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The two-week wait is full of uncertainty and can feel like forever when you’re hoping for that big fat positive (BFP). Especially if you fall victim to testing too early for pregnancy.
So as hard as it can be to wait, it’s best to avoid testing too soon. For the most accurate results, wait until at least 1 day after your missed menses. If it comes up negative, repeat the pregnancy test in another week.
Want a more in-depth look at the timeline of pregnancy testing after implantation? Then keep reading to get all your questions answered.
When does implantation occur?
Knowing the timeline of implantation is vital to understanding the best window to test for pregnancy. So let’s get clear on this timing right from the start.
Implantation usually takes place between 8-10 days past ovulation (DPO). But it can occur anywhere from 6-12 DPO. This simply refers to when the fertilized egg attaches to your uterine lining and connects with your maternal circulation.
Successful implantation means you are officially pregnant! It’s also when levels of hCG, the pregnancy hormone, will begin doubling about every 2 days. Although, the exact amount of hCG will vary from woman to woman.
hCG is important for a healthy pregnancy because it stimulates progesterone production. In early pregnancy, your hCG levels will keep rising to ensure the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone. This goes on until the placenta is developed enough to take over.
Because hCG rises consistently after implantation, it’s frequently called the “pregnancy hormone”. At-home pregnancy tests measure your urine hCG levels to tell you if you’re pregnant or not. So this all raises the next question that’s probably on your mind: how many days after implantation can you test? Let’s find out in the next section.
How soon after implantation can I test?
The earliest recommended time to test for pregnancy is the first day of your missed period. Usually, this is around 12-14 days past ovulation (DPO) or more. Waiting for this window will give your body time to produce enough hCG that can be picked up by a home pregnancy test.
One study examined the accuracy of popular at-home pregnancy tests. They found that at 9-10 DPO, the average level of hCG found in a pregnant woman’s urine was just 0.93 mIU/ml. But most urine pregnancy tests can only detect human chorionic gonadotropin when levels reach 20-25 mIU/ml.
Long story short, if you test too early, you could get a negative result but actually be pregnant.
Let’s look at the table to see what happens if you test before, during, or after implantation.
As you can see, when hCG rises to 20 mIU/mL or more, a test will detect it.
Under some circumstances, it’s possible to get a positive test in the 9-10 DPO window. This could happen for women with really high hCG levels who are using a sensitive test. But this isn’t the case for most women. So try to avoid feeling discouraged if you get a negative test in this early time frame.
If you’re like many others, maybe you’re still wondering about how experiencing implantation bleeding comes into play with testing for pregnancy. Can you take a pregnancy test during implantation bleeding? Let’s clear up this confusion below.
How long after implantation bleeding can I test?
Only about 15 – 25% of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding If you are one of those women, it may be tempting to begin testing for pregnancy.
But as mentioned, most pregnancy tests only begin detecting hCG at 20-25 mIU/mL. So testing during implantation bleeding can still be a bit too early.
Here’s a good rule of thumb to follow when using urine pregnancy tests. If you get a negative test despite missing your period, prolong further testing. Wait another week after your missed menses. Even if you’ve had implantation bleeding!
Also, keep in mind that urine strips are only one way to test for pregnancy. In some cases, you may be able to contact your doctor to get a blood hCG test. Keep reading below for more details about the timing for blood tests.
How early can a blood hCG test detect pregnancy?
Most women will only need to use a urine test to confirm pregnancy. That’s because they’re the cheapest and most accessible option. And when used in the appropriate window, they do give accurate results.
But under some circumstances, a doctor may prescribe you a blood hCG test. This could be for women undergoing fertility treatment. Or if your doctor suspects something about the pregnancy is abnormal. Otherwise, blood hCG tests are not routinely prescribed.
Blood tests are more accurate than urine tests. This is because they give you the exact value of human chorionic gonadotropin found in the body.
hCG concentration is also higher in your bloodstream since it’s not yet metabolized. This allows blood tests to detect hCG much sooner than urine tests. For a blood hcG test to be considered positive for pregnancy, your levels would need to be greater than 5 mIU/mL.
Current research shows that the average level of hCG found in blood serum between 9-10 DPO is 10 mIU/mL. One study even suggests that it’s possible to detect hCG via a blood test even at 8 DPO. Needless to say, blood tests can give you an earlier and more comprehensive picture of hCG levels than urine pregnancy tests.
All this information may seem helpful for women who have normal cycles. But what about if you have irregular periods and don’t know when your next expected period will be? The section below is for you!
What if I have irregular periods?
If you have an irregular period, no need for alarm. There are many factors that cause women to have irregular cycles. Some include stress, poor dietary choices, or too much exercise. Other health conditions can contribute to irregularities as well. PCOS, thyroid issues, and endometriosis are just a few.
Regardless of the reason, here’s what to know about testing for pregnancy if you have an irregular cycle.
- Track the days that you have intercourse. Did you have sex generally around ovulation time (your fertile window)? Then wait 3 – 4 weeks (from the date of intercourse) before you take a pregnancy test. This 3 – 4 week window should be enough time for hCG to rise to an amount that will be detected by an at-home test.
- Pay close attention to your body and look for symptoms of ovulation. Common signs include increased sex drive, extra wet cervical mucus (EWCM), higher basal body temperature, and a softer cervix.
- Track ovulation with a fertility monitor. Using a fertility monitor like Inito’s is helpful for all women who want accurate data about their cycle. But this is even more important for those who have irregular cycles and periods. The Inito monitor tracks actual values of FSH, LH, estrogen, and PdG in the urine.
Knowing the exact values of these four fertility hormones can help you estimate your most fertile days. And what’s more, it allows you to confirm if you actually ovulated. This is something that most fertility strips can’t do.
Having a clear picture of when you ovulated is a true fertility game-changer. It makes it so much easier to determine your implantation window. Not to mention, you’ll have an accurate portrayal of how many DPO you are. Together, all this info gives you a better timeline for when to test for pregnancy.Know more: Why Does My Period Date Change Every Month?
Takeaways
- Implantation occurs when the fertilized egg implants into your uterine lining. This normally occurs between 8 – 10 DPO. But implantation is possible anywhere from 6 – 12 DPO.
- After successful implantation, your hCG levels will begin doubling. But in the beginning, the amounts of this hormone are minimal. That means they won’t be detected by a pregnancy test just yet.
- Some women may experience implantation symptoms like implantation bleeding. But this doesn’t affect the timeline for taking a pregnancy test.
- The earliest recommended day to test for pregnancy with an at-home test is 1 day after your missed period. This would be around 12-14 DPO or more.
- Want the most accurate early pregnancy test results? Wait 1 – 2 weeks after missing your period to begin testing.
- Have an irregular cycle? Wait 3 – 4 weeks after having intercourse to test for pregnancy.
- Tracking your cycle carefully and using a fertility monitor (like Inito) will help give you the most accurate timeline for pregnancy testing.
FAQs
In this very early stage, hCG is only being produced in small quantities. At-home urine tests usually only detect hCG levels starting around 20-25 mIU/mL.
First, it means your hCG levels were high enough for detection. Perhaps the pregnancy test you used is on the more sensitive side. Or maybe you miscalculated the timing of ovulation and you’re further along in the pregnancy than you expected.
There could also be a chance you’re having a multiple pregnancy. With twins, triplets, and other multiples, hCG levels can increase more rapidly.
Yes, this can happen. In addition to being a sign of pregnancy, beta hCG can also be produced by certain kinds of tumors. Some include uterine tumors, ovarian tumors, and even testicular tumors (for men). So if you get a positive test and don’t think you’re actually pregnant? See your doctor immediately.
Yes, you can. Wait 1 – 2 weeks after you’ve missed your period for the most accurate results.
Past the 2-week mark and still testing negative? It’s unlikely that you’re pregnant. At-home tests are nearly 99% accurate when you follow the instructions properly. But if you still think you could be pregnant, test again or contact your doctor.
Technically speaking, yes. But this is because of your rising progesterone levels. Progesterone begins rising after ovulation. And many of these symptoms overlap with early pregnancy symptoms. These comparable symptoms include fatigue, bloating, and breast tenderness.
Was this article helpful?
- Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments – PMC
- HCG (Urine) – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center
- Pregnancy | FDA
- Pregnancy tests | Office on Women’s Health
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Early Embryogenesis: Review – PMC
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
- Role of early serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin measurement in predicting multiple pregnancy and pregnancy wastage in an in vitro ET fertilization cycle – PMC
- Bleeding During Pregnancy – ACOG
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