Few minutes feel longer than waiting for a pregnancy test result. Knowing when to test and how to read the result can save a lot of confusion and worry.
Imagine your period is two days late. You take a test and see the faintest second line, so faint you hold it up to the window and ask your partner if they can see it too. Does a faint line count?
How pregnancy tests work
Home pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone made by the developing placenta after a fertilised egg implants in the womb. Implantation usually happens around 6 to 12 days after ovulation.,hCG levels rise quickly in early pregnancy, roughly doubling every two to three days in the first weeks. Tests detect hCG in urine once it reaches a certain level.
When to test
For the most reliable result, test from the first day of your missed period. Some sensitive tests claim to detect pregnancy a few days earlier, but they are much more likely to miss a pregnancy at that stage, because hCG may not yet be high enough.,If your cycles are irregular or you are not sure when your period is due, test about three weeks after unprotected sex.
Getting the most accurate result
- Read the instructions for your specific test
- Use your first urine of the morning if testing early, when hCG is most concentrated
- Avoid drinking lots of fluid just before testing, which can dilute urine
- Read the result within the time stated in the instructions; lines that appear later may not be valid
- Check the expiry date
What a faint line means
On most tests, any visible second line within the reading time, however faint, usually means hCG has been detected and you are likely to be pregnant. A faint line is common in early pregnancy when hCG is still low. Repeating the test two or three days later usually gives a stronger line.
False negatives
- Testing too early
- Diluted urine
- Not following instructions
- Reading the result too early
- If your period still has not arrived, test again in a few days
False positives and other causes
True false positives are uncommon, but positive results can occur with an early pregnancy loss (sometimes called a chemical pregnancy), recent pregnancy or miscarriage, some fertility treatments containing hCG, and rarely certain medical conditions.,An evaporation line, a faint colourless line that appears after the reading time, can also cause confusion. This is why reading within the stated time is important.
Digital vs line tests
Digital tests display words such as “pregnant” or “not pregnant”, which avoids confusion over faint lines. Some show estimated weeks since conception. Line tests are often cheaper and some are more sensitive. Both are reliable when used correctly.
What to do after a positive test
- Contact your healthcare provider or midwife to arrange antenatal care
- Start taking folic acid if you are not already, usually 400 micrograms daily
- Avoid alcohol and smoking
- Check any medicines with a pharmacist or healthcare provider
- Seek urgent help for severe tummy pain on one side, shoulder-tip pain, fainting or heavy bleeding, which can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy
Early pregnancy symptoms
Some people notice symptoms before they miss a period, while others feel nothing for weeks. Common early signs include tender or swollen breasts, tiredness, nausea with or without vomiting, needing to urinate more often, a metallic taste, food cravings or aversions, and light spotting around the time a period would be due (implantation bleeding).
Many of these symptoms also happen before a period, so they cannot confirm pregnancy on their own. A test is the only reliable way to know.
Ectopic pregnancy warning signs
An ectopic pregnancy is when a pregnancy develops outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It cannot continue and can cause life-threatening bleeding. It affects about 1 in 90 pregnancies.
Warning signs usually appear between 4 and 12 weeks of pregnancy and include pain low down on one side of the tummy, vaginal bleeding or brown watery discharge, pain in the tip of the shoulder, discomfort when passing urine or stools, and feeling faint. A pregnancy test is often positive but may be faint. Seek urgent medical help if you have these symptoms.
If the result is not what you hoped for
A pregnancy test result can bring a rush of emotions, whether it is positive or negative and whether or not the pregnancy was planned. It is normal to feel joy, fear, disappointment, relief or a mix of all of these.
If you are unsure about continuing a pregnancy, a healthcare provider or sexual health service can talk through all your options confidentially and without judgement. If you have been trying to conceive for a year (or six months if you are over 35), talk to a healthcare provider about fertility checks.
Frequently asked questions
Can a blood test detect pregnancy earlier?
Yes. Blood tests can detect lower levels of hCG and measure the exact amount.
Can medicines affect the result?
Most medicines, including antibiotics and the contraceptive pill, do not affect results. Fertility medicines containing hCG can.
Do cheap tests work as well as expensive ones?
Generally yes, if used correctly and within date.
But what if I get different results on different days?
Repeat the test with first-morning urine a few days apart, and contact your healthcare provider if you are unsure or have pain or bleeding.
Your next step: If your period is late, test on the first day of your missed period with first-morning urine, and read the result within the stated time.
Related: Emergency contraception options · The 12-week dating scan
Sources: NHS, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, US Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization.
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