If you're trying for a baby and you can't wait to take your pregnancy test to find out if you're pregnant, you need to read this article on when to take an at-home pregnancy test to make sure you take it at the right time. Taking a pregnancy test at the wrong time could result in a false negative as your body needs time to show the hormone present when a woman is pregnant, in urine.
In this article we explain when the best time is to take a pregnancy test, share some helpful products that we have online at Official Rapid Tests as well as some helpful information about infertility and what to do.
Instant Pregnancy Test
Our instant pregnancy test is perfect for detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine and can detect pregnancy with very high accuracy. If you have been trying to get pregnant, and you have reason to think you may be, you need to take this test.
If you have been trying to conceive for a while, you need to know whether you have had success, and this is why it is important to take an accurate pregnancy test. You need to be clear about the best ways of being able to test for this, and hCG is one of the best indicators that you might be pregnant.
When to take the test
Many women think they can take a pregnancy test anytime and it will give them accurate results, well this is incorrect. There is a best time to take a pregnancy test, so you get a true result. If you have missed a period or had unprotected sex, it's best to wait 21 days after you last had unprotected sex for an accurate result.
Pregnancy tests check whether you have hCG hormone in your urine which is only present during pregnancy but it can take a while for this hormone to show on a test. Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be taken a little earlier, but to be sure, it's better to wait as doing a test too soon could result in a false positive.
A common myth is that it's best to do a pregnancy test in the morning, but it doesn't matter at what time of day you take a pregnancy test. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and leave the pregnancy test for the amount of time it says on the instructions for a clear result.
Why can't I get pregnant?
There are many reasons why a woman is struggling to conceive, but it's important to note that most women get pregnant within a year of trying regularly. If you're struggling to get pregnant, it doesn't necessarily mean there is something serious happening, as everyone is different and it can take a while to happen. In this section, we will discuss some of the reasons why and what you can do about it.
Track your ovulation
Ovulation usually happens midway through your28 day menstrual cycle when the increasing presence of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) causes your ovary to release an egg ready for fertilisation.
This egg is only viable for around 24 hours after release, however, sperm can live in the female reproductive system for up to 5 days, so from 5 days before your ovulation date, you can start having unprotected sex to maximise your chances of pregnancy.
Generally speaking, if you have a regular cycle then it’s highly likely you also have regular ovulation. However, it’s perfectly normal for people with regular cycles to still have a few days difference on their cycle each month, everyone is different.
If you don’t have a period at all, then you won’t be ovulating, but, you can have a period as normal and not ovulate, which is why it’s important to look out for symptoms of ovulation. Here are just some of the symptoms to look out for:
- Rise in Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
- Surge in Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Egg-white-like vaginal discharge
- Increased sex drive
- Mild pelvic pain
- Spotting
Not all women will experience all of these symptoms, however, since there are no symptoms when you're not ovulating so you should look out when you don't experience these symptoms too.
Getting an instant ovulation test is the easier way to find out if you're ovulating. These tests work by testing the presence of LH and a positive result means you're ovulating, therefore negative results show no signs of ovulation. Tracking your ovulation is one way to know if you're fertile enough to get pregnant.
Reasons why you're not ovulating
There are many reasons why you're not ovulating and if you're worried, always speak to a medical, professional. If you're tracking your ovulation and find that within your usual cycle or within a 28-day window that you're not ovulating it could be for one of these reasons.
Weight
The ideal weight for contraception varies from person to person but a healthy BMI (body max index) is between 18.5 and 24.9. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in metres (m) squared.
Make sure you're eating healthy foods, reduce your sugar and fat intake, and get plenty of exercise to maintain a healthy weight to increase your chances of conceiving. For more advice, speak to your doctor.
Stress
Prolonged stress can really impact the body in a negative way, and that includes your cycle. Plus, if you're already feeling stress and anxiety over not conceiving, that can add to the problem. On top of that, if you have money worries or a stressful job or home life, these factors can play a part in you not ovulating.
Ovulation disorders
An ovulation disorder needs to be diagnosed by a doctor, so if you think you have a disorder, make sure you seek advice from your GP. One of the main ovulation disorders is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and this disorder disrupts ovulation by causing irregular periods, increased androgen, enlarged ovaries and increased number of follicles they contain.
If you have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, it doesn't necessarily cause infertility and many women go on to have healthy pregnancies, but if you have one of our ovulation tests during the right time in your cycle and you aren't ovulating, see your doctor for advice on how to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Low fertility in Males
If you and your partner are struggling to conceive, it's important that both of you get checked out. Hopefully, there are no complications and it's just taking a little longer than usual, but if there is something to be aware of, it's better to know early then you can get the right treatment and support.
Symptoms of low fertility in males
It can be difficult to know if your partner has low fertility because the signs aren't as obvious as it can be in female, however, there are tests available such as our Instant Male Fertility Test. Here are some of the symptoms of low male fertility:
- Erectile dysfunction or difficulties keeping an erection
- Reduced libido or sex drive
- Testicular discomfort or inflammation
- Problems with ejaculation, such as early retrograde ejaculation
- Decreased facial or body hair, or other signs of hormonal imbalance.
These symptoms alone don't diagnose male infertility or low fertility so take one of our tests and visit a doctor for peace of mind.
So, we know it can be difficult to wait to take a pregnancy test, but now you know the best time to take one and the reasons why, try to hold off until 21 days after you last had unprotected sex to get the best results. If you're worried about low fertility, look out for the symptoms mentioned in this article and make sure you and your partner both visit a doctor for your peace of mind and to get the right support and advice.