How long after sex can you take a pregnancy test?

When a couple is interested in becoming parents, they will have a question about when is the right time to take the pregnancy test is? Here we provide you with the basic knowledge you need when you wish to become a parent in the future.

It is necessary to confirm your pregnancy soon to initiate further care and follow-ups. Prenatal/antenatal care during the pregnancy is essential in minimizing the complications and risks associated with the mother and baby.

Today, health and medicine have evolved to a remarkable position where they can save the lives of mothers and newborn babies. To initiate any of the interventions, it is crucial to know whether you are pregnant or not. 

When a couple fails to conceive after more than one year, specialized care is needed to check their fertility and other causative factors. Therefore the couples needed to be educated regarding the available services to help them.

How long after intercourse can you participate in a pregnancy test?

Home pregnancy tests are done using urine. You pee in the early morning. It is not necessary to use early morning urine, but the results can be accurate when you practice the test in the morning.

Why morning?

Urine pregnancy tests provide readings based on the presence of HCG hormone in your urine. The early morning urine samples are concentrated and may contain a high amount of HCG hormone if you are pregnant. 

Home pregnancy strips or test kits are made by adding reactive chemicals which interact with the HCG hormone. There must be enough HCG hormone to act with the reactive chemical to provide a positive result. So, evidence suggests early morning urine samples are the best for a home pregnancy test.

When is the best time to have a pregnancy test?

When you wish to become a mother, you will be alert to your menstrual cycle. You will wait until you miss your period. So all sexually active women must be aware of their menstrual patterns.

You can install a mobile calendar on your smartphone to mark your menstruation. So you will receive notifications when it is close to the next menstruation. 

Home pregnancy tests will provide accurate results when you practice them after a missed period. HCG hormone needs some time to reach your excretory system. Therefore be calm and wait until you get the next menstruation date. 

When a woman experiences irregular menstrual cycles, you can't guess your next menstrual date. So you can do the test several times, starting ten days after intercourse. If you fail the test, repeat the test in the coming days. 

Can I have a pregnancy test before I reach my next menstrual date?

With the development of science and technology, extra-sensitive pregnancy test kits are highly sensitive even to a lower HCG concentration. You can use extra sensitive tests eight days following intercourse. 

Blood pregnancy tests can be done before you miss your period. Meet your physician and discuss having a blood pregnancy test. HCG hormone gets released into blood early than its presence in urine. 

Few things to know before going for a pregnancy test?

• The first weeks of pregnancy are critical because the fetus grows fast, and all the organs develop during the early pregnancy. Knowing your pregnancy soon may help you to continue a healthy pregnancy. So the following points will help couples avoid mistakes in their pregnancy tests.
• Wait until you missed a period to participate in a urine pregnancy test. Try to do the test with an early morning urine sample.
• Avoid drinking too many fluids before a urine pregnancy test.
• Read the given instructions within the packing or patient information leaflet before initiating the test.
• Use a clean container to collect urine. If not, anything on the container can react with urine to provide false results.
• Check the expiration date of the pregnancy kits before the procedure.
• Maintain records regarding your menstrual cycle. Mark them on a separate calendar.
• Use the urine up to the given limit. Never exceed the limit; if you exceed it, it can provide wrong results.
• Do not test your pregnancy soon after using fertility treatments
• Consume preconception vitamins when you wish to bear a baby.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol usage when trying to become pregnant.
• Do not use any contraceptive method.

Summary

You can wait around ten days after sexual intercourse to start pregnancy testing. If you are a woman with a regular menstrual cycle, you can wait until you miss your period.