When Is the Best Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?

September 5, 2025

It’s natural to want to take a pregnancy test immediately following unprotected sex or when your contraception fails, but waiting until the correct time is essential. Experts recommend not taking a pregnancy test until after your missed period.

Follow our recommendations to get the most accurate results. When it’s time, come to Nova Women’s Health for no-cost, confidential pregnancy testing.

Why Do I Have to Wait?

It seems like a pregnancy test ought to determine immediately if you’re pregnant or not, but that’s not the case. You need to wait until the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), begins building in your body.

Pregnancy tests determine pregnancy by detecting the hCG hormone in your urine or bloodstream. This hormone is only present when you are pregnant, but it takes several days to increase to a detectable level.

If you take a test too early, you may get a false-negative result. This result means the test shows you are not pregnant when you actually are, but it’s too soon to tell.

Are You Experiencing Any Pregnancy Symptoms?

A late period is usually the first sign of pregnancy, but your period can be late for other health-related issues like stress or a hormone imbalance. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as some early pregnancy symptoms:

• Tender, swollen breasts
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Increased urination
• Fatigue
• Moodiness
• Food aversions

Can I Take a Home Pregnancy Test?

Over-the-counter tests are reliable, but you must follow the instructions carefully. To avoid getting an incorrect test result, follow these steps:

• Check the expiration date.
• Read the directions thoroughly before starting the test.
• Wait until the first day after your missed period to test.
• Take the test first thing in the morning when your urine is most concentrated.
• Check the results after waiting the recommended amount of time.
• Retest in 3 to 5 days.

It is Possible to Get a False Positive

Although rare, it is possible to get a false-positive result on a pregnancy test. A false-positive result means the pregnancy test indicates you’re pregnant, but you aren’t. How is that possible?

Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. Because it takes a woman’s body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, it’s possible to get a positive pregnancy test days or even weeks after a miscarriage.

Get a No-Cost, Limited Ultrasound

One of the easiest ways to determine if you’ve miscarried is by ultrasound. An ultrasound can detect if your pregnancy is developing by finding a fetal heartbeat.

You qualify for a no-cost ultrasound if you receive a positive pregnancy test result from one of Nova’s tests.

Nova Women’s Health is Here For You

If you receive a positive pregnancy test at home, and would like to retest to confirm results, schedule an appointment at Nova Women’s Health. If your test turns out to be positive, we offer a no-cost, limited obstetrical ultrasound and consultation to help you determine the best next steps for you.

Get answers to your questions and the help you need at Nova. Contact us today.