When to Take a Pregnancy Test

Early pregnancy tests can be exciting to take, but there's also a risk of inaccurate results. Find out the pros and cons of early pregnancy testing.

If you've been intentionally trying to conceive, you're likely aware of the variety of early pregnancy tests currently available. These tests sometimes claim to detect pregnancy several days before your period is due.

However, just because you can use an early pregnancy test, does that mean you should? It's worth considering a few points before you proceed. Here we take a look at the types of pregnancy tests available, and we unpack the pros and cons of testing early so you can make an informed decision.

Types of Pregnancy Tests

There are two types of pregnancy tests you can take: urine tests or blood tests. Over-the-counter home pregnancy tests are urine tests, and health care providers frequently use them as well.

Early pregnancy tests are a more sensitive type of urine test. They claim to detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)—a hormone produced during pregnancy—before your missed period and give you an accurate positive result.

Blood tests are performed in a provider's office, usually when you have a reason for testing earlier than usual. Blood tests also detect hCG, and they gauge the exact amount that's present. The goal is to look for certain complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy.

While you can usually take a blood test sooner than a urine test, it usually takes longer to get results. Talk to your health care provider about which testing might be right for you and whether early testing is a good idea.

Pros and Cons of Early Pregnancy Testing

When considering whether to take an early pregnancy test, it's important to weigh your options. Sometimes having information early can be a good thing, and sometimes it can cause more stress than it's worth. Here's an overview of the potential pros and cons of early pregnancy testing.

Pros of early pregnancy tests

Early detection pregnancy tests may offer advantages in some circumstances. But you may want to discuss your testing plans with your health care provider first. They can advise you on the accuracy and whether it's needed in your situation.

Early detection

 Aside from having a physician order an early hCG blood test—which is usually done for medical reasons—early home pregnancy tests are the fastest way to find out whether you're pregnant during a particular menstrual cycle.

The most sensitive tests on the market can potentially give you a positive result four to five days before your period is due. This means you don't necessarily have to wait for a missed period, or watch for other early pregnancy symptoms, to find out whether you're expecting.

However, there's a significant chance of getting a false negative with early pregnancy tests. This happens when the test says you're not pregnant but you really are. That's because your body might not be making enough pregnancy hormone (hCG) to trigger a positive result just yet.

Medication changes

Very early testing can be helpful if your physician wants you to start or discontinue any medications as soon as you discover you're pregnant. That said, they may recommend blood testing instead of an at-home early pregnancy test due to the risk of getting a false negative.

Birth control failure

Early pregnancy tests may also be helpful if you were not intending to conceive but had a birth control failure around the middle of your cycle. In these situations, it's understandable that you want to know as soon as possible whether you're pregnant so that you can determine your desired course of action.

If you're sure you don't want to get pregnant, emergency contraception is a sound option. As long as it's taken within 72 to 120 hours after birth control failure (depending on the brand or method), emergency contraception can prevent implantation entirely. Talk to your health care provider about this option.

Pregnancy lifestyle changes

A common reason to choose early pregnancy testing is starting prenatal care. This includes focusing on eating well, taking prenatal vitamins, and avoiding alcohol. If you think you might be pregnant, it might be wise to forgo the early testing altogether (which could give a false negative result) and make necessary lifestyle changes now, just in case. Many people who are trying to conceive will have already made these lifestyle modifications.

Cons of early pregnancy tests
For the most accurate results, experts don't recommend taking an early pregnancy test. Rather, they advise waiting until you miss your period. Here are some other potential downsides of early testing.

False negatives

The package insert for one of the leading brands of early pregnancy tests states that, when used five days before the expected menstrual period, the test will detect hCG in about 76% of pregnant people. Four days before the expected menstrual period, 96% of people will have a positive result if they're pregnant—meaning 4% may not.

Although very early tests can indeed say that you are pregnant in a given cycle, they can't tell you that you're definitely not pregnant. And there's a significant chance of having a false negative result before you miss your period.

Cost of repeated testing

You're more likely to get a false negative result if your menstrual cycle varies in length or if you're not tracking your period. Additionally, if you take a test when your urine is diluted rather than concentrated, it can throw off your results.

The uncertainty of a negative result may lead you to use multiple early pregnancy tests in each menstrual cycle, and this practice can cost you a considerable amount of money without changing the ultimate answer.

Chemical pregnancy

Early pregnancy testing increases your chance of detecting very early miscarriages that might otherwise go unnoticed. Often termed "chemical pregnancies," these miscarriages cause you to get a positive pregnancy test but then have your period arrive on schedule or only a few days late, making the test appear to be a "false positive."

Researchers believe that chemical pregnancies are extremely common and rarely indicate any underlying health concerns in the pregnant person. But these conceptions are being detected more often because of the sensitive pregnancy tests now on the market.

If you wait to test until after your period is due, you will lower your odds of noticing a chemical pregnancy. Depending on your outlook, you may prefer to wait to take an early pregnancy test to reduce the risk of being disappointed a few days later.

Anxiety

Perhaps the biggest drawback of early pregnancy tests is the anxiety associated with them. While we think of anxiety as primarily a mental health symptom, the resulting stress hormones can also be physically unhealthy.

Positive Early Pregnancy Test

If you get a positive result from an early test, you should contact your health care provider as soon as possible. Your OB-GYN can confirm the pregnancy, and together you can discuss the next steps.

Usually, these include dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as adding prenatal vitamins to your regimen. You also should discuss any health or medical issues with your provider.

False positive results are rare and usually only occur if you take the test shortly after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. They also can occur if you've recently taken fertility medication containing hCG.

Negative Early Pregnancy Test

If you have a negative early pregnancy test but still think you might be expecting, wait several days and test again. You can also contact your health care provider and schedule an in-office test. Some medical conditions can result in negative results, so mention any symptoms you're experiencing to your provider so they can rule out an ectopic pregnancy or other complications.

If you're actively trying to conceive, consider using an ovulation test or monitoring fertility signs (like basal body temperature and cervical mucus) to determine when to have intercourse. You can also use an ovulation calculator. In general, ovulation occurs 14 days before your next period is due.6

False negatives are more common than false positives, and they can happen if you test too early in your pregnancy and hCG hasn't built up to detectable levels yet. False negatives might also occur if you test too late in the day when your urine is diluted. Test as soon as you wake up so hCG has had more time to build up in your urine as you sleep.