How Early Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
- jessie3065
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
If your period is late or you’ve had a missed period, it makes sense that you’d want answers right away. A pregnancy test can give you the answers you need to move forward with confidence.
How early can you take a pregnancy test? And what happens next if it’s positive? Let’s walk through what to expect — and how we can help. If you think you might be pregnant and live in Columbia, MO, our team at My Life Clinic wants to help you know for sure.
How soon can you take a pregnancy test?
The earliest time to take a home pregnancy test is usually on the first day of your missed period. Some sensitive tests may detect pregnancy a few days earlier, but results are more reliable if you wait until your period is due.
Most home tests can detect pregnancy 10–14 days after ovulation, or right around when you’d expect your period. That’s when the hormone hCG is high enough to be picked up in your urine.
For the most accurate result:
Wait until the first day of your missed period
Use your first morning urine
Follow the instructions closely
What does a very faint line on a pregnancy test mean?
A very faint line on a pregnancy test usually indicates that you’re pregnant and in the early stages of your pregnancy. The strength of the line depends on the level of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. When you first become pregnant, these levels are low, so the line can be faint.
HCG needs time to build up in your body, and each day of early pregnancy, your body will create more hCG. As the weeks go on, you’ll have more and more hGC in your body, which will make it more likely that a pregnancy test will show as positive.
What happens if it's positive?
If you get a positive test, an ultrasound is the next step. Ultrasounds confirm:
If the pregnancy is located in the uterus
How far along you are
If there’s a viable heartbeat
How You Can Be Certain You’re Pregnant or Not
In order to be certain if your period is late or you’re experiencing a pregnancy, you must take a pregnancy test followed by an ultrasound. An ultrasound is the only way to know without a doubt if you’re pregnant. Additionally, an ultrasound can detect if the fetus is in the right position if you’re pregnant with twins, how far along you’re in your pregnancy, and if there are any abnormalities with your pregnancy.
If you are considering an abortion, an ultrasound should be performed to determine how far along you are and can also determine the cost of the abortion and if you qualify for the abortion pill. We do not refer or provide abortion services but provide education and information on abortion pills and in-clinic procedures. Located near the Mizzou campus, we serve women in Columbia, MO and Boone County.