how soon after unprotected can i test for pregnancy calculator?

how soon after sex can you take a pregnancy test

How Soon After Sex Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

You want to know as soon as possible.

If you | re wondering if you | re pregnant, you need an answer. Immediately. However, that | s not necessarily possible if you want the most accurate results.

How soon can you take a pregnancy test after sex? The answer may surprise you.

“Many women panic when they realize they | ve missed a birth control pill or they | ve missed a period,” said Dr. Hardison. “We want you to know that we can help guide you through this process in a way that ensures you | re getting the most accurate results.”
How Long After Sex Can You Have a Pregnancy Test?

The short answer?

Most home pregnancy tests can be done from the first day of your missed period. If you | re not sure when you | re having your next period—or if your period is irregular– take the test at least 10 days after you had unprotected sex.

There are some extra sensitive pregnancy tests that can be done before you miss your period. Some of these can be completed as soon as eight days after conception.

But it | s a little-known fact that conception doesn | t necessarily begin immediately after you | ve had sex.

In fact, it can take up to five days for the sperm to fertilize an egg. Even after that, it takes several days for the egg to travel to the uterus, where it plants itself into the uterine lining.

From sex to pregnancy can take from two to three weeks.

Therefore, your results won | t be accurate if you take a test before a missed period.
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, it | s important to begin your prenatal care right away.
False Negative Results

You can get a false-negative from a home pregnancy test. This means that you are pregnant but the test said that you | re not.

False-negatives can occur when:

You take the test too early
Check the test results too soon – it | s important to follow the package directions carefully
Use diluted urine – it | s best to use first-morning urine because it | s the most concentrated

If you get a negative result and your period still hasn | t started, repeat the test. Even better, contact us for an appointment.
See Why Chapel Hill OBGYN Was Voted the Best in the Triangle

We didn | t go into medicine to seek awards.

We just believe that every patient deserves the highest level of quality care.

Patients deserve someone who will listen and someone who will help them live the healthiest life possible. That | s the heart of our purpose.

We | re thrilled to be the recipient of multiple INDY “best of” awards. We were selected:

Best Women | s Health Practice in Durham County: Chapel Hill OB/GYN-Durham Southpoint;
Best Women | s Practice Orange and Chatham counties-Chapel Hill OB/GYN;
Best Women | s Health Practitioner Durham County Melinda Everett, WHCNP;
Best Women | s Health Practitioner in Orange and Chatham county-Melinda Everett, WHCNP

Let us show you our award-winning, high-quality health care that combines the personal attention of a smaller practice with the state-of-the-art resources of larger university-based practices. Schedule an appointment today.