In case you are trying to conceive, the most difficult thing you will have to do is waiting. In case you would like to have an early pregnancy test, waiting two weeks may seem too long. This is why you may wonder whether you really have to wait those two weeks.
Information about testing during early pregnancy
Thanks to the advancements of technology now you have the possibility to have a pregnancy test in your own home even before you miss your first period. The time when you can use the test depends on the kind of test that you opt for.
How the testing during early pregnancy works?
No matter whether you are using a blood test or a urine test, they all have the same basics. Both of them test for hCG that is a pregnancy hormone. In many cases the doctors are using the same tests that you could also use at home. The tests are using a substance that changes color when it contacts hCG.
The early pregnancy test done with blood has the advantage that it can determine the exact amount of hCG of the blood, while the urine test can only tell whether you are pregnant or not. It is believed that a woman is pregnant in case the hCG level is above 5mIU/L.
The time for testing during early pregnancy
The advantage of the newest tests is that they can detect really low levels of hCG. In case you are using such a sensitive test, you could get an accurate result only 7 days after conception. Keep in mind that conception can take place about 7-10 days after ovulation. Also you should know that women produce different levels of hCG.
When thinking about early pregnancy test you may figure that the hCG levels could fluctuate, but there is a pattern in this fluctuation. According to this pattern, the levels double every 2-3 weeks. You may be using a pregnancy test quite early, but it is possible that fertilization didn’t happen yet.
In case you are considering testing during early pregnancy you should also be prepared for the fact that you may not produce enough hCG for it to be detectable by the tests. In order to achieve an accurate result it is best to wait until the first missed period or 14 days after your ovulation. If you can’t wait any longer, you could take the test 7 days after ovulation.
What is hCG?
Regarding early pregnancy test many times people are talking about this hormone. HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin and it is produced during the early stages of pregnancy. Its main purpose is to support the development of the baby through stimulating the estrogen and progesterone production.
In case you are thinking about testing during early pregnancy you may know that the baby goes through several developmental stages. When the sperm fertilizes the egg, a zygote is formed. As the zygote develops, it creates an outer layer known as trophoblast. This is what actually produces hCG.
Naturally this happens only when the egg implants into the uterus, and this is when you can use early pregnancy test. Ovulation usually takes place on the 14th day of the cycle and if the zygote is formed that travels through the fallopian tubes and gets implanted into the lining of your uterus.
In case you are interested in testing during early pregnancy you should know that the hormone is produced only when the zygote gets implanted into the wall of the uterus. When this happens, you can use the early pregnancy test.
