.

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:

a missed period
breast changes
light bleeding
cramps
nausea and vomiting
fatigue
headache
food aversions or cravings
changes in bathroom habits
mood changes
missed birth control

1. Missed period

Often, 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 changes

Breast changes are common in early pregnancy. These are due to hormonal changes that eventually prepare the body for lactation.

Common changes are:

breast tenderness
swollen breasts
the nipples and areolas becoming larger or slightly darker

Which breast changes are a sign of pregnancy?

3. Light bleeding

Around 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. Cramps

Cramps 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 vomiting

Morning 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. Fatigue

Fatigue 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. Headache

Hormonal 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 cravings

Unusual 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 habits

Bowel 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 changes

Anecdotal 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 control

A 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:

read the instructions carefully
ensure they handle the test as advised
try to avoid taking the test too early

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.

How soon can you test positive for pregnancy?

In many cases, you might get a positive from an at-home test as early as 10 days after conception. For a more accurate result, wait until after you've missed your period to take a test. Remember, if you take a test too soon it could be negative even if you are pregnant.

Can you take pregnancy test 7 days before period?

"Early results" pregnancy tests promise results as soon as three to six days before your missed period. These tests are more sensitive than standard tests but getting accurate results that early is more difficult simply because ovulation and implantation times can vary.