If you've decided you’re ready to start or grow your family, you may be eagerly anticipating the moment you hold a pregnancy test in your hands and see those lines indicating a positive result. But getting to that point takes some time. Show
To get the most accurate reading on a home pregnancy test (and avoid a false negative result) it’s recommended to wait two weeks after ovulation before testing. That’s because these tests are designed to detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine — and your body doesn’t start producing hCG until the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. This is called implantation, and it takes about two-ish weeks after fertilization. In this article, we’ll break down the science and history of pregnancy tests and what you need to know in order to get the most accurate results when using them. Here are the most important takeaways:
A quick refresher on the science of pregnancy testsThe most surefire way to confirm a pregnancy is through a blood test or ultrasound done at a doctor’s office. But before visiting the clinic, at-home pregnancy tests can give you answers with about 99% accuracy (when you follow the instructions correctly). How exactly do these tiny sticks detect a pregnancy? It has everything to do with the level of hCG in your urine. Here's what you need to know about hCG:
How long do you have to wait after ovulation before taking a pregnancy test?The instructions of most home pregnancy tests recommend waiting until the first day of a missed period since that's when you’ll get the most accurate results. If you’re tracking your cycle, this means waiting around two weeks (based on a "textbook" 28-day cycle) from the time of ovulation before taking a pregnancy test. For those who want results as soon as possible, some pregnancy tests (like the Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test!) are designed to detect a pregnancy as early as six days before your missed period — though results will become more accurate the closer you are to your missed period. Tracking ovulation and luteinizing hormone (LH) can help you determine exactly when to test for pregnancy — especially if you have irregular cycles. And if you're using the free Modern Fertility App, you'll get personalized recommendations for the best times to test for pregnancy each cycle. What happens if you take a pregnancy test too early?Remember that hCG levels increase rapidly after implantation, which is when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. Completed implantation is a slow process that can take up to two weeks. If you’re pregnant, but try to test before implantation happens, your hCG levels will still be too low to produce a positive result. Can anything else impact your pregnancy test results?One of the biggest factors that impact results from a pregnancy test is not following the testing instructions. An estimated 30% of people have trouble following a pregnancy test’s instructions, which can lead to false readings. But, when used correctly, pregnancy tests will rarely produce an inaccurate result. That said, there are a few situations where the body will produce high levels of hCG that mimic the levels in early pregnancy and cause a false positive result:
Have we always had to wait two weeks to test for pregnancy?While two weeks might feel like an excruciatingly long time to wait, the pregnancy tests of yesteryear required people to wait even longer:
(By the way, we know that this two-week wait can be an emotionally taxing time, so we created a TWW Lounge in the Modern Community to help support you through it.) The bottom lineIt is completely understandable if you find it hard to wait two weeks before giving a pregnancy test a try. But, at the very least, you don’t have to worry about finding the best spot by the window for your bag of pee-seeds or a good hiding place for your box full of mice! Just remember that until a fertilized egg has implanted on the uterine wall, any pregnancy test will read negative. So waiting those two weeks is critical for you to get the most accurate results. When you’re ready to test for pregnancy, the Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test will get you results you can trust at an affordable price. You can start testing as early as six days before your missed period. Plus, download our free app for a countdown to the best testing times each cycle. This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Conti, MD, MS, MSc. Can I get pregnant two days after ovulation?Getting pregnant after ovulation is possible, but is limited to the 12-24 hours after your egg has been released. Cervical mucus helps sperm live up to 5 days in a woman's body, and it takes around 6 hours for active sperm to reach the fallopian tubes.
Can I get pregnant a week after ovulation?It doesn't only last for 24 hours while the egg is released during ovulation, but it actually lasts for about 5 days before ovulation happens, or the amount of time that sperm can survive. That said, conceiving is highly possible within this 6-day frame.
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