How soon can I take a pregnancy test?
The best time to take a pregnancy test is right after your period is past due. If you miss your period or suspect pregnancy, it’s a good idea to get a pregnancy test as soon as possible.
The sooner you become aware of your pregnancy, the sooner you can consider your options and seek the care you require to remain healthy.
Many pregnancy tests claim to be effective a few days prior to a missed period, but the results are typically less reliable then. To determine when to perform a pregnancy test and how accurate it will be, read the label on your pregnancy test.
Sometimes, as soon as 10 days after unprotected sex, a pregnancy test can detect pregnancy hormones in your urine. But you might receive a false positive or false negative test result because these results aren’t very reliable.
Take a pregnancy test three weeks after sex for the most accurate results if your periods are erratic or you don’t have any at all for any reason.
If you’re not sure you want to be pregnant
You can speak in confidence with a healthcare professional if you’re unsure about continuing the pregnancy. Your options are:
You can get precise, private information, starting at age 13, from the following sources in addition to your doctor or the nurse at your doctor’s office:
All of these services, including those provided by community clinics for contraception, are private. Staff members will not inform your parents if you are 13 or older. Although they’ll nudge you, they won’t force you to talk to your parents.
If youre under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.
Why do I need a pregnancy test?
You may need this test if you think youre pregnant. Symptoms of pregnancy vary from person to person. A missed period is the most common indication of an early pregnancy. Other common signs of early pregnancy may include:
You may also need a pregnancy test to confirm that you are not pregnant if you need medical treatment that could be harmful to an unborn child.