How long after implantation will i get a positive test

June 22, 2018

By: Cara Terreri, LCCE, CD(DONA) | 0 Comments

But wouldn't it be great not to waste time, money, and hope on taking a home pregnancy test when it's not even possible to tell if you're pregnant? Let's take a look at the timeline of conception and the mechanics of home pregnancy tests to better understand the best time to take a pregnancy test.

From the time of intercourse or insemination, it can take from a few hours up to 5 days for fertilization to occur, depending on when you ovulate, or release an egg. Sperm can live for approximately 5 days. An released egg is viable for 24 hours. After fertilization, it can take between 6-12 days for implantation to happen. Implantation is when the fertilized egg implants itself into your uterine wall. Once the fertilized egg implants, the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) enters the blood stream. It is this hormone that is responsible for a positive pregnancy test.

From the time of implantation, HCG hormone levels are approximately 1-2mIU (milli international unit) and double every 48-72 hours. Any HCG level above 25mIU is considered pregnant, while less than 5 is considered not pregnant. The average pregnancy test detects 20-25mIU of HCG. Therefore, taking a pregnancy test 3-4 days after implantation is the earliest you could possibly test positive with a urine pregnancy test. If you're counting the time since ovulation, this would be between 9-16 days past ovulation -- at the earliest.

It's important to know that not all home urine pregnancy tests are the same. Each one detects pregnancy, or HCG levels, at different mIU levels. Some early pregnancy tests will detect lower HCG levels and can give you results earlier, while others are not as sensitive. This list seems to offer a fairly comprehensive list of brands and HCG levels.

If 9-16 days past ovulation is the earliest you can test, what's the ideal time to test? Anything beyond 16 days past ovulation, or from the beginning of when you would expect your period. The closer to that time and in the first week after a missed period, the more accurate your pregnancy test will be. If you receive early negative tests, wait until you're closer to your expected period. While early false positives may happen as well, they are less likely. Usually, a positive pregnancy test indicates pregnancy. It's time to find an amazing care provider!

Sometimes, an early positive pregnancy test followed by a later negative pregnancy test can indicate that the pregnancy has ended, as the levels of HCG are not increasing as expected, though this is not always the case. Contact your care provider to discuss your results and potentially schedule a blood test for pregnancy.

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Pregnancy Early pregnancy Conception Early Pregnancy Hormones Pregnancy Test HCG

So there’s a chance you could be pregnant, but you want to take a test to be sure. But how soon after implantation can you test?

Implantation is a key moment in your pregnancy journey.

The fertilized egg (now technically called a “blastocyst”) has traveled down your fallopian tube and attached itself to the wall of your uterus, preparing to grow into a baby.

But how can I know that implantation has happened? you ask. And how soon after implantation can I test for pregnancy?

Let’s find out.

In this article 📝

• When does implantation happen?
• How can you know that implantation has happened?
• How soon after implantation can I test?
• Other FAQs about how soon after implantation can I test?

When does implantation happen?

So, we know what happens at implantation—but when does it happen?

Well, every woman is different, but it typically takes a fertilized egg about 6 to 12 days to make it to your uterus and implant.

If we imagine, then, that you ovulate on day 14 of your menstrual cycle (which is about average for a 28-day cycle), and the egg is fertilized within 24 hours, implantation could take place between days 20 and 26. Quite a wide time frame!

How can you know that implantation has happened?

There are a few possible implantation symptoms that could give you a clue that the fertilized egg has set up home successfully.

For example, you might have some implantation bleeding.

This looks like the kind of light spotting you may get at the beginning or end of your period and can be pinkish or brown in color.

It might also be quite watery if it’s mixed with vaginal discharge.

Other potential symptoms of implantation include:

• Tender breasts
• Bloating
• Light cramping (it can feel like mild period cramps)
• Headaches
• Mood swings

Side note: If any of these symptoms sound familiar, that might be because they’re also common signs that your period is about to start.

That can make identifying true implantation symptoms a little tricky (especially considering that implantation can happen right around the time you’re expecting your period).

Implantation can also happen without giving you any odd symptoms—a missed period might be the first sign that anything has changed.

How soon after implantation can I test?

It’s totally understandable if you’re impatient to take a pregnancy test after implantation bleeding (or any other symptom that’s making you suspicious).

But when’s the best time to take a test?

To answer that, we first need to talk about how pregnancy tests work.

Both a home pregnancy test (of the pee-on-a-stick variety) and a blood test at your doctor’s office work by detecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Your body starts to produce hCG soon after implantation, and a pregnancy test will pick up on this once levels of the hormone are high enough.

How quickly after implantation does hCG rise?

Your hCG levels start to rise right after implantation, and they should double about every 48 to 72 hours in the first four weeks of pregnancy.

How many days after implantation can you test?

When to test after implantation bleeding or another symptom depends on the type of pregnancy test.

A blood pregnancy test is more sensitive, so it may be able to detect hCG about six to eight days after conception—in other words, very soon after implantation.

A home pregnancy test, though, might only detect hCG about 10 days after conception—maybe four days or so after implantation.

But for the highest chance of an accurate result (rather than a false negative), it’s best to leave taking a home pregnancy test until at least the day after your missed period.

Yep, even if you’ve noticed implantation symptoms. (We know—waiting is hard!)

➡️ You might also be interested in: 5 Tips for Surviving the Two-Week Wait

Other FAQs about how soon after implantation can I test?

How early after implantation can you test positive?

As we discovered above, it depends on the kind of pregnancy test you take.

A blood test might be able to detect hCG for a positive result very soon after implantation.

On the other hand, you might need to let your hCG levels build up for a few more days after you’ve spotted implantation bleeding to give a home pregnancy test a better chance of an accurate result.

What if I have implantation bleeding but a negative test?

It’s possible that either:

• You’ve taken the test too soon, and your hCG levels aren’t high enough to detect yet, or;
  
• What looks like implantation bleeding could actually be the start of your period.

That said, if you ever notice any abnormal vaginal bleeding or any bleeding in early pregnancy, it’s a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider.

And if you ever need a compassionate ear on your TTC journey, the Peanut Community is here for you.