Can I Take A Pregnancy Test One Week After Conception?
Pregnancy is an exciting period for many would-be-mums. The thought of carrying a new life inside your body is an incredible experience for any woman. But before you get too ahead of yourself, you will want to know for sure if the conception was successful and you are now pregnant. So, the obvious question is: Can I take a pregnancy test one week after conception?
What is Conception?
Conception is the period when a sperm fertilises an egg after sexual intercourse. This usually takes place in the fallopian tube and marks the start of a brand new baby. At this stage, the fertilised egg starts to divide and form several new cells.
1-Week After Conception
The fertilised egg normally takes up to seven days to travel down the fallopian tube and get implanted in the uterus. Once this implantation happens, your body starts to produce certain hormones such as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). This is known as ‘The Pregnancy Hormone’ and it will start to increase after the nest of cells (blastocyst) attaches itself to the uterine wall.
Taking the Pregnancy Test
Various types of pregnancy tests are available at the local pharmacies. These tests analyse the levels of hCG in the urine. The results will be positive if your urine sample has enough hCG present in it.
So back to our initial question:
Can I Take A Pregnancy Test One Week After Conception?
The answer is both yes and no. The time frame after implantation when the pregnancy test becomes reliable varies. It depends on the pregnancy test brand and the sensitivity of the test.
For example, some pregnancy tests can provide a reliable result 6 days after the initial conception while others might take up to 7 or 8 days.
Limitations of Home Pregnancy Tests
- Some tests are less accurate in the early stages.
- Results can be falsely negative or positive.
- A test taken too soon may not detect hCG yet.
What to Do if the Test is Negative
If your results are negative, wait for a few days, and take another test. Or you can consider getting a blood test from a doctor at their office.
It is always best to take the test before your missed period as it will be more accurate and this way, you will be able to plan for a healthy pregnancy and any related dietary supplements or medication.
Welcome to my fertility blog. This is a space where I will be sharing my experiences as I navigate through the world of fertility treatments, as well as provide information and resources about fertility and pregnancy.
