What Is A Chemical Pregnancy
A chemical pregnancy refers to a miscarriage happening even before implantation. A pregnancy test may turn positive because of the hormones present in the body.
A missed period may follow, but in the real sense, there is no evidence of pregnancy as per the ultrasound. A chemical pregnancy bleeding will then occur almost the same time as your period which may confuse you.
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Why Is Missed Period A Prerequisite To Take Pregnancy Test
Some symptoms of pregnancy include a desire to eat certain foods. Women may experience gastrointestinal changes, and may even notice a change in their urinary habits. If the woman had sex recently and still noticed these symptoms, then she should undergo a urine pregnancy test.
Some people can be confused about when to start a pregnancy test. However, it is best to wait for seven days and notice the appearance of other symptoms. During the period of missed periods, it is best to be tested at the moment when the woman has an episode of irregular periods. It can reduce the likelihood of miscarriage and still allow results to be accurate.
Pregnant women should be aware that hCG is secreted the same way as during their menstrual cycle. Therefore, one should conduct the tests within a suitable time frame to receive the best results. Tests performed by the doctor or a close friend are more reliable than self-administered tests.
If the woman gets a positive result, then she should go through frequent checks to determine if she is really pregnant. However, some women will get a false positive result. In this instance, she should visit her doctor to figure out why she is not pregnant.
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False Positive And Negative Results
When a test result is inaccurate, its either a false negative or a false positive . Several factors can cause false negative results:
- Having too dilute urine after drinking a lot of water or testing later in the day.
- Testing too soon when there has not been enough time for a fertilized egg to implant and start hCG production.
- Using a pregnancy test that doesnt detect lower levels of hCG. You can check the package insert for more information about the level at which the test will be positive.
Sometimes an egg will implant briefly but will not be sustained. This is also called a chemical pregnancy hCG is produced, but the pregnancy doesnt continue. A test performed several days before an expected period can show a positive result, but the woman still gets her period soon or on time. Rarely, certain tumors can produce hCG, causing a pregnancy test to be positive even when a woman is not pregnant.
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What Are The Different Types Of Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests check for the hCG hormone in two ways:
- Urine test. This type of pregnancy test can be done at home or at a doctor’s office.
- Blood test. This type of pregnancy test can only be done at a doctor’s office. It takes longer than a urine test to get results, but it can detect a pregnancy earlier than a urine test . Your doctor may use one or both types of blood tests:
- A quantitative blood test that measures the exact amount of hCG in your blood. It can find even tiny amounts of hCG. It can also tell you and your doctor how many weeks you are pregnant.
- A qualitative hCG blood test checks to see whether the pregnancy hormone is present or not. The qualitative hCG blood test is about as accurate as a urine test.
All You Need To Know About Testing Early For Pregnancy
After the egg is fertilized, it travels to the uterus and implants itself in the uterine wall. At this stage tiny amounts of the , start to appear in your urine. It is this hormone that all home pregnancy tests detect. can tell you 6 days sooner than your 1.
No matter when you test, you can be confident in the accuracy of a ‘Pregnant’ result with any
But if you are testing early, you should be aware that even if your result , you may still be pregnant. This is because levels of hCG vary from woman to woman and there may not yet be enough hormone for the test to give a . rise rapidly in early pregnancy, as shown in the graph below, meaning that if you test again on the day of your expected period, your result will be over 99% accurate.
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The Best Time In Your Cycle To Take A Pregnancy Test
After you become pregnant, it takes some time for hCG to increase to a detectable level.
The best time to take a pregnancy test is after your period is late. If you dont want to wait until youve missed your period, at least wait for one to two weeks after you had sex to take a test.
Everyone’s fertile window is different, depending on when they ovulate.
Menstrual bleeding typically begins 14 days after ovulation. People who ovulate on day 14 usually expect their period on day 28 or 29. People who ovulate later in the month may not expect their period until day 31 or later.
Its best to wait until the time you are sure youve missed a period to take a pregnancy test. If you are unsure when you ovulate, you can try ovulation test kits or track your basal body temperature.
Is It Possible To Get A False Positive Pregnancy Test Result
Yes, but this is rare. A positive result can also be caused by:
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Pregnancy loss very soon after implantation
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hCG secretion from a tumor
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Pituitary hCG secretion, typically in people going through perimenopause
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Interference from hCG administered as part of infertility treatment. If youâve had an injection of hCG, this should be cleared from your system after two weeks.
Medications do not cause false positive pregnancy tests, unless the medication contains hCG or, rarely, certain antibodies . If you think your medication might be interfering with pregnancy test results, talk with your healthcare provider.
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How Likely Is It To Get A False Negative Pregnancy Test
Most home pregnancy tests are highly accurate if you wait until the first day of your missed period to take it. If youre testing earlier, your chances of a false negative result are higher. The reasons why you might get a false negative include:
When To Take Early Result Pregnancy Tests
Early pregnancy tests can be used several days before a missed period. These tests are more accurate for people who conceived earlier in their cycle.
If you ovulated a little late, you may have conceived later in your cycle. In this case, there may not be enough hCG for these tests to detect until closer to or after your missed period.
If you received an hCG trigger shot to help with fertility, it’s best to wait two weeks after the shot to take a pregnancy test. The trigger shot can cause a false positive if a pregnancy test is taken before the medication has left your system.
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When Should I Call My Doctor About A New Pregnancy
If youve missed your period and gotten a positive pregnancy test, your next step will be to call your healthcare provider for your first appointment. While scheduling, your provider may ask if you have already started taking a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid. Prenatal vitamins are important in early pregnancy because they help in the development of your babys neural tube. The neural tube will become your babys brain and spine. Many healthcare providers recommend that anyone who could become pregnant take folic acid at all times.
If youre planning a pregnancy, a preconception appointment with your healthcare provider is a good place to start. A preconception appointment is especially important if you take medication for a chronic illness or have other medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or lupus.
During this appointment, your provider will discuss any current medical conditions, as well as your general health before pregnancy. This appointment is meant to get you into the best place for a new pregnancy.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/26/2022.
References
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How Soon You Can Take A Pregnancy Test
Step back from the supermarket shelves you should wait until the first day of a missed period before you do a pregnancy test . This is usually about two weeks after you think you conceived. So get your diary out and start counting.
Too keen to wait? Some tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier . This might be four or five days before your period is due .
If you can though, its most reliable to wait for the first day of your missed period. And that way you wont get any upset from an inaccurate result.
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Are Home Pregnancy Tests Accurate
Home pregnancy tests are fairly accurate, though they may have difficulty diagnosing a pregnancy if a woman has only recently missed a period. In addition, fertility drugs or certain medications can interfere with the results.
If you are pregnant, its important to begin your prenatal care right away.
Is 2 Weeks Too Early To Take A Pregnancy Test
The answer to this question is a bit complicated. It depends on a variety of factors, including the test that you are using and how sensitive it is. Generally speaking, most home pregnancy tests are accurate four to five days after a missed period. However, some tests may be able to detect pregnancy earlier than that. If you are concerned about whether or not you are pregnant, it is best to wait until you have missed your period to take a test.
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If You’re Not Sure You Want To Be Pregnant
If you’re not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:
- continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
- having an abortion
- continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted
As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information from the age of 13 from the following:
- the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory service website
All these services including community contraceptive clinics are confidential. If you’re 13 or older, the staff won’t tell your parents. They’ll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won’t force you.
If you’re under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.
Best Time During Your Cycle To Test
Some manufacturers produce home pregnancy tests that they claim can detect a pregnancy as soon as one day after your missed period or even before then. But remember: The earlier you take a test, the more at risk you are of getting a false negative result due to still-too-low hCG levels.
While you could give an early pregnancy test a try, research suggests that most over-the-counter tests arent sensitive enough to detect hCG before or on the first day of your missed period, per a 2014 study.
Whats more, about 10 to 20 out of 100 people dont get a positive test result on the day they believe is just after their missed periodeven when they are in fact pregnant, according to the Food and Drug Administration .
To avoid a false negative or positive result and the roller coaster of emotions that could follow, wait to test until a couple of days after your missed period or, even better, until a full week has passed. By then, the chances of getting a false negative result are very low.
If you take the test a day or so after your missed period and get a positive result, its likely correct. If you get a negative result, keep in mind that you could still possibly be pregnant. You might want to retest one week after your missed period to be sure.
If you havent been tracking your cycles or have an irregular period, know that hCG levels typically become detectable within two weeks of conception. As such, wait about 14 days after you had sex to take a test.
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When Should You Take A Pregnancy Test
Your best bet is to wait to take a pregnancy test until about 19 days after fertilization in order for hCG to build up to a level thats detectable in your urine. HCG production begins as soon as the embryo implants in your uterus, which is between six to 12 days after fertilization.
As soon as a test can detect hCG, it can show you an extra pink line, a blue one, a positive sign or a big digital yes all indicating a positive result.
Whats Next If The Results Are Negative
If your test results are negative, but you want to have a baby, keep trying to get pregnant. Also make sure that you begin taking folic acid supplements, if you havent already. You wont always get pregnant from sexual intercourse depending on your menstrual cycle, so use an ovulation calculator or track your cycle on a calendar to decide when the best times are for you to get pregnant.
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If youve tried to become pregnant multiple times, consider getting a fertility test or asking your partner to get a fertility test. It can reveal whether either of you might have fertility issues that are affecting your ability to get pregnant. If youre infertile, consider other options for becoming pregnant, such as artificial insemination.
If your test results are negative and you didnt plan to get pregnant, take a second test to make sure the results are accurate. If you took the test because you were concerned that you might have gotten pregnant after unprotected sex, make sure to use any birth control necessary to prevent any future pregnancy scares.
If your results are negative but youre still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, such as a missed period, see your doctor to find out if another condition is causing your symptoms. Symptoms such as exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting are common to other conditions. Heavy exercise or excessive stress can cause missed periods as well.
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How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
You can take a pregnancy test anytime after your period is late thats when they work the best. Its a good idea to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible if you miss your period or think you might be pregnant.
The earlier you know youre pregnant, the sooner you can start thinking about your options and get whatever care you need to stay healthy.
Many pregnancy tests say they work a few days before a missed period, but the results are usually less accurate then. Read the label on your pregnancy test to find out when to take a pregnancy test and how accurate itll be.
Sometimes a pregnancy test is able to find pregnancy hormones in your urine as early as 10 days after unprotected sex. But these results arent super reliable, and you may get a false positive or false negative test result.
If your periods are very irregular, or you dont get periods at all for one reason or another, your best bet for accurate results is to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after sex.
How Accurate Are Home Tests
Home tests are very accurate when used correctly. Some kits come with two tests because mistakes do happen. If you take a test too early, you may get a false negative .Your body needs time for the hormone to rise to a high enough level to be detected in a test. If the test comes back negative but you still think you could be pregnant, wait a few days and test again.
False positives are possible but rare. A positive pregnancy test is a pretty good indication that you are pregnant.
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