You can take a pregnancy test as early as 6 days before your missed period with some of the most sensitive home pregnancy tests, which can detect very low levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine
. However, testing this early carries a risk of false negatives because hCG levels may not yet be high enough to be detected by the test
. Typically, hCG starts to appear in urine about 7 to 9 days after ovulation, which is shortly after the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall
. For the most accurate results, it is recommended to wait until the day of your missed period or later, when pregnancy tests are over 99% accurate if used correctly
. Testing with the first urine of the day is advised when testing early, as hCG concentration is highest then
. If you test too soon and get a negative result, it may be because the hormone levels are still too low, so retesting a few days later is recommended if you still suspect pregnancy
. Blood tests can detect pregnancy earlier than urine tests because they measure smaller amounts of hCG, but home urine tests are generally sufficient for most women
. In summary:
- Earliest detection: about 6 days before missed period with sensitive tests
- Reliable detection: on or after missed period with over 99% accuracy
- Testing too early can lead to false negatives
- Use first morning urine for early testing
- Retest if negative but pregnancy is suspected
This timeline reflects that it can take up to two weeks from intercourse to a positive pregnancy test due to the time needed for fertilization, implantation, and hCG production
