Early Pregnancy Test

Everything about the early pregnancy test

Want to know if you’re pregnant? Then you can take an early pregnancy test. The result is reliable, but that doesn’t mean it’s always correct. We’ll explain how that works here. Are you simply too curious to wait regardless? Then an early pregnancy test is worth trying!

The regular pregnancy test

You take a regular test on the first day your period is due, which is 28 days after the start of your previous period. Or later if your cycle is normally longer or irregular. In that case, take the longest cycle length from the past six months and count forward from the start of your previous period.

When can you take the early pregnancy test?

So you can take an early pregnancy test sooner, 6 to 4 days before your period is due to start. Do use a different test for this though; a regular pregnancy test can’t yet detect whether you’re pregnant this early in your cycle. These early tests are simply available at the drugstore, pharmacy and online, and are labelled ‘ultra-sensitive’ or ‘early pregnancy test’ on the packaging. Check each test to see from when it can be used, as this can vary by brand.

How an early test works

Every pregnancy test measures the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine. The amount detected determines the result of the test. This hormone is produced by your body immediately after implantation. In the beginning there’s very little of this hormone, but it quickly increases a great deal, doubling roughly every 2 to 3 days. An early test is very sensitive and can detect the tiny amount of hormone in your urine. A regular test measures an hCG level from 25 IU/L (International Units per litre), while the early test can already measure it from 12.5 IU/L.

Morning urine

To get clarity as quickly as possible, it’s important to take a test with the urine that has the highest concentration of hCG, and that’s your morning urine. Even though you can take pregnancy tests at any time of day, for an early test we definitely recommend testing in the morning.

Is the early pregnancy test reliable?

An early pregnancy test is indeed reliable. But because sufficient pregnancy hormone isn’t always present at such an early stage, the result can be negative even though you may actually be pregnant. So a negative result doesn’t automatically mean you’re not pregnant. The test itself is reliable, but the result isn’t necessarily accurate.

Extra sensitive

Precisely because this test is so sensitive, it’s also more sensitive to other influences. Are you taking medication, have you had fertility treatment or a miscarriage, or is the cup you collect your urine in not completely clean? Then the result may already be inaccurate. Being ultra-sensitive is useful for such an early test, but it also has its downside.

Downside: period or miscarriage?

Another downside of the early pregnancy test is that a lot can still go wrong, precisely because you’re testing at such an early stage. If you hadn’t tested, you would simply have thought your period had started as usual. But if you did take such a test and it came back positive, that period suddenly becomes a miscarriage. And that brings up very different emotions than just the disappointment of a new period. Without wanting to sound negative, it’s important to realise that 60% of conceptions, around the expected period date, still end in an early miscarriage. So ask yourself whether you want to take such an early pregnancy test, or whether you’d rather wait another week until the day you expect your period.

Frequently asked questions about the early pregnancy test

What is the best time to take a pregnancy test?

For the most reliable result, take a pregnancy test on or after the day your period is due but doesn’t arrive. Want to test earlier? Then use an early pregnancy test, and preferably do so with morning urine.

How reliable is an early pregnancy test?

An early pregnancy test is fairly reliable. However, the earlier you test, the greater the chance that the pregnancy hormone hCG is still too low to be measured.

Can an early pregnancy test be negative even though you are pregnant?

Yes, that’s possible. If you test very early, there may not yet be enough hCG in your urine. As a result, the test can be negative even though you are (just) pregnant.

How early can you take an early pregnancy test?

With an early pregnancy test you can often test as early as 4 to 6 days before your expected period. Always check the test packaging carefully, as this can vary by brand.

What is the downside of an early pregnancy test?

The downside is that you sometimes test too early. As a result, you can get a negative result even though you are already pregnant. This can create unnecessary uncertainty.

Midwives in Amsterdam-Zuid: even if you’ve only just found out you’re pregnant

Have you taken an early pregnancy test and was it positive? Then you can of course book an appointment with us straight away. We’re here for you, whether you’re already pregnant or hoping to become pregnant. Come and visit the midwives in Amsterdam-Zuid and ask us your questions. We’re happy to help.