How Soon Can I Take a Pregnancy Test

The general rule of thumb is to wait for about three weeks, or 21 days after the last time you had unprotected sex, to take a pregnancy test. You can also take a pregnancy midstream test the day after your expected missed period. 

Most people typically ovulate 14-15 days from the first day they have their menstrual cycle. If the egg isn’t fertilised, the next period will begin in around 14 days. If fertilisation occurs, implantation occurs within 6-12 days after ovulation. Once implantation takes place, the body will start producing hCG hormones.

We recommend that you test early in the morning with your first urine, particularly if you are testing early when the HCG isn’t yet concentrated in the early days of the pregnancy.

Steps to take before you test

You should do several things before you get or use a pregnancy test. These include:

Buy the pregnancy test from a reputable supplier: Fertility2Family has been rated the best pregnancy test in 2019, 2020 & 2021 by Australians on ProductReview.

Confirm the expiration date on the test kit. The test’s expiration date will determine if the pregnancy test kit will provide reliable results. So as you buy, make sure the date is still valid. Our pregnancy test kits can last for over 20 months, so the products you get will be useful for over a year.

Read the pregnancy test instructions. Before using the pregnancy midstream test, you should take time to read all of the instructions. Pregnancy test kits vary mainly depending on the brand. If the instructions are unclear or you have questions about performing the test or interpreting the results, please email us, and all your questions will be answered.

How to take the pregnancy midstream test

Ideally, It is best to take the pregnancy test first thing in the morning because your urine is more concentrated at this time. 

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap and rinse thoroughly to test. 
• Remove the pregnancy midstream test from the wrapper and remove the cap to expose the tip.  
• Since you’re using a midstream test, we will need to hold the stick pointing downwards and urinate on the tip for 10 seconds or until it is thoroughly wet; replace the cap, place it on a flat surface, and wait for the stated time. 

As the pregnancy midstream test progresses, you will see the light purple colour moving towards the test area. The purple colour will fade, and the control line will begin to show as a solid pink line. And if you are pregnant, a test line will also be present on the test. After waiting for the stated period, you can check the test results.

Reading and interpreting the test results

A positive result on a pregnancy midstream test

If you see two coloured lines appear on the test kit, then you should know you are pregnant. In most cases, one line may seem lighter than the other, but it will have the same thickness. You may notice a faint line if you’re testing too early and the hCG levels are still low.

A negative result on a pregnancy midstream test

If only one colour line appears on the result window, you are not pregnant or have taken the pregnancy midstream test too early. Experts recommend taking another test after a few days if you still keep experiencing early pregnancy symptoms like nausea, tender breasts, vomiting, fatigue, spotting, and mild cramping.

An invalid result on a pregnancy midstream test

You may get invalid results if the test is not working correctly or has expired. This result usually occurs if no lines appear on the result window or if you only see the test line. An invalid result is very rare, and it is recommended that you retest with a new test stick and carefully follow the instructions.

Can medication for specific medical conditions affect results?

• Testing too soon after taking fertility drugs containing the hCG hormone will likely get misleading results.
• If you have recently stopped using hormonal contraception or are on fertility treatments like clomiphene citrate, you will have irregular periods that may lead you to test too early.
• You were pregnant recently. You might get a false pregnancy result. Ectopic pregnancy, menopause, ovarian cysts, and other rare medical conditions may also give unreliable results. Those who get positive pregnancy results may realise they are not pregnant later.
• Women over six weeks pregnant can also get misleading results because the hCG levels are too high.

If you get confusing results, it’s advisable to visit your healthcare provider for more guidance.