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The anticipation for answers can be intense when you think you might be pregnant. And we understand! You’re (rightfully) eager to know. And you may also be wondering: can you take a pregnancy test at night, or if you have to wait until the morning?
And the answer is … yes! You can take a test at night. But there are a few things you should know to make sure you get the most accurate result.
Let’s dive in further and explore everything you need to know about taking a pregnancy test at night. First, let’s do a quick recap of how pregnancy tests work.
Key takeaways
- You can take a pregnancy test at night. But testing with your FMU is recommended for the most accurate results. This is especially true in early pregnancy.
- If you get a negative test at night, don’t worry. Try testing again with FMU or wait a week and retest.
- Pregnancy tests detect the levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your system.
- hCG levels are highest in the morning.
- A positive pregnancy test detects hCG levels of >20 mIU/mL. A negative test detects hCG levels of <5 mIU/mL.
- False positives are super rare. So a positive result at night likely means you’re pregnant.
- The best practices for taking a pregnancy test include:
Use FMU
Don’t drink too much water
Wait until at least the first day of your missed period
Follow the test directions to read the results
Don’t use expired tests
Test with the same brand - You can also test your pregnancy via blood tests with your doctor.
How does a pregnancy test work?
Pregnancy tests detect the presence of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your urine. This pregnancy hormone is produced by your body only when you’re pregnant. And it starts to increase after a fertilized egg implants in your uterus.
Just like ovulation tests, pregnancy tests typically have two lines:
- Control line: This line should always appear. It indicates that the test is working correctly.
- Test line: This line appears only when hCG is detected in your urine. This signals a possible pregnancy.
Some tests are digital and display a plus sign, a “pregnant” message, or even a smiley face when hCG is detected.
For a positive result, the test line needs to make an appearance. Even if it’s a faint line, it still counts.
Here’s a quick look at how hCG levels in urine translate to test results:
- Positive: >20 mIU/mL (you’re pregnant)
- Negative: <5 mIU/mL (not pregnant at this time)
If the results are a bit unclear or if you may still think you’re pregnant? You’ll need to retake the test in about a week.
Know more: Pregnancy Test Progression: What Should It Look Like?
Can you take a pregnancy test at night?
Absolutely! You can definitely take your test at night. Once there’s enough hCG in your urine, it’s like a green light — you can test whenever you want, day or night.
But, there’s a twist. This is especially true if you’re in those early days of pregnancy.
Why should you ideally take a pregnancy test in the morning?
To answer that, let’s take a look at how hCG increases during pregnancy.
Once implantation happens, hCG levels double every few days. In fact, they double every 48 hours for the first 6-7 weeks of pregnancy!
But in those early days when hCG levels are still increasing, it takes a few days for it to build up to detectable levels in your urine.
Additionally, your urine tends to be more diluted at night. This can make it even harder for the test to pick up on hCG.
The problem with this? It can increase the chance of a false negative result.
Although some pregnancy tests claim to be super sensitive, they might not always be accurate, especially when dealing with diluted urine.
So your best bet is to take the test in the morning. Testing with your first-morning urine (FMU) is more likely to give you an accurate result since that’s when hCG is most concentrated and easiest to detect.
Important note: Are you a night owl working the night shift? FMU might not be your best friend. Your sleep schedule is different. So, try to test after your longest sleep period (whenever that may be) or hold your urine for at least 4-6 hours before taking the test. Your urine is likely to be most concentrated then.
Know more: When to Take a Pregnancy Test After Implantation?
What does a negative pregnancy test at night mean?
Got a negative test at night but have a suspicion you might be pregnant? Don’t give up. Try testing again in the morning with your FMU. Or, give it a week and test again.
This allows time for your hCG levels to rise and make themselves detectable.
What does a positive pregnancy test at night mean?
Getting a false positive on a urine pregnancy test is super rare.
So, if you got a positive test at night, it’s very likely that you’re pregnant.
But, if you’re still feeling a bit unsure, you can always repeat the test in the morning with FMU just to be sure.
What are the best practices for taking a pregnancy test?
Here are some tried-and-true tips for taking a pregnancy test like a pro and getting the most accurate results.
Use FMU
When you use your first-morning urine, you’re ensuring you have the most concentrated urine. This prevents your urine from being too diluted and accurately shows your hCG levels.
Also don’t drink too much water! This can also dilute your urine.
Time it right
You want to wait until at least the first day of your missed period to take a test.
If you test before then, your hCG levels may not have had enough time to increase and show up on the pregnancy test.
Know more: Delayed Period & Negative Pregnancy Test | A Guide
Follow result instructions
Follow the instructions on the test when it comes to checking your results. If you wait too long or not long enough, your results may not be accurate.
Incorrect timing could mean that you read the evaporation line as a positive result.
Check the expiration date
Did you know home pregnancy tests have an expiration date?
Check the date, and if it’s expired, toss it. An expired test won’t give you accurate results.
Use the same brand
Each brand of home pregnancy test is differently sensitive. To avoid this from messing with your results, always test with the same brand.
Practice | How does it help? |
Use FMU or avoid drinking too much water before testing. | Helps prevent dilute urine which can decrease the concentration of hCG in the urine. |
Wait at least until the first day of the missed period to take a test. | Allows hCG levels to build up in urine and avoid false negatives. |
Check the result in the amount of time specified in the manufacturer’s instructions. | Helps avoid evaporation line. |
Don’t use expired tests. | Helps avoid skewed results due to expired tests. |
Test with the same brand. | Different brands may have different sensitivities, which can affect your results. |
Know more: Positive Pregnancy Test Then Negative Next Day?
If you get a positive result, congratulations! But it’s also important to confirm the pregnancy with your doctor. They can do a blood hCG test, which can detect the hCG levels even earlier than a urine test.
FAQs
Yes! This is especially true in those early days of pregnancy. This is when hCG levels are still rising. It typically takes a few days for hCG to reach detectable levels in your urine.
So, if you test too early, you might get a false negative result even if you are pregnant.
If you get a negative test today, but still think you might be pregnant, wait for a few days to allow hCG levels to increase before testing again.
Ideally, wait until after your missed period to test.
The best time to take a test is in the morning, using your FMU.
Why? Because your urine is most concentrated then. This makes it easier to detect hCG, the pregnancy hormone.
Here’s what you should avoid:
Don’t drink too much liquid: This dilutes your urine, making it harder to detect hCG.
Don’t use expired tests: This can give you inaccurate results.
Don’t ignore the timing instructions: Make sure to check the results within the timeframe stated in the test instructions.
Celebrate! And then you want to:
Set up an appointment with your healthcare provider: They will confirm the pregnancy and provide you with prenatal care.
Continue taking prenatal vitamins: These contain essential nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.
Make lifestyle changes: Eat healthy, get enough physical activity, and sleep well.
Begin to learn about pregnancy and childbirth: Begin your prep for all that is to come!
You can take a pregnancy test any time of day.
But remember that the concentration of hCG in your urine will vary. If you’re testing in the afternoon, hold your urine for 4-6 hours before testing and make sure that you haven’t just chugged a bunch of liquids.
The concern isn’t so much about “too much pee” but rather urine dilution.
If your urine is too diluted (from drinking a lot of fluids), it can lower the concentration of hCG. This can result in a false negative.
Most at-home pregnancy tests are urine tests that detect hCG.
While these urine tests indicate the presence of hCG, they don’t give you an exact value. If you want to know the exact value, you’ll need to do blood tests with your healthcare provider.
If you had sex during your fertile window, it’s best to wait for about 2 weeks before taking a pregnancy test. This gives enough time for hCG levels to increase to a point where they’re detectable.
Want even more reliable pregnancy test results? Wait until after your missed period.
Know more: How Long After Ovulation Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
There might be some crossover in hormone detection since LH and hCG have similar structures. But, ovulation tests aren’t designed to detect pregnancy. The best way is via a pregnancy test.
Was this article helpful?
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
- HCG (Urine)
- Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments – PMC
- Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
- Differential diagnosis of elevated human chorionic gonadotropin in women – PMC
- What medications can cause a false positive pregnancy test?
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