To know when it is better to do a pregnancy test, you need to imagine what this test is, what its action is based on. And how it is tied to the female menstrual cycle, to its timing.
From sexual intercourse, presumably culminating in conception, until the next menstruation, by the delay of which pregnancy can be determined, it takes about two weeks. Moreover, it is known that the delay menstrual cycle may or may not be related to pregnancy.
This famous two strip test
The invention of pregnancy testing has made life easier for all women: it is easy to pass the test, and you can know for sure whether you will have a baby or not. This test is based on the presence in the body of every pregnant woman of a special hormonal substance - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The production of this hormone begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus and this gives rise to hormonal changes in the body. First of all, it blocks the activity of the ovaries - they stop producing eggs, instead they produce the hormone progesterone, with the help of which a complete reconstruction of all systems of the female body begins.
But it is very important when to do a pregnancy test. After conception, the egg continues its journey through fallopian tube without having any contact with the body. The pregnancy has already taken place, cell division has already begun, but only after 5-7 days the embryo will be fixed on the wall of the uterus, and the body will begin to prepare for pregnancy. This time parameter tells you how long you can take a pregnancy test: up to seven days after conception, there is still nothing to check. 
But when the production of hCG has begun, it will grow like an avalanche, doubling every day. And approximately by the first day of the expected menstruation, which will no longer take place, the amount of the hormone will become such that it will already appear both in the blood and in the urine, becoming able to show that very second strip - an unmistakable confirmation of pregnancy.
Tests are different
The simplest tests are sold at any pharmacy: you can check your own condition yourself. When you can take a pregnancy test is written on the package. More expensive tests are more sensitive and can show you are pregnant a few days before your expected period, when any test will show you are pregnant. If you are interested in a reliable answer, wait until the fifth day of the delay - then the testing efficiency will reach 100%. 
And if it's really unbearable, go to the doctor. The hCG hormone appears in the blood earlier than in the urine, and a blood test done in the laboratory will give you the long-awaited answer. The methods of this analysis are also different, but the meaning is the same - to establish that there is hCG in the body: without pregnancy, it has nowhere to come from.
So, you figured out what day your period should begin and are going to confirm its delay by testing. Having bought a strip, and making sure that it is not expired, in the morning when visiting the toilet, collect a portion of urine in a container, lower the strip into it to the mark and let it dry for three minutes. Then you can see the result.
Is it necessary to take a pregnancy test in the morning? Yes, because the concentration of the hormone in the urine is higher than in the evening, you have not urinated or drunk water for a long time, and the urine is quite concentrated.
How many weeks after intercourse can I take a pregnancy test?
Almost every woman at some time in her life has experienced doubts about the onset of pregnancy, which could occur during unprotected intercourse. In the case when the probable date of conception is known, only one task remains - to determine after what time a pregnancy test can be done.
The principle of determining the pregnancy test
All known pregnancy tests work the same way. A reagent applied to a certain part of the device, acting with a woman's urine, determines the presence of a hormone responsible for pregnancy in it - chorionic gonadotropin(abbreviation hCG). This substance is present only during a woman's pregnancy or, in rare cases, with certain organ dysfunctions.
The chorion (placenta) begins to produce hCG only when the fetal egg is fixed inside the woman's uterus, and during an ectopic pregnancy outside of it. This happens only after a certain number of days after the probable conception. During this period of time, the embryo moves from the ovary through the tube into the uterine cavity. During the period of its movement in the body of a woman, there are no significant changes, and the "hormone of pregnancy" is also not yet produced.
Based on the foregoing, in the very first 7-10 days of the probable onset of pregnancy, it makes no sense to conduct a test. His result during this period will always be negative.
You also need to know that conception does not necessarily occur during intercourse. Spermatozoa can remain in a woman's body without dying for several more days, waiting for ovulation. So, when determining how long after conception testing will be indicative, this fact must also be taken into account.
Which test to choose
An important criterion in assessing the probability on which day after conception the test will show pregnancy is the choice of the test itself. The difference in this case is the sensitivity of the device to the hCG hormone. This value usually ranges from 10 to 25 mIU / ml and means what is the lowest content of the hormone in the urine that the test can detect.
The lower the sensitivity value, the more accurately the test will be able to determine the presence of pregnancy. If the value of 10 mIU / ml is indicated on the package, this is the most accurate device, since no test shows a lower hormone content.
This was not done by chance - the urine of a non-pregnant woman may contain a small amount of hCG. If the tests could detect any small presence of it, often the result would be positive even without pregnancy. 
When choosing a high-precision test, it is possible to conduct a study on the 7th - 10th day of the course possible pregnancy, and with its low sensitivity only after 12-14 days. These times are the minimum for testing.
If the test is negative during the procedure in the first weeks after ovulation, this may not be definitively true. In this case, it is necessary to repeat the procedure with another test, waiting 3-5 days after the first one.
With a positive test, even early dates 99% chance you are pregnant. If at the same time its first signs began to appear, there can be no doubts for sure. Even if the second strip is very light and barely visible, this can also be considered a positive answer, it's just that the period is still short, and the hCG hormone is present in a small amount.
Influence of the menstrual cycle
In order to more accurately find out the best period for the test, it is also necessary to take into account the characteristics of the body. All women have different menstrual cycle lengths:
- Short cycle (duration less than 24 days). In this case, ovulation occurs less than 12 days before the onset of menstruation. And conception also occurs around the same period. In general, such women should practically not try to determine pregnancy before the delay occurs, because the period will still be too short. And after the delay, you still need to wait 3-4 days, and only then carry out the test.
- Average cycle (from 24 to 32 days). This is the average parameter that most women fall under. In this case, it is possible to determine pregnancy from the first days of waiting for menstruation.
- Long cycle (more than 32 days). It would seem that with a long cycle, the gestation period before the delay will already be sufficient. But, basically, ovulation in such women does not occur in the middle of the cycle, as is usually the case, but occurs with a slight delay. Thus, it is also desirable to carry out the test no earlier than the first day of the expected menstruation.
- Irregular cycle. Sometimes the number of days between periods can be variable. In such a situation, it is difficult to correlate the timing with the delay, since predicting menstruation is not possible. Here, of course, it is easier to start from the estimated date of conception, and conduct a study after at least two weeks after it.
In any case, it is advisable to carry out the test as late as possible in order to avoid incorrect results. It is not necessary to do it in the very first days, when it is already possible - the shorter the period, the lower the probability of the reliability of the answer received.
How to test correctly
If you do not follow the elementary instructions, then, even taking into account all the factors, you can get the wrong result. Basic rules to know:
- Most revealing is urine collected in the morning. Its concentration is usually higher.
- Before testing, you should not drink a lot of fluids and take diuretics so that the urine is not diluted.
- Before using the test, be sure to read the instructions.
- It is necessary to ensure that the test liquid gets only on the required area of the test, without affecting its main part.
- The device should not be expired, if so, its use does not guarantee the correct result.
- All tests are for single use and cannot be reused.
If these instructions are not followed, the test can be both false positive and false negative. This can be misleading and the interpretation of the received response will be incorrect. 
conclusions
Summing up all of the above, it is worth identifying the main factors affecting how many days after conception the test will show pregnancy. Here is their list:
- After sexual intercourse, conception can occur within a few hours to 5 to 7 days.
- In the first 7-8 days after the alleged conception, the tests are not indicative, because the “pregnancy hormone” has not yet appeared in the urine.
- If you focus on menstruation and their delay, you need to take into account the length of the menstrual cycle.
- Be sure to consider the sensitivity of the selected pregnancy test.
- If used incorrectly, the device may show an unreliable result at any time.
Based on the average data, it is possible to determine pregnancy with a test already 12 to 15 days after conception. Usually this period falls on the first days of the menstrual cycle. For greater efficiency, do not test before the delay begins. In case of negative results for a short period, it is recommended to repeat the study after 3-5 days.
When can I take a pregnancy test after unprotected intercourse? The optimal time period is 14 days. Haste will get you nowhere. It will just be wasted money and nerves. No study is able to reveal whether the fetal egg attached the next day after sex or two to three days later. Be calm, prudent and patient. Everything has its time.
How does a pregnancy test work?
The test works in the same way, no matter what biomaterial is examined (blood or urine). It recognizes the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). If the lady is not pregnant, the result will be negative. The hormone is produced only after the attachment of the fetal egg. The exceptions are some pathologies and the use of hormonal drugs in which hCG is present.
Is it advisable to take a pregnancy test the morning after sexual intercourse?
If you check the day after sex, don't wait for the result. For the attachment of the fetal egg, time must pass. Only after this, the chorion tissue will begin to produce hCG.
How many days does the test determine pregnancy?
How long to take a pregnancy test after intercourse? For the result to be reliable, time must pass. If you are doing a home test, that is, using urine for research, you will have to wait about 12-14 days. If you decide to donate blood, then you can go here earlier (after 8-10 days).
You don't have to wait for a delay. If the expected date of menstruation is 15 days or more, and according to your calculations, 2 weeks have already passed since conception, you can do the test.
When buying homemade dough, look at the packaging. There are less or more sensitive ones. Usually on the back it is written after what period of time it is advisable to use this or that copy.
To get the right results, do everything according to the instructions:
- Use morning urine, immediately after sleep.
- Dip the strip into the urine to the mark (no less and no more).
- Evaluate the result no later than the specified time.
If there is a second stripe, but not clear, this may mean a short period or ectopic pregnancy. To clarify, do a second test in a few days or visit an ultrasound diagnostic room.
3-4 weeks after conception, other signs will begin to appear. A woman who has already given birth will not confuse them with anything. Symptoms that will help determine successful fertilization include:
- nausea;
- vomit;
- breast enlargement and soreness;
- discomfort in the lower abdomen;
- taste change.
If this happens and two stripes appear on the test strip, hurry up to register and pass all the necessary tests.
Will a pregnancy test show a week after sex?
A pregnancy test a week after the act will not be able to show a true result. If you're itching to know if your egg has been fertilized or not, you can go get a blood test to see what level your hCG is. In this case, there is a chance to get an answer after a shorter period of time. But even here, the expert will advise you to wait a couple more days.
Conclusion
Test strips for hCG are not able to determine pregnancy after a couple of days and even after a week. HCG produces chorion and this takes time. In the urine, chorionic gonadotropin will be recognized no earlier than two weeks later. If you examine the blood, you can visit the laboratory eight days after the expected date of conception.
Whether or not pregnancy has occurred is a question that is equally exciting for both those who sincerely desire this event and those for whom it is extremely undesirable. And of course, everyone would like to know everything immediately after unprotected contact, or at least after a few days. But unfortunately, to date, medical science has not yet reached a level that allows such a quick diagnosis of pregnancy. You can reliably say about its onset at least a week later.
After how many days it is possible to ascertain the fact of pregnancy
To name the time frame in which it is possible to reliably establish the onset of pregnancy, starting only from the date of unprotected sexual contact, is quite difficult, if not impossible. The thing is that the defining moment here is rather not the date of the act, but the date of ovulation. Consequential contact can occur both before and after the ovulation period.
Ovulation is the process of the release of the egg from the follicle to move into the cavity of the fallopian tube, where it will meet with spermatozoa (fertilization). The fertile period is the time before and after ovulation, during which sexual contact can lead to pregnancy.
Thus, in whatever period of the cycle an unprotected contact occurs, it is necessary to start from the moment of ovulation. 
Ovulation is the main point to focus on when planning the timing of pregnancy testing.
And it is from this date that the minimum number of days necessary for the appearance of the first signs should be counted. And here, of course, most women have a question - when was she, this very ovulation?
How to determine ovulation and fertile period
Those who consciously plan pregnancy for some time (for at least several cycles), of course, can approximately determine the time of ovulation using one of the several existing methods. By the way, none of the methods makes it possible to do this with an accuracy of several hours or even one day. The most convenient methods to date are as follows:
- Calendar method - in the presence of a more or less stable cycle, the day of ovulation can be calculated by adding 14 days to its first day.
- Methods for determining the fertile period by external signs - by discharge, by pain in the lower abdomen, by changes in mood and libido, etc.
- Method for determining the moment of ovulation by measuring basal body temperature.
- Application of special tests.
- Folliculometry - determining the approximate time of ovulation by ultrasound - is carried out several (about 5 ultrasound studies).
It is important to understand that the most accurate moment of ovulation can be determined only by constantly monitoring the cycle for at least a few months. Often the fact that “it was her” becomes clear after the fact, sometimes even at the end of the cycle. 
Fertile period - the time before and after ovulation when conception is possible
The boundaries of the fertile period directly depend on the moment of ovulation, and, in addition, on individual characteristics both women and men. And this means that here the time frame is just as vague - on average it is:
- 2-4 days before ovulation - it all depends on the "survivability" of the sperm of a particular man and the environment in the body of a particular woman;
- 1-2 days after ovulation - it all depends on the quality of a particular egg.
Fertilization follows ovulation. However, these two events are separated by a certain time interval - even a high-level specialist cannot establish it. It all depends on the specific situation. The terms of fertilization are limited only by the life of the egg outside the ovary - up to two days.
Thus, counting the days from the moment of contact, if it occurred before the 14th day of the cycle (or before ovulation, if it was set on purpose), several days should be added. If the contact occurred a little later, you can start "testing" earlier.
In order to more or less accurately answer the question, or take into account the signs of an "interesting" situation, one should identify for oneself all the stages that a woman's body must go through in the initial stages of pregnancy.
Stages of conception and the appearance of the first changes
The embryo goes through the first stages of conception for the most part without communication with the mother's body - it moves through the pipes to the place of fixation, travels through the uterus, and gradually penetrates into the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus). All this takes from 3 to 4 days, calculated from the moment of fertilization. 
While the fertilized egg moves through the fallopian tube, it does not transmit any signals to the mother's body, which means it is impossible to determine pregnancy.
Already in these first days, he secretes into the mother's body certain special substances that are inherent only in nascent life. However, to date, medical science has not invented a means of testing for pregnancy at this stage that is accessible to the layman (and even to most medical institutions in our country). By the way, such a remedy would not be entirely advisable: it was at this time that a pregnancy that had already begun to emerge is at the greatest risk. Due to genetic "breakdowns", other imperfections, the unpreparedness of the mother's body, simply by an unfortunate coincidence, the pregnancy may not be preserved, not consolidated, "self-destruct". And, having determined the presence of pregnancy, at such a period, there is a high (up to 50%) risk of getting the opposite result in the end.
Not every unprotected sexual intercourse on fertile days can result in a pregnancy. And this is absolutely normal - after all, the presence of the most healthy organisms of a woman and a man does not reduce the number of difficult stages that a pregnancy must go through in the first two weeks of its existence.
The first changes that can be "seen" with the help of modern medical means occur in a woman's body approximately 4-6 days after fertilization, when the embryo begins to penetrate the uterine wall. At this stage, it is still invisible to ultrasound (it sinks into the endometrium, as if into loose soil), but a special hormone, hCG, is already beginning to enter the woman's body. It is the appearance of this substance in the blood, and then in the urine of a woman, as well as a constant increase in its amount, that makes it possible to determine a developing pregnancy. 
After the embryo "introduced" into the wall of the uterus, it begins to secrete a specific hormone into the mother's body - hCG
It should be noted that a blood test for hCG - the earliest method for diagnosing an "interesting" situation - can show its minimum rise (above 5 IU / ml) on the very day when it begins to enter the bloodstream. A home pregnancy test that determines the level of the same substance in the urine will show pregnancy much later for two reasons:
- The hormone enters the urine in the same concentration as the blood, only a day later.
- The tests have a relatively low sensitivity - even the most sensitive of them (10 IU / ml) will not even show an increase in hCG, for example, by 6 units, which already indicates pregnancy. Therefore, it is recommended to do the test no earlier than 10 days, having tuned in advance that a negative result may be unreliable.
Less accurate and more subjective methods for determining pregnancy (external signs, basal temperature chart) for a period of 4–6 days from conception are extremely uninformative.
Thus, starting from the date of unprotected contact (provided that it was made during the fertile period), at least 6-8 days should be counted before the date of determining pregnancy through a blood test for hCG. However, it should be understood that the negative result obtained at this stage does not at all give a 100% guarantee of the absence of pregnancy. A positive result should be confirmed by re-testing after a few days (within 2 days, the amount of the hormone increases by about 2 times).
Example. At Anastasia's monthly cycle lasts 28 days. This suggests that she ovulates on the 14th day of the cycle, and the fertile period lasts from 10–12 days to 15–16 days. Anastasia had unprotected sexual intercourse on the 11th day of her cycle. By conducting folliculometry (ultrasound studies), it was found that ovulation presumably occurred on the 15th day of the cycle. Adding 7 days to the date of the alleged ovulation, Anastasia passed a blood test for hCG on the 22nd day of the cycle. The analysis showed the presence of hCG in the blood (7.57 IU / ml). A home pregnancy test taken the same day was negative. A day later (on day 24), the analysis showed 15.87 IU / ml, which indicates a developing pregnancy, but the test also showed no pregnancy. A weak second band appeared on the test only on the 26th day of the cycle, when the concentration of the hormone in the urine presumably reached the same level as in the blood on the 24th day. The first signs of pregnancy in Anastasia appeared only with a delay in menstruation - on the 30th day. Ultrasound showed the presence of a fetal egg in the uterus on the 7th day of delay.
Medical diagnostic methods
All three medical methods of early diagnosis listed above constitute an exhaustive list of them at the minimum stages of pregnancy, before the delay of menstruation. So, from about 7-8 days after the alleged ovulation, 9-10 - after sexual contact, you can start holding following studies in the following order:
- Blood test for Beta hCG. As noted, this is the "earliest" test for future mother. At the same time, a false negative or doubtful result is practically excluded here. Nevertheless, earlier than 7 days after ovulation, it does not make sense to carry it out. To date, such an analysis is offered by many private laboratories and some public medical institutions for a fee. The terms for issuing results, as a rule, are the shortest - from several hours to one day. Evaluating the results is quite simple: hCG values above 5 mU / ml indicate the presence of pregnancy.
Blood test for hCG gives the earliest results - Tests for home determination of "interesting" position. They should be done at least two days later - on the 9th or 10th day after the expected ovulation. The results should be treated with awareness of the high possibility of a false negative verdict. For early testing, it is better to choose highly sensitive and expensive tests from trusted companies (BB-test, Evitest, Frautest). On average, the sensitivity of tests ranges from 20 to 25 mU / ml, those that have this indicator in the region of 10 mU / ml are especially sensitive. Assessing the test result, it should be understood that even the weakest second strip means pregnancy. After a few days, the test can be repeated - the strip will become brighter, which means that the pregnancy is developing.
Even a barely visible second line on the test means pregnancy - Ultrasound examination. An ultrasound specialist can reliably answer the question of the existence of pregnancy only when he sees a fetal egg in the uterus. Unfortunately, even with the most high-tech equipment, it is very difficult to ascertain pregnancy by ultrasound before the delay of menstruation. The average time to detect signs of an "interesting" position on ultrasound is 1–1.5 weeks of delay.
You can see the fetal egg on ultrasound only after a delay in menstruation
Gynecologists recommend not to test for pregnancy by any of the methods before the delay of menstruation. In a sense, this advice is justified: if you do a test or analysis after a delay, you can count on more exact result, in 80% of cases a false-negative result does not exist at this time. In addition, in the early stages, a "failure" of pregnancy or the so-called biochemical pregnancy, which it is better for a woman not to know, is not ruled out.
Inspection atthe gynecologist will not show pregnancy before the delay of menstruation and even some time after. In addition, the examination may cause bleeding. Therefore, with a trip to the doctor in this situation, it is better to wait.
Basal temperature as a "near-medical" method
The basal temperature charting technique is more of a way to determine ovulation. but And it will help to indirectly confirm or deny the presence of pregnancy. In order to see the signs on the chart, you need to have some own experience in its maintenance (at least a few months for comparison). Signs of pregnancy on the chart can be:
- "implantation retraction" - a sharp decrease and a rapid rise in temperature in the region of 8-10 days after ovulation (by the way, at the same time, meager bleeding- “implantation bleeding”, this may become a more powerful argument in favor of the onset of pregnancy);
- persistent growth or simply no decrease in temperature a couple of days before the date of the expected critical days.
As you can see, the graph is not too early and not entirely reliable way to determine the "interesting" position. However, for those who constantly use this technique, it can be a valuable indirect indicator of a particular result. 
Temperature chart during pregnancy does not show temperature drop at the end of the cycle
Definition of pregnancy by signs
Medicine today does not consider the signs of pregnancy, appearing and delays, as proof of the fact of its onset. However, practice sometimes proves otherwise. We only note that all the signs are very subjective and ambiguous, and in any case their appearance is possible only after the fetal egg is fixed in the uterine cavity - that is, not earlier than 7-8 days counted from ovulation.
Among early signs An "interesting" position is most often called:
- engorgement of the mammary glands, their soreness - a sign can also appear in the usual, “non-pregnant” cycle, however, you should be wary if this has never happened before;
- pulling pains in the lower abdomen - a very ambiguous sign, this often happens before the impending end of the cycle;
- unusual discharge - more abundant, more yellow (may be associated with some disease or simply a change in hormonal levels);
- frequent urination - associated with an increase in the uterus, but this may well be without pregnancy in the second half of the cycle;
- drowsiness (deeper sleep), early awakening - associated with hormonal changes in the second phase;
- an increase or, conversely, a decrease in sexual desire is associated with hormonal changes, and may be the result of both pregnancy and the usual second part of the cycle.
- nausea, change in taste preferences - before the delay may be a placebo effect, more often appears after the delay.
The listed signs cannot be divided into reliable or indirect - each of them is equally ambiguous (it can mean both upcoming menstruation and pregnancy). Most often, they are the result of an increase in the hormone progesterone in the blood, and it rises both in the second half of the cycle (before menstruation) and during pregnancy. In addition, as practice shows, the discovery of one or another sign can be the result of a woman’s excessive “fixation” on their search, associated with a great desire or, conversely, unwillingness to become pregnant. 
Most of the signs of PMS are consistent with those of early pregnancy.
Video - the doctor talks about the signs of pregnancy
Folk ways
Despite the fact that folk methods for determining an “interesting” position have long been replaced by the latest medical research, many women still trust the old proven methods. Most often, this is justified by the desire to find out about your condition as early as possible. We only note that not all folk methods are based on medical facts and anatomical features of pregnancy.
During pregnancy female body begins the active production of a special hormone, abbreviated as hCG. This is what all rapid tests are looking for.
play the hormone
During pregnancy, the female body begins to actively produce a special hormone, abbreviated as hCG. In a minimum amount, this hormone is found in any body in both women and men. However, its amount can be detected only with the help of special clinical blood tests in laboratories.
If the conception of a child has occurred, the level of hCG rises significantly and continues to increase over the course of pregnancy, preventing ovulation, as well as ensuring the growth and development of the crumbs. In this case, it is possible to determine the high content of the hormone already in the study of urine. And it's easy to do it at home. You just need to strictly follow the rules of the test. And the main one is the amount of time that has passed since unprotected intercourse.
When to do the test
As we found out, the hCG hormone acts as a reagent for the manifestation of the long-awaited two strips. However, before the amount of the hormone in the body of a woman reaches the desired level, it will take some time. That is why the haste in conducting research will be unnecessary. After all, if the level of hCG in the urine is low, you risk getting a false negative result.
The greatest probability of conceiving a child occurs during the period of ovulation in a woman, as well as the day before and after it. If during this period you had unsafe sex, then it makes sense to conduct a pregnancy test. However, this must be done no earlier than after 14 days (when using rapid high sensitivity tests for at least 10 days). With an average duration of a regular cycle of 28 days, after these two weeks, just many women notice a delay in menstruation.
This is due to the fact that a day after the attachment of a fertilized egg in the uterine cavity, the level of hCG is still too low for identification. And the increased production of the hormone begins to be carried out at least a week after implantation.
Advice! It is better to wait a little with the diagnosis of pregnancy, and not upset yourself ahead of time with an erroneous negative result.
Tests of different sensitivity: we determine pregnancy before the delay of menstruation
The minimum level of hCG that is contained in the urine at the time of diagnosis should be 10 mIU / ml. However, in pharmacies, we most often purchase test strips with a sensitivity of 20-25 mIU / ml. And such a concentration of the hormone is achieved only 2-2.5 weeks after successful conception.
So with a regular four-week menstrual cycle, it is best to conduct a pregnancy test for 3-5 days of delay. Earlier diagnosis before the expected menstruation or in its absence on the first day most often shows a false negative result in 85% of cases.
If you want to take a rapid pregnancy test before the start of your period, you need to purchase ultra-sensitive strips from the pharmacy. They usually detect pregnancy at 7 days at 10 mIU/mL and at 10 days at 15 mIU/mL. Only these types are suitable for confirming pregnancy before a delay in menstruation.
Irregular cycle pregnancy test
If you are one of the “lucky women” with an irregular menstrual cycle, then you may have a problem with the timing of pregnancy diagnostics using express strips. With such a schedule, it is extremely difficult to independently determine the day of ovulation and auspicious days to conceive a child. And if you are not under the supervision of a specialist and do not conduct special tests for ovulation, then it is impossible to understand exactly when the next menstruation should come. In the same way as in a timely manner to detect a delay in menstruation.
Advice! In general, you can get a more or less reliable pregnancy test result 17-18 days after unprotected intercourse.
It is advisable to carry out diagnostics and when the first signs of pregnancy appear (except for the delay in menstruation).
At the same time, the presence of a barely noticeable second strip is already a reason for consulting a gynecologist to confirm pregnancy and exclude possible pathologies.
breastfeeding tests
Determining pregnancy during lactation is a very difficult task. At first, you will not have a period (from about 6 months to a year and a half). Some women claim that breast-feeding protects against unwanted pregnancy. In fact, this is one of the most common misconceptions. After all, the absence of menstruation does not mean the absence of ovulation itself. So pregnancy can occur after one expected menstrual cycle. And very often women miss this moment, taking the absence of menstruation for granted.
If you want to play it safe or just don’t plan to give birth to baby-year-olds, express diagnostics of pregnancy during lactation is recommended to be carried out monthly until the menstrual cycle normalizes. As soon as menstruation starts again, and the schedule becomes regular, you need to do a pregnancy test after an intimate relationship as usual - after a few days of delay.
Artificial insemination and hCG injections
With artificial insemination, the process of getting sperm into the uterine cavity is different from the usual sexual intercourse. To do this, the day is precisely selected in accordance with the menstrual schedule and periods of ovulation. But otherwise, the process of fertilization of the egg and the attachment of the ovum to the uterine cavity is carried out in exactly the same way as in natural conception.
So a pregnancy test after the procedure is carried out after 17-18 days, that is, approximately on the 3rd day of a delay in menstruation with an average cycle of 28 days.
When stimulated with hCG injections, it makes no sense to check the onset of pregnancy immediately after the end of the course of procedures. The concentration of the hormone in the blood and urine will be so high that even the weakest test will show the onset of pregnancy. To be sure that the two coveted strips do not deceive your maternal hopes, after a course of hCG injections, a test should be done in 15-17 days.
In vitro fertilization and pregnancy test results
In vitro fertilization for most couples who are already desperate to have a baby is very often the last hope. After the IVF procedure, you can do a pregnancy test two weeks after the replanting of a fertilized egg. You should not once again run to the pharmacy and experience worries about the absence positive result ahead of time. For successful implantation of the embryo in the uterine cavity, you need peace and comfort. So be patient and wait for the allotted time.
And even if after 14 days a pregnancy test shows a negative result, this does not mean that there is no pregnancy. Perhaps the concentration of hCG in the urine is not yet high enough. Just repeat the test a few days later or donate blood for analysis at the clinic where the IVF procedures were performed.
Test after termination of pregnancy, abortion
Usually, women buy a pregnancy test after an abortion to make sure the quality of the procedure. If for some reason you cannot be 100% sure that all membranes were removed from the uterus during an abortion, ordinary test strips are unlikely to help you with this.
- First, the hCG level will still be high for some time after the procedure. After all, your body needs to recover.
- Second, find the presence possible complications and pathologies is possible only during an examination by a gynecologist and through ultrasound.
In general, reliable results of a pregnancy test after an abortion can be obtained 2-3 weeks after the procedure. By this time, the hormonal background of the woman is normalized, and the level of hCG drops to the desired level.
What time of day to test
Regardless of the reasons and method of conceiving a child, it is necessary to do a pregnancy test in the morning immediately after sleep. The longer you did not go to the toilet, the higher the concentration of hCG in the urine at the time of the test and, accordingly, the more reliable the result.
Manufacturers of modern high sensitivity tests claim that using them, the procedure can be carried out at any time of the day. But early pregnancy it is still better to determine in the morning or at least 4-5 hours after the last urination.
Important! Diuretic drugs, drinks, and foods contribute to frequent urination and lower hCG levels.
But if we are talking about a long delay (5 days or more), any time of the day is suitable for the test. The concentration of the hormone at this time is already high enough to determine the onset of pregnancy using a test of any sensitivity.
Finally, I would also like to note that all the above norms and terms are conditional, and you should not calculate the right time for the test with an accuracy of up to an hour. And it's not that the body of each woman is individual. After all, there are many factors that affect fertility. This may be a shift in the date of ovulation due to stress or physical activity, and a change in the cycle, and even a longer "journey" of an already fertilized egg into the uterine cavity.
All this has a significant impact on the production of the hCG hormone. And although modern manufacturers of test strips insist on the reliability of the results obtained, you should not unconditionally believe them. Previously, the test in almost every second case gives a false negative result. And even if on the third day of the delay your long-awaited two strips have not yet appeared, just wait a little more and repeat the procedure in a few days.