how soon should i test for pregnancy

It is generally best to wait until at least the first day of a missed period to take a pregnancy test for a reliable result. Some sensitive tests can detect pregnancy up to 6 days before a missed period, but testing too early increases the risk of a false negative because the pregnancy hormone (hCG) levels may not be high enough to detect. For more accuracy, waiting a week after your missed period is recommended. If your menstrual cycle is irregular and you don't know when your period is due, you should test at least 21 days after unprotected sex. Testing first thing in the morning may also improve accuracy because hormone concentrations in urine tend to be higher then.