When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?

July 31, 2023

If you’ve recently had sex and are feeling pregnancy symptoms like nausea or a missed period, taking a pregnancy test is a good idea. 

However, before you do, waiting at least a week after your missed period is best. If you do not track your period or if your cycle is irregular, test 3 weeks after you had unprotected sex. If you receive a negative pregnancy test but your period still doesn’t start, wait another week before testing again.

What Will I Feel Like If I’m Pregnant?

Not everyone experiences the same pregnancy symptoms; some women may not have any symptoms until their missed period. 

Early pregnancy symptoms can sometimes mimic premenstrual symptoms. For example, some women experience bloating, moodiness, fatigue and sore breasts. These symptoms are thought to be caused by hormonal changes.

In early pregnancy, you may feel premenstrual symptoms (cramps, nausea, etc.) and think your period is right around the corner. 

Some other symptoms of early pregnancy are, frequent urination, food aversions, and sensitivity to smells.

How Do Pregnancy Tests Work? 

Six to twelve days after conception, the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall and begins to develop a placenta.The cells that develop into the placenta begin producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that stimulates other pregnancy supporting hormones, start to appear in your blood and urine. The levels of hCG double every 2-3 days.

Pregnancy tests are designed to detect hCG levels in your body.

Confirming Your Pregnancy

Waiting to find out if you are pregnant is challenging, but we’re here to help. Take your next step at Crystal Women’s Clinic; we offer free, lab-quality pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. 

Schedule your free, confidential appointment today and we will be glad to help offer support and help you understand all your options about this process!