Okay, sometimes the unforeseen happens when it comes to coition. In the hype of the moment, your partner can forget to put protection on, right. Yes, it can happen. Maybe this has happened to you now you’re concerned you might be expecting a newborn. You feel a bit stressed as you want to know as soon as possible. The next thing that comes to mind is ” How soon after unprotected intercourse can I test for pregnancy.”
Unfortunately, finding specific results is not always possible immediately. The truth is you may have skipped your contraception or a menstrual cycle and want to know if you’re preggers instantly. So how soon can you take your pregnancy test after lovemaking? Read on as the answer is sure to surprise you.
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After Unprotected Sex When To Take a Pregnancy Test
So how soon after sex can I take a pregnancy test? The short explanation! You can use a home pregnancy test from the first day of a late period. But according to Mayo Clinic, the best is to wait until after your first day of a missed period.
No, I don’t particularly appreciate waiting. I’m already nervous. The best results you find when you remain patient. After the produced sperm enters your vagina and combines with an embryo, it will travel and reach your implantation (uterine lining). Then it will form a placenta-producing HCG (hormone human chorionic gonadotropin.)
The hormone enters your urine and bloodstream. During early pregnancy, the concentration of HCG is ever-changing, with development every two to three days. So the test finds it difficult and becomes undetectable to register the HCG when you do it sooner.
Still, ovulation of your eggs can also vary from one month to another, and a fertilized egg can implant in your uterus at different times. In turn, this can affect the HCG production once detected. So if you have irregular periods, you can end up with a miscalculation when your menstruation is due.
These are all factors you need to consider, or it leaves you with difficulty when taking the analysis.
How Do Pregnancy Kit Tests Work?
Most home pregnancy tests identify your levels of hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (the pregnancy hormone) in your wee. The best part is it does not take hours for the result to show. The reason it can recognize it is that the levels increase when pregnant. So when you wee-wee on the stick, it states if you’re expecting. The best is to refer to the label of when you can do the test for the best results. For the best results, it helps to do this first thing in the day as your pee has a high concentration of HCG.
Great, but are they reliable enough? They are reasonably accurate but difficult to diagnose if you only missed your menstruation recently. The reason is that when you use certain medications or productivity drugs, it can also interfere with the results. Another concern is the chances are high. It provides a false negative. So you might be pregnant, but that sticky shows you’re not.
Great, now I’m even more concerned. How does this happen? It can happen from:
- Taking a test too early.
- Checking the results too soon and best to follow those instructions.
- You did not use your first pee in the morning for the test as water exposure lessens the results.
So if the result is negative and you have not gotten your period cycle, do the test again or make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Can The Positive Result Be Wrong?
Having positive results is rare with a pregnancy test but not impossible. It is the same as a wrong negative and known as a false positive reading. It can happen if you had a miscarriage after your fertile egg is attached to the uterine lining. It can also occur when taking your test too soon after using a fertility drug with HCG in it. Other concerns that can cause it are problems with your ovaries, menopause, or fallopian tube pregnancy.
What Pregnancy Tests are the Best?
You get two main types of testing for pregnancy urine and a plasma test. Here you can find the explanations for them:
Blood Tests
It is more precise than the wee test and can detect pregnancy about six to eight days after ovulation. However, the results can take weeks. Here are two the practitioner can use.
Qualitative HCG Test: it only checks the HCG, giving you a yes or no reaction. Doctors use these tests to confirm if you’re expecting ten days after fertilization, while some can distinguish it earlier.
Beta HCG: the test measures the exact HCG found in the blood and can find low pregnancy hormone levels. It can also help identify problems with pregnancies and be used to rule out ectopic pregnancies.
Urine Test
As you know, it is sticky, you pee on it and use it by doctors or at home. They are accurate if done correctly. You can do the test in three ways:
- You can place the sticky in your wee stream.
- Or you can collect your pee in a cup and place the stick into it.
- Lastly, you can follow the above method and use a dropper to put your wee in another cup to test.
As you can see, there are many ways to check if you are expecting a child after unsafe sex. So instead of wondering, you might be expecting, we recommend you contact your doctor or local clinics to make sure. Knowing is better than not knowing, right! If you’re expecting, it helps to start with prenatal care as soon as possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Tests
On the pregnancy test stick, you have two pink lines presenting your pregnancy hormone levels. You get the T that is the test window, and the C is the control window. You may find one line lighter than the other, meaning you have a retained product of conception. To see positive results, the two lines in the T display show up dark or faint in color.
You can take a home one after missing your period cycle but repeat it at least one week later for the best results.
You can feel pregnant from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and may have taken your test way too early.
There are rare cases where women and men believe they are expecting but find the indications caused by something else, and they’re not expecting. The signs are pseudocyesis, assuming you’re pregnant as you have the same body change symptoms. These can be from weight gain, backache, to nausea. For a man, it can also happen and is known as couvade called sympathetic pregnancy.
