Wondering on what day after ovulation (DPO) you should take a pregnancy test?
It’s often recommended to wait until 14 days after ovulation (DPO) to take a pregnancy test. This is about 14 days after ovulation, which usually coincides with when your period is due to start. This is when enough of the “pregnancy hormone” hCG will be circulating in your body to produce a positive result on a pregnancy test.
Unfortunately, waiting that long for a test can be difficult, but if you can be patient, the accuracy of the test is very high.
Whether you’re hoping for a positive result or you’re trying to avoid pregnancy and want to know as soon as possible if you’re pregnant, there are a few things to keep in mind if you take a pregnancy test early.
What is a DPO?
DPO (days after ovulation) is a common acronym related to fertility. It refers to the time period between ovulation and the start of your next period.
Timing of DPO Pregnancy Test: Why it matters
Implantation of the fertilized egg can occur as early as 5-6 days after conception. Once the embryo implants, it produces a hormone called hCG. When hCG levels rise to a certain level, it can be detected in urine using a home pregnancy test kit.
Some pregnancy test kits can detect hCG in urine as early as 8 days after conception, but it’s generally recommended to wait until 14 days after conception for best accuracy.
How accurate are home pregnancy test kits?
The accuracy of a home pregnancy test depends on several factors, including:
- On what day of your cycle do you ovulate?
- Accuracy of ovulation date
- How long does it take for a fertilized egg to implant?
- hCG levels
Even for people who have regular menstrual cycles and track ovulation, there is no way to know exactly when fertilization and implantation will occur.
Because these factors can vary widely, it’s generally recommended to wait at least 14 days after ovulation (DPO) before taking a pregnancy test, so the results are more likely to be accurate.
What happens if I test too early?
Before you lug a pregnancy test into the bathroom, consider the possible side effects of taking the test too early.
disappointment
The chances of getting a positive result on day 10 of your ovulation cycle are very low, so testing too early can lead to inaccurate (and disappointing) results if you’re trying to conceive, even if you’re already pregnant.
What about early pregnancy tests that allow you to test and confirm pregnancy before your period is late? If used correctly, these tests can give a positive result 1-2 days before your expected period (for example, day 12 of your menstrual cycle instead of day 10).
But an early negative result can always be false, meaning you should wait a few more days and test again.
The outcome is unknown.
A negative early pregnancy test doesn’t clear up any doubts — it just confirms that no pregnancy hormones were detected in your urine.
Fertilization and implantation take several days, so testing before that time will not give a positive result even if you are pregnant.
Chemical pregnancy
Although rare, early pregnancy tests can detect a chemical pregnancy (a very early type of miscarriage). Because miscarriages happen so early, most people don’t know they’re having a miscarriage.
If you don’t try, you’ll have your period without knowing that you’re not fertile. Only you can decide if you want to know about a pregnancy, even if it’s not viable.
perturbation
The two-week wait between ovulation and your expected period can be a stressful and anxious time. Testing early can help you manage your anxiety, but it can also add to your stress, especially if the results are unclear.
You can also try other coping techniques, such as journaling, meeting up with friends, or exercising, to deal with your emotions during this time.
False results from fertility treatments
If you are undergoing fertility treatment, an early pregnancy test can detect the hormones used in your treatment.
Specifically, when you take an ovulation-inducing injection (hCG injections sold under brand names such as Ovidrel, Novare, Pregnyl, and Profaci), you inject the pregnancy hormone into your body.
This means that if you take a pregnancy test the day after the injection, you will get a false positive result even if you are not actually pregnant.
To avoid the risk of false positives in fertility treatments, you should wait at least 10 days after the injection before testing. Alternatively, you can wait until your reproductive health provider confirms your pregnancy for more accurate information.
value
The cost of a pregnancy test depends on the type you buy, but even super cheap pregnancy tests bought in bulk can add up over time.
If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than a few months, you’ll be doing a lot of testing. Testing too early won’t give you a definite answer, so it can be helpful to save the tests until a time when they’re likely to be more accurate.
