When to take a pregnancy test before a missed period. When can I do a pregnancy test. About unreliable test results

If a woman suspects that recent sexual intercourse has resulted in conception, she will not rest until she finds out whether her suspicions are justified.

If it were possible, she would not refuse to find out about it the very next day after the act, so that she would have time to think, be nervous or rejoice.

To the delight of such impatient ladies, today you can take a pregnancy test before your period is missed, which means you can find out about your interesting situation at a very early stage.

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Today, pregnancy tests have become such a commonplace item that women who use them somehow do not think about their mechanism of action. Without knowing the principle of their operation, it is difficult to understand whether the test can be done before a missed period.

Recognition of pregnancy by rapid tests occurs by detecting a special substance called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine of the expectant mother. Despite the fact that this substance is often called the “pregnancy hormone”, it is present not only in the female, but also in the male body in a concentration of about 5 mIU/ml. 1-2 weeks after fertilization, hCG begins to be actively secreted by the chorion, and its level increases 5-20 times from the original. At this very time, it is detected in the urine, which is what modern highly sensitive tests react to.

How the test works

Depending on the type of analyzer, test results are shown as bright bars or digital data. Today women use the following types of tests:

  • electronic (digital) - the most sensitive type, usually for repeated use, some of the varieties can even determine the duration of pregnancy, the result appears in the window in the form of words or plus/minus;
  • inkjet analyzers are slightly less sensitive analyzers that work directly during urination, without requiring the use of urine containers;
  • tablet - plastic tests with a window for applying a few drops of urine;
  • strip tests - the simplest analyzers in the form of strips with an indicator substance applied to them, the result appears in the form of red stripes: one means “no”, two stripes - “yes”, pregnancy has occurred.

Before using this test, a woman will have to find a container for urine in which to immerse the strip strip in it.

The testing process usually takes about 7-10 seconds for urine to contact the indicator and 3-5-10 minutes for visualization of the results. Each type of device has its own deadlines, which are usually indicated on the packaging or insert for the test.

You can take a pregnancy test at any time of the day, as stated in the instructions for using the devices. It is known that the highest concentration of hCG is observed in morning urine, so doctors recommend performing a pregnancy test in the morning, especially if this is done before a missed period.

Will pregnancy show before the delay?

Modern ultra-sensitive analyzers with a sensitivity threshold of 10 mIU/ml are capable of detecting hCG at a very early stage. If the test is carried out before the delay (about 2-4 days before the expected onset of menstruation), it will certainly show pregnancy, if it has occurred.

If the question of whether the test will show pregnancy before the delay is no longer in doubt, the accuracy of its results is still not enough to determine pregnancy. Due to various circumstances, even an electronic test, which is considered to be as accurate as possible, can be wrong. Or rather, it is not the tester itself that is mistaken, but the body, releasing hCG into the urine and causing a false positive reaction of the indicator. This happens when:

  • a woman’s use of medications containing human chorionic gonadotropin;
  • recently undergone induced termination of pregnancy;
  • the presence of tumor processes in the female body.

In addition to false positives, false negative test reactions are also possible (when there is pregnancy, but the device does not detect it).

The reasons for this result are:

  • cardiovascular and renal pathologies that prevent the full release of hCG into the urine;
  • excessive consumption of water or diuretics shortly before testing;
  • carrying out the test too early (especially with an irregular cycle).

To avoid mistakes, you should exclude all possible provoking factors that affect the concentration of hCG in the urine.

Confidence level

In the annotations to pregnancy tests, fairly high figures for the reliability of the analysis are presented. According to these data, modern electronic tests have the highest degree of reliability - from 99%, if the tests are carried out in a timely manner, correctly and in accordance with the instructions.

When determining the duration of pregnancy, the reliability of tests, especially those carried out before a missed period, is lower and amounts to 92%.

4 most sensitive analyzers

Based on consumer surveys and clinical observations, the rating of the most sensitive tests includes devices from several brands:

  1. Clearbleu DIGITAL is one of the most expensive digital tests with a sensitivity level of 10 mIU/ml and a claimed accuracy of more than 99%;
  2. Evitest proof – cassette (plate) test with a high level of sensitivity and reliability;
  3. Frautest planning – a set of tests for ovulation and pregnancy determination with disposable containers for collecting urine for each test;
  4. Frautest express ultrasensitive is an inexpensive strip test with a sensitivity level of 15 mIU/ml.

Even when using the most highly sensitive pregnancy test, you should not count on its 100% reliability, since erroneous results are possible in some circumstances.

Pregnancy can be unconditionally determined using instrumental research methods (ultrasound), which should be done after passing the test.

The earliest test that can be done

If a woman is looking for the earliest pregnancy test that can show results before her period is missed, she should pay attention to Biocard HCG. Quick response and ease of use have made this cassette test popular among similar analyzers. The sensitivity of the device is evidenced by the fact that most reviews note the ability of this test to determine pregnancy before a missed period.

One of the most high-tech and highly sensitive tests, capable of “seeing” pregnancy in early stages(before missed period). In addition to stating the fact of pregnancy, this digital test “can” calculate the duration of pregnancy (again, based on the amount of gonadotropin in the urine).

Incorrect decoding of data when using ClearBlue digital is excluded, since the result is assessed not by stripes, but by absolutely unambiguous signs: + or – (plus or minus). The gestational age is indicated approximately as follows: 2+, which means more than 2 weeks of pregnancy. If this function is not of interest to a woman, you can choose a less expensive, but equally effective test from the same line without the option of calculating the period.

Positive result

If the test results are positive, the woman can theoretically be congratulated. But in fact, she still has to work hard to safely carry and give birth to a healthy baby.

First, you should visit a gynecologist and register. There is no need to put off this important task for any longer. late dates, since early examination allows to identify and eliminate possible problems with greater success than if this is done in a critical situation (for example, during). And the very fact of a positive result should be consolidated ultrasound examination, in order to more reliably determine the duration of pregnancy and calculate the date of birth, taking into account the delay of menstruation.

Finally, get valuable instructions from a gynecologist who will “manage” the pregnancy for the remaining 7-8 months, also preferably in the early stages.

If positive result turned out to be an undesirable event, the woman should all the more visit a doctor, think everything over and accept correct solution, perhaps the most important thing in her life.

Conclusion

  1. , regardless of their varieties, they work according to the same principle of action - they react to hCG, which increases in the urine of a pregnant woman.
  2. If the sensitivity of the test is 10 mIU/ml, it can detect pregnancy before a missed period.
  3. Despite the stated accuracy (99%), pregnancy tests can produce both false positive and false negative data.

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When planning to expand her family, a woman wants to find out about her interesting situation early. Tests can help in this matter. To choose the right date for them, you need to know on what day of delay the test will show pregnancy more accurately in order to avoid a false answer.

Features of the test

Before finding out what day of delay the test will accurately show pregnancy, let’s look at their main types. The variety and wide range of products makes it possible to choose the one that is suitable for the method of use, cost and quality. Today there are the following types:

  • Strip tests, the simplest and most cost-effective option. They are easy to use, you just need to dip the strip in the urine and wait for the reaction. The result is determined by the degree of hue change on the second stripe.
  • Cassette tests are more advanced; here the test strip is built into a plastic housing. The procedure for use is no different from the first option.
  • Inkjet tests are convenient because there is no need to collect urine. It is enough to place it under the stream. They are highly sensitive.
  • Electronic tests are considered the most accurate, the result appears on the screen, which frees you from comparing shades. They have a higher cost.

The principle of operation of strips and devices is to detect hormone content pregnancy hCG(human choreonic gonadotropin). It is produced by the outer membrane of the fetus (chorion) immediately after insertion into the endometrium. Therefore, it is clear that it should not be determined immediately after conception, when it has not been produced enough.

On what day of delay will the test show pregnancy exactly?

The fertilized egg attaches to the uterus within 7-10 days. At this time, hCG levels are low, and the most sensitive tests can detect it at a value of only 10 mIU/ml. This means that already on days 7-10 after conception the test will show pregnancy before the delay, if it belongs to the highly sensitive series.

There are approximately 5 days left until your period; you should not test before this period. Sometimes a faint color appears, but this cannot be taken as an answer, because the level of the hormone is still too low. To clarify, you will have to repeat the study after 4 days.


Highly sensitive test types

Having calculated on what day before the delay the test will show pregnancy in your particular case, you need to choose the right product. It is better to give preference to highly sensitive ones such as Ultra or Sezam, which react even to a small hCG value. But after a week of delay, anyone will show the effect: Evitest, Frautest, etc.

Rules for using tests

Having determined on what day of delay the test will show pregnancy accurately, it is imperative to follow the instructions in order not to distort the result. Why you need to know a few principles:

  • For analysis, take morning urine (for inkjet devices - any);
  • immerse the test in the container to the level marked on it;
  • be sure to adhere to the waiting time specified in the instructions and follow all its points consistently;
  • buy only high-quality devices from normal period suitability;
  • do not reuse them.

Methods for calculating test day

Great importance in determining after what day of delay the test will show pregnancy, the regularity of the cycle has. If it is 28 days, the calculation is as simple as possible: 15 days are counted from the day of ovulation (14th day from menstruation). This is the first day of the delay when analysis can already be carried out. But experts prescribe it 3 days after the date of no bleeding. And for the answer to be final – 7-8 days from the expected date. At this time, hCG reaches a level readable by the reagents of all tests (20-25 mIU/ml).

From what day of delay the test shows pregnancy in an irregular cyclic process is more difficult to calculate. The norm is the length between menstruation of 24-30 days. And when it differs significantly, then determining the moment of follicle rupture becomes difficult. It’s good if you managed to remember the cell’s release date by determining it in advance using tests, a basal schedule, or other characteristics. You need to count 15 days from it. This is the date for the primary analysis. But with such rhythms, it’s worth playing it safe and postponing the procedure for another week.

Late ovulation test

If the date of release of the egg is known, we add three weeks to it and carry out an analysis; if not, sexual intercourse is taken as the starting point and 20-25 days are counted from it. But with such a problem, you need to contact a gynecologist before planning a baby and determine the cause of the deviation. A course of hormone treatment may be needed to achieve balance.


It is most difficult to determine on what day of delay the test will show pregnancy during late ovulation, since implantation sometimes occurs literally before the next menstruation. Ovulation often occurs on the 19th day of the cycle, and the day varies from month to month. Perhaps, in this case, an ultrasound will not be superfluous, since this is the most reliable way to monitor the development of the egg and fetus at all stages.

At what stage will a pregnancy test show correctly?

When a woman’s ultimate dream is successful conception, she waits for the desired pregnancy every cycle. The girl is trying to see, feel the onset of conception, looking for early symptoms the birth of a new life, suspicious signs indicating imminent motherhood, etc. Naturally, even before the delay, the girl begins to check for the presence of conception using home express systems, hoping to see the two cherished lines. Will the test show pregnancy before the delay or is conducting research so early a waste of time and money?

An exciting period in the life of any family is the anticipation of the arrival of the baby.

After implantation of the embryo, the chorionic membrane begins to intensively produce gonadotropic hormone. Test systems are equipped with a special indicator impregnated with chemical, responding to the presence of this similar hormonal substance in the urine. Due to the presence of gonadotropin chorionic hormone, testing produces two lines.

  • If conception has not occurred, hCG levels will remain low, so test systems will not be able to detect the hormone, which will appear as a single line on the test strip. This strip is a control line; the line appears when the device is working properly and is working correctly.
  • If not a single line or only one test line appears on the indicator during testing, then such an express system is considered faulty, and therefore the results cannot be regarded as reliable.
  • If the rapid test is of high quality and all the rules for its use are followed, then the reliability of such a study reaches more than 98%.
  • Also, the reliability of test systems is affected by the timing of testing, because the content of hCG in the body increases gradually and reaches a concentration that the test can recognize only after a certain time.

All these factors must be taken into account when testing.

Test effectiveness

It is also important when you can take a pregnancy test. Gonadotropic hormone produced by the chorion begins to be produced in the blood a day after implantation. Every two days its amount approximately doubles. Can a pregnancy test be positive if there is no conception? In general this is impossible, although theoretically there are exceptions. In the body of any person there is a small amount of this hormone, only in alpha form. After implantation, the chorion produces another type of hCG - the beta form. That is why the two test strips appear only in the presence of pregnancy, because they react to beta-hCG.

The effectiveness of express systems depends on such an indicator as sensitivity. There are devices that are capable of detecting conception a very short period of time after implantation. Conventional strip strips, for example, can recognize pregnancy when hCG levels in the blood reach a concentration of 20-25 mIU/ml.

But there are also ultra-sensitive tests that can detect a hormonal substance in an amount of 10 mIU/ml; this is the typical content 7-10 days after conception has occurred. In other words, the concentration of the hormone, determined by ultra-sensitive tests, is achieved approximately 5 days before the arrival of the next menstruation, i.e., such a pregnancy test will already be able to determine an interesting position before a missed period.

Benefits of tests

A special calendar will help determine suitable days for conception

The use of home express systems has many advantages over other methods of determining pregnancy. Firstly, the pregnancy test is quite easy to use; it does not require any special skills, medical education or laboratory equipment. You just need to follow the instructions. Secondly, the use of such devices guarantees the patient absolute anonymity. You can do a study and get the result, but no one will be able to find out anything unless the patient herself wants it.

Moreover, a pregnancy test will show conception at a fairly early stage of gestation, when there are no obvious signs of an interesting position. The reliability of the pregnancy test reaches 95-100%, which is also considered a definite plus. Another advantage of express systems is a fairly large range of these devices with a wide range of prices. Therefore, any girl can choose an inexpensive and, most importantly, high-quality and most accurate test for herself.

Flaws

But despite the many advantages of express systems, each test can also have many disadvantages.

  1. For example, if the system for determining pregnancy has confirmed the fact of conception, this does not mean that gestation is occurring as planned, and the fertilized egg is located inside the uterine body. Unfortunately, such a device cannot show intrauterine pregnancy develops or ectopic.
  2. In addition, it can never be ruled out that testing does not show a completely reliable result.
  3. It may also be that it will not be possible to determine pregnancy due to the poor quality of the express system or the expiration date of the device.
  4. Some types of such devices are quite expensive and therefore are inaccessible to most patients.

As you can see, there are no ideal ways to determine pregnancy before a delay; each method, even such a simple and convenient one as an express test, is not without its drawbacks.

Kinds

Exist different kinds tests for home use. Strip stripes are the most popular among girls. They are first generation devices and are considered the most affordable in terms of cost. Such strips should be lowered into a portion of morning urine until the line marked on it for 10-20 seconds. Then the strip strip is placed on a dry and flat surface, and after a couple of minutes you can find out whether the girl is pregnant or not. Using the test is quite simple and convenient, and the results in most cases are reliable. Although such a device also has some disadvantages, for example, for testing you need to collect urine in a separate container, and you only need to use morning urine, otherwise there is a high probability of error.

It is best to check in the morning

More convenient means for this purpose are test cassettes, which are actually the same strip tests, only they are placed in plastic tablets. There are two windows on the tablet’s body; urine needs to be dropped into one, and a certain result is read in the other.

But the most modern stress systems are jet ones. When the test is placed under a stream of urine, the result can be assessed after a few minutes. This test will show pregnancy before the delay, because it is considered one of the best and most sensitive. Moreover, express jet systems do not require additional steps, such as collecting urine in a separate container, and therefore are considered the most convenient.

Rules

In order for pregnancy tests before and after a delay to show reliable results, it is necessary to strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations for use. Firstly, any test, regardless of whether it is done a week before menstruation or after menstruation is delayed, must be used only in the morning. It’s just that in the very first urine, which has not yet been diluted with drinks consumed during the day, the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin is as high as possible. Therefore, testing with such urine will show as accurately as possible whether the girl is pregnant or not.

It is necessary to do a pregnancy test before the delay, using at least 20-30 ml of urine, only it must be fresh, just collected; urine should absolutely not be cooled or frozen, shaken or shaken. If a girl’s circumstances are such that testing needs to be done in the evening, then she needs to limit her fluid intake so as not to accidentally dilute her urine, then the analysis will show exact result before the delay. If testing is carried out using a strip strip, then a clean container must be used to collect urine. The strip should be dipped into the urine for about 20 seconds, and after 3-4 minutes you can evaluate the results.

Why in the morning

Almost all instructions for tests indicate that the use of a pregnancy test before a delay should be carried out in the morning. Why is this so important?

  • The determining factor here lies in the renal activity and hormonal metabolism of the expectant mother.
  • Gonadotropic hormone is partially excreted from the body in the urine. The concentration of this substance depends on the volume of urine excreted.
  • The more it is released, the less hCG will be in the urine. Then home testing will not be able to show pregnancy before the delay.
  • Therefore, experts recommend testing in the morning with the first urine. After all, at night mommy doesn’t drink anything and doesn’t go to the toilet, so the level of hCG in the urine increases.
  • In the evening, a pregnant woman’s urine becomes diluted, and the concentration of chorionic hormone becomes minimal.
  • Throughout the day, it is gradually eliminated from the body, and by the evening it reaches very insignificant values.

If you do a test before your period, which has a high sensitivity level, then it will show a reliable result either in the morning or in the evening. There are types of inkjet tests that have an increased sensitivity of 10-15 mIU/ml; they can be used at any time, even before the expected onset of menstruation.

Why after the delay

Good news about the long-awaited addition to the family

Test manufacturers assure that their express systems can detect conception from the first day of a missed period. It’s just that chorionic hormone is produced in the mother’s body gradually, starting from the first day of implantation. A similar process, as is known, occurs approximately 7-10 days after fertilization. Moreover, at first the levels of this hormonal substance are negligible, so long before the onset of menstruation, tests will not be able to detect hCG in urine.

But every 48 hours hCG indicator doubles, so after a week it reaches a concentration that is already detected by the test system, which means that detecting pregnancy will not cause difficulties. But many girls do not want to wait until the delay and rush to do the research earlier. But can the test show pregnancy before menstruation or not?

Test before delay

So, the girl is really looking forward to conception, and almost immediately after ovulation she begins to do tests every day. But when to carry out pregnancy tests before the delay, so that they give the most reliable results. Experts say that even the most super sensitive test systems do not show accurate results if testing is carried out before the delay.

Here we need to look into it in more detail. A woman with a regular menstrual cycle usually never experiences delays, and her ovulatory period occurs in the middle of the cycle. If menstruation begins on the 30th day of each cycle, then ovulation occurs on the 15th day, if the cycle is 28 days, then on the 14th day, etc. Fertilization can occur on the ovulatory day or within 2 days after that. The sperm fuses with the female cell, then it travels through the fallopian tube for another 7-10 days to the implantation site. At about 22-25 days of the cycle, you can take a blood test and it will be able to detect hCG and confirm the fact of conception.

But will the test show pregnancy before your period? Girls who can't wait right time This question often plagues me. The most accurate and ultra-sensitive test systems are able to detect conception approximately 4 days before the next menstruation. If you did not know whether it is possible to determine pregnancy before a delay, then experts confirm that this is possible.

If everything is clear with a normal pregnancy, then with an ectopic pregnancy there are many ambiguities. Does the test show ectopic pregnancy before the delay? During ectopic gestation, the cell is implanted outside the uterus, so hCG is produced in small quantities. Therefore, if the ovum is ectopic, testing before the delay shows the absence of pregnancy.

Probability of error

Sometimes express systems produce not entirely reliable results. Why does this happen?

  • If you do the test before the delay, the reliability drops to 85-90%.
  • If the test is carried out too early, chorionic gonadotropin will not have time to reach the required concentration, and the test will produce a negative result.
  • A similar picture is observed if the patient drank a lot of liquid before testing, the urine becomes diluted, hormonal levels falls.
  • An expired rapid test may give a false positive result when there is no pregnancy.

Home diagnostics using pharmacy test devices can produce erroneous results if the tests were stored incorrectly or the girl uses an expired product.

Decoding the result

Interpretation of results is important in rapid testing. A result should be considered positive if menstruation is delayed, and two clear and bright stripes are visible on the device. If testing is carried out in the early period (the day before the delay or on its first day), then the second strip may be somewhat dull and weakly expressed.

The absence of pregnancy is confirmed only if one clear feature is visible, which often happens when the patient starts testing too early. With this result, it is recommended to re-diagnosis after 3-4 days. There are interesting situations when the express system does not show a single lane at all. In this case, the result is considered unreliable.

Sometimes girls begin to look for options on how to determine pregnancy without a test in order to find out about their condition long before the delay. In fact, pregnancy is considered to have taken place only after implantation, which occurs about a week before the delay. Whatever the test, it will not be able to detect conception at this stage. But a blood test for hCG may well determine an interesting situation in the first couple of days after implantation.

Doctors recommend taking a pregnancy test after your expected period. This way the test will surely show the correct result. But what if you can't wait to find out if you're pregnant before you even know you're pregnant?

The body of a pregnant woman can give signals about a restructuring of the cycle at its earliest stages. Here are a few of the symptoms:

A few days after conceptionTwo weeks after conception
Sensitive breastsDelayed menstruation
Drowsiness and fatigueMinor bleeding
IrritabilityBloating, constipation, heartburn
Nausea, vomiting and dizzinessIncreased urination
HeadacheBreast swelling
InsomniaDarkening of the nipple areola
Changing taste preferencesRunny nose
Body temperature 37 - 37.5 degreesExacerbation of chronic diseases
Increased salivation
Enhanced sense of smell

These sensations do not affect everyone in the same way and in some cases may be completely absent. Therefore, there is no more reliable way to confirm your guesses than to take a pregnancy test. However, if you want to do it before your period starts, it is important to know a few nuances.

What determines the test results?

Most tests - thin stripes made of thick cardboard, onto which a substance is applied that interacts with the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). When the hormone in the urine hits the strip, the substance changes color. However, in the body of a non-pregnant woman, the concentration of hCG is too low for the test to show a positive result. Its level increases only when fertilization of the egg occurs. This is how the woman’s body begins to prepare for bearing a child: the hormone blocks the work of the ovaries, changing the usual cycle, and thereby prevents another pregnancy.

How to find out about pregnancy before delay

The hCG level increases gradually. Therefore, most tests are unlikely to show correct results too early. A regular pregnancy test with a sensitivity of 20-25 mIU/ml will be able to recognize an increase in hormone concentration no earlier than 1-2 days after the delay or 15-16 days after ovulation, if you know its exact date. For a more accurate result, it is recommended to try again 2 days after the first test.

There are also tests that are more sensitive to hCG, which can be used to find out about pregnancy even before the start of the menstrual cycle. Highly sensitive tests work on the principle of immunotographic analysis of the level of hCG in urine. Such tests are more expensive, but their sensitivity of 10 mIU/ml allows you to determine fertilization already on the 7-10th day from the moment of expected conception, that is, approximately 5 days before the expected date of the onset of menstruation. In order for testing to show accurate results, be sure to follow all instructions in the instructions exactly. Lower the test to the indicated red line - no lower or higher, keep it in the urine exactly as long as indicated in the instructions. Otherwise, the test will give a false result.

One of these ultra-sensitive tests is the BB test, developed by a French company. The developers of this test claim that it gives the most accurate results because the reagent of its control strip contains special antibodies that bind exclusively to hCG hormone, while other hormones do not affect them in any way.

You can take a pregnancy test before your delay by drawing blood in a private clinic. In this way, you can find out the exact result at the earliest stages, since the level of hCG in the blood increases faster than in a woman’s urine.

February 28, 2017 Author admin

When planning a pregnancy, a woman eagerly awaits confirmation of her hopes.

If previously a joyful event could be recognized by the absence of menstruation, modern technologies make available an express method - an accurate determination of conception using a test.

Some test models are so advanced that they can detect pregnancy several days before the delay.

From the moment of conception, a special hormone begins to enter the woman’s blood - chorionic gonadotropin, produced by the chorion. A day later, hCG appears in the woman’s urine. At the same time, the speed with which the level of the substance is growing is surprising. Within every 2 days, the volume of the hormone doubles.

If the menstrual cycle lasts longer, 30-36 days, then any pregnancy test can show a positive result a little earlier than the delay, about a week before the date of the expected period.

However, this does not always happen. In women with a longer menstrual cycle, the first part is most often enlarged, when the endometrium prepares for the implantation of the egg.

The second half of the cycle usually lasts no more than the standard - 12-14 days. For example, if a woman has a menstrual cycle of 35 days, the first phase is 21 days, and the second is 14 days. Consequently, during fertilization, the hormone concentration required for accurate testing will be achieved only in the first days of a missed period.

However, detecting pregnancy before delay is possible if ultrasensitive systems are used.

Tests that determine pregnancy before delay include all tests with a sensitivity of 10-15 mIU/ml.

With their help, you can get a reliable result already 10-11 days after fertilization, since by this time the urine will be 8-16 mIU/ml, but only if the implantation of the embryo occurred no later than the 7th day after the moment of conception.

The implantation of the embryo into the uterine mucosa does not necessarily occur on the 7th day; it can occur after 8 or 10 days. In this case, ultra-sensitive tests will be negative and will not be able to provide a reliable result before the delay.

However, implantation of the egg may occur earlier, in which case the test will show a positive result a week before the delay. It all depends on individual characteristics menstrual cycle, anatomical structure of the female reproductive system.

Having decided to use the test before a delay, it is better to pay attention to the products of reliable manufacturers who have held leading positions in this field for a long time. These include tests:

  • Frautest express with a sensitivity of 15 mIU/ml;
  • Test strips "Evitest"
  • Mom Test ultrasensitive;
  • Premium diagnostics;
  • BB test;
  • Test for Best.

However, the manufacturers themselves admit that the reliability of such tests does not exceed 55% if the urine test was carried out before the first day of the delay. That is why it is recommended not to trust too much the results of tests carried out before the expected time of the onset of menstruation and be sure to repeat the test a few days later.

Personal experience

My first pregnancy, like all subsequent ones, was planned. Therefore, within a few days after conception, I began to listen to my body. From early signs pregnancy, only terrible pain in the mammary glands was noted. The rest was as usual. It was this fact that made me take a pregnancy test. I really wanted to quickly find out the result of my efforts with my husband. And so, a week before the day of my expected period, I took a test.

I bought a regular cheap test with a sensitivity of 25 mIU/ml. He showed a barely noticeable second stripe. A day later I repeated the test - the second strip became brighter. After another 2 days I did the 3rd test - the second strip was equal in color intensity to the first. There really was a pregnancy. A week later this was confirmed by ultrasound.

The second time (when planning a second child), I decided to wait for a delay, since I could not get pregnant within 6 months. And every month I spent a lot of tests, but there was no result. So, in that month, when I didn’t think that I was pregnant (there were no sensations at all indicating a possible conception), my period never came. I already did the test after a delay and it showed a bright second stripe.

The 3rd time I decided to test again before the delay. I took 2 tests 1 day apart. Both tests were negative. However, my period never started. On the first day of the delay, I took another test - it showed a weak second line. I was even scared that it might be ectopic. But a week later, an ultrasound scan revealed a fertilized egg in the uterus. Everything was fine and the pregnancy was progressing!

Why in one case the test showed pregnancy before the delay, and in the other not, remains a mystery to me. But I think that it still depends on the date of conception, on the length of the cycle (during the first pregnancy, the length of the cycle was 33 days, then the cycle became shorter), and on how quickly the embryo implants in the uterus. After all, the fertilized egg, which has safely reached the uterus, can remain in limbo for up to 2 days.

The conclusion is this: you can do tests before the delay and it is even very likely that a weak second line will appear. But still, it is better to do a control test from the first day of missed menstruation.