When Can You Take  A Home Pregnancy Test?

'Early' Vs 'Ordinary' Pregnancy Tests

At-home pregnancy tests have a lot going for them. They're private, convenient, and usually very accurate. Some tests are more sensitive than others, however, and those women who are looking for early but accurate results will generally want to opt to use those tests that are advertised as being aimed towards early results. Simply put, these tests are able to detect smaller amounts of hCG in your urine. They are going to be more expensive than the cheaper tests. Overall, they will be no more expensive than using "ordinary" pregnancy tests too early, as that is going to make inaccurate results very probable — meaning you are simply wasting your money. With sensitive pregnancy tests, it is possible to get accurate results between six and 10 days post-ovulation. 

Most women who are actively trying to conceive will have monitored their menstrual cycles to the point that they know how long their luteal phase tends to last, and they know when their periods are due. If your period does not start on the expected day or the they after that, go ahead and take a test. 

At what point of the day should you take your pregnancy test, then? Most tests used to advise women to use their early morning urine — the first pee of the day, in other words — for their pregnancy test. That is because the concentration of hCG in the urine is highest at this point in time. However, all but the very cheapest tests are going to work fine at any point of the day now. Remember that even a faint line means a positive result. Many non-digital tests work with two parallel lines. One line means the test worked, and two lines mean that you are pregnant. Some tests come up with a "+" or "-" symbol, while others show up in a certain color if you're pregnant. The digital tests will simply tell you that you are "pregnant" or "not pregnant". 

How To Take A Pregnancy Test

Urine pregnancy tests come in two basic forms. Cheaper tests are sometimes simply strips of paper with a reactive part. If you're using these tests, you collect your urine in a cup (sometimes but not always provided with the test package), and then dip the test strip in. You'd usually take the strip out again, and wait for the results.

Other tests come with plastic casing. These tests are what you'd usually find at your pharmacy. You can simply pee on the stick — mid-stream, many manufacturers say — remove the test and place it on the sink, or something, and wait for the results. These show up within a few minutes. 

See Also: Are You Pregnant? The Very First Pregnancy Symptoms

Are False Results Possible?

In short, yes. False results are indeed possible, but they are also very rare. False positives are much less common than false negatives. False positives — meaning the test shows you are pregnant when you're not — can be caused by protein in your urine or certain medications. False negatives, however, can be caused by taking the test too early, not taking the test correctly, or using an expired test.