Knowing when to take a pregnancy test will help you accurately know whether or not you’re pregnant! If you’re wanting to know when to take a pregnancy test, the timing depends on the type of test.

Types of Pregnancy Tests

There are two basic types of pregnancy tests – the urine test and the blood test. Both tests look for the hormone that is only present if a woman is pregnant – human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. Blood tests can detect hCG about 6 to 8 days after you have ovulated, much sooner than a urine test. Generally, urine tests can detect hCG about 14 days after ovulation.

Home pregnancy tests are convenient, inexpensive and can be taken privately, and test for hCG present in urine. Taking a home pregnancy test should be done right after you wake up, as the hCG hormone is most concentrated and can be more easily detected.

When you have a positive home pregnancy test result, you should then contact your health care provider. Your health care provider may confirm your home test result with a blood test and a pelvic exam, or they may wait to schedule you until your pregnancy is further along.

How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test?

When during your cycle to take a pregnancy test is important, because if you test too early in your pregnancy, there may not yet be enough of the pregnancy hormone in the urine to provide a positive test result – resulting in a negative test, even though you may be pregnant! Most of the home pregnancy tests will be 90% or more accurate if you wait and test one day after your missed period is due.

If you feel you are pregnant but the home pregnancy test is negative, repeat the test again in a week if you still have not had your period. If you are still getting negative test results and think you are pregnant, be sure and see your health care provider right away.