Below are some possible explanations for false positive pregnancy tests (or, as you’ll see, what just seems to be a positive test but actually is not): The risk of a false negative pregnancy test is much higher than the risk of a false positive. Truly false positive pregnancy tests are rare. What are the chances of a false positive pregnancy test? If your period is due or late, your hCG levels are likely high enough that you can test any time of day and still get a positive result if you are pregnant.
If you’re testing before your period is due, it’s best to take a pregnancy test in the morning, when the concentration of hCG in your urine is highest. Should you take a pregnancy test in the morning or night? The second explanation is that you’re taking the test too early, before implantation has occurred. There are two possible explanations for this: if your period is late but you have a negative pregnancy test, it most likely means that you ovulated later than usual. Why am I having pregnancy symptoms but a negative test? If the urine collected has been sitting around for too long before testing-usually 30 minutes or more-a false negative result can occur. If you are testing early, you need to use a more sensitive test (learn more about the best pregnancy tests). Using a test that is not sensitive enough.If you drink a large amount of liquid shortly before testing, your urine volume may increase so much that hCG is too dilute to measure (this is more of an issue in early pregnancy, when your hCG levels are still relatively low). Test on first morning urine, when the concentration of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) are highest. If you test after the first few weeks of pregnancy, something called the hook effect can create a false negative pregnancy test. If you don’t know when you ovulated, wait until the day your period is due. Do not test earlier than 12 – 14 days after ovulation. The reasons why you might get a false negative include: If you’re testing earlier, your chances of a false negative result are higher.
Most home pregnancy tests are highly accurate if you wait until the first day of your missed period to take it. How likely is it to get a false negative pregnancy test? Along with the date of implantation, these factors will influence how early you can get a positive pregnancy test.ĭeciding when to take a pregnancy test is a risk-benefit calculation: testing earlier than 12 DPO means weighing the risk of being disappointed about a possibly false result against the unlikely outcome of an early positive. Baseline hCG levels, early pregnancy hCG levels, and hCG doubling time vary from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. (And speaking of implantation … read our post on the truth about implantation bleeding.)Īfter implantation, hCG levels start doubling roughly every 48 hours. (Our implantation calculator post can help you estimate when it might have occurred for you.)Įven if conception has occurred, the fertilized egg does not start producing hCG-the hormone that pregnancy tests detect-until after implantation is complete. While it’s technically possible for implantation to occur any time between six and 12 days after ovulation, 85 percent of the time it occurs between eight and 10 DPO, and it only occurs at 6DPO 0.5% of the time. The reason why has to do with when implantation occurs.
So you’re an expert at tracking your ovulation? You may be able to take a pregnancy test earlier. But if you take it before 8 days past ovulation (DPO), you are likely to get a negative test-even if you are truly pregnant. How long after ovulation can I take a pregnancy test? Keep in mind that if you test before your period is due, you may get only a very faint line on the pregnancy test. If you don’t know when you ovulated, you can approximate this window by taking a pregnancy test two days before your period is due. Most women get their period around 14 days after ovulation. This usually happens around 11 – 12 days after ovulation. Pregnancy tests only work when the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has built up in your system. Especially when you’re experiencing potential early signs of pregnancy like nausea, headaches, and fatigue, it can be hard to resist testing early. Do you really need to wait until the first day of your missed period, or can you test earlier? How long should I wait before taking a pregnancy test? If you’re trying to get pregnant, you’ve probably experienced the agony of wondering whether you should take a pregnancy test.
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