How Soon After Unprotected Sex Can I Test For Pregnancy – If you’re trying to conceive a baby or desperately trying to avoid getting pregnant then you’re likely wondering how soon you can take a pregnancy test. Though today’s new and improved home pregnancy tests offer results faster than ever before, wrongness can still occur if they’re not used properly. Regrettably, if you test too early, it’s possible to get a false negative. This could cause you and your partner a false sense of joy, and relief, or maybe a disappointment.
Classically, the phrase “unprotected sex” denotes bareback penis-in-vagina intercourse. But here, we’re using it to refer to sex that took place without proper blocks or proper contraception.
That includes any sex that happened with a broken condom, expired condom, another condom mishap with someone who used an expired birth control method, or not taking their birth control constantly.
If you want to know more about pregnancy and how soon after an unprotected can you test for pregnancy then read this article carefully.
How Soon After Unprotected Sex Can I Test For Pregnancy?
When you’re concerned about an unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraception that went twisted, it’s only natural to want to test as early as possible. But for the most accurate results, you want to wait at least two to three days after intercourse if you have an irregular period.
Pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, which the body only starts producing after when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. Naturally, this occurs 6 to 12 days after you’ve ovulated.
If you’re relaxed about the fact that you might get a false positive, you can take a homemade pregnancy test just 10 days after unprotected sex.
If you trail your period, and it’s regular, most doctors mention waiting until your period is late before taking a pregnancy test.
About 15 percent of those who menstruate don’t have a regular cycle, guesses Halle Tecco, the founder and chief women’s health officer at Natalist, an online retailer that sells pregnancy and ovulation tests, prenatal supplements, and many more.
What are the Causes of a False Negative and Positive Pregnancy Test?
Here are some of the potential causes for false negatives given below:
- If you are checking the test too quickly.
- Using urine that’s too dilute and so lacking the amount of hCG required for finding.
- Always keep in mind that while home pregnancy tests are just as precise as the urine tests you get in the doctor’s office, they’re not as active if they’re expired. Always check the expiration date before taking a pregnancy test.
Here are some of the potential causes for false positives given below:
- Early miscarriage – Chemical pregnancies, which are when pregnancy is lost shortly after when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus, might result in a false positive.
- Residual hCG – If you’ve just given birth or had a miscarriage, there may still be hCG in your system. One German study found that hCG levels will return to normal three weeks postpartum.
- Age – A study issued in the journal PLoS One found that false-positive increases with age due to a rise in pituitary hCG during and after menopause. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average age for menopause in the U.S. is 51, but it can also occur in your 40s or 50s.
- Medications – If you’re taking fertility medications that increase hCG levels, such as injections as part of your in vitro process, a false positive might happen mostly if you test shortly after receiving one.
- Evaporation lines – When using a test where two lines indicate a positive, it’s particularly important to check results within the instructed time frame. With some tests, a very faint “evaporation line” can form when a test has been left out for a lengthy period and the urine has dried.
When is the Finest Time of Day to Take a Pregnancy Test?
Though late-night, panic-induced drugstore runs aren’t unheard of when it comes to pregnancy tests, it’s best to you should wait until morning.
“Home pregnancy tests are best taken right after waking up, meanwhile that’s when the concentration of hCG is highest in the urine,” says Dr. Kecia Gaither, who is an OB-GYN, maternal-fetal specialist, and the director of perinatal services at NYC Health New York.
To increase the accuracy, Gersh guides waiting to drink any fluids until after you’ve engaged in the test.
How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests and What are the Signs You Might be Pregnant?
Make sure it’s not expired, and it’s being used the proper way and at the proper time, home pregnancy tests are about 97-98% accurate.
The drugstore urine pregnancy tests are just as operative as the ones taken in your physician’s office. That said, you can have a blood pregnancy test done at your doctor’s office, which can spot hCG earlier than a urine test.
Depending on whether or not there’s a lab on-site, results can take anywhere from a few hours to days.
If you haven’t come to your period and are feeling any of the following early pregnancy symptoms, you might want to take a pregnancy test:
- Nausea and/or food distaste.
- Constipation.
- Fatigue.
- Breast tenderness.
- Vaginal spotting.
- Abdominal cramping.
- Moodiness.
- Headaches.
Also Check: Mustard Powder Pregnancy Test
Conclusion:
Pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, which the body only starts producing after when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. Whether you’re hoping to be prenatal or not, having a late period can be worrying.
Gratefully, home pregnancy tests can propose fast answers without a trip to the doctor when used correctly. That said, if you’re unsure about your results or have questions, it’s always smart to consult your healthcare provider.
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