Pregnancy test debate

[milly143]

We're having what is becoming a heated debate in the office about how soon after conception a test will tell you if you are pregnant. I thought it was about a month but one of the girls is saying as little as 2 weeks. Anyone know what the actual answer is?

[teag1rl]

think you can find out fairly soon, but early on it can tell you you're not when you actually are. one friend of mine took 8 tests which varied from no you're not to yes you are to no your not and back again, I think the brands differ quite a lot and maybe someone can advise as to the most reliable. But the doc's might be best bet!

[sam82]

Dont know if this helps,

From the moment you become pregnant, your body begins producing hCG, the pregnancy hormone. This hormone doubles every 36 to 48 hours as your pregnancy progresses, reaching its peak at 8-10 weeks. Most at-home pregnancy tests detect hCG in urine around the first day of a missed period.

First response brand says it can produce a result 5 days before your period is due

[Bluemukka]

Conception usually happens around two weeks after the first day of your last period. So if you have a 28 day cycle, you can fall pregnant between days 13 and 17.

Two weeks after that your next period is due - and of course I don't need to tell you that a sign of pregnancy is no period at all. Cycles do vary but two weeks after conception is about right. If you visit parenting websites and have a look at their "conception" boards, you will see them referring to the time as the "2 week wait', the agonising (for many) time to see if they have fallen pregnant.

Also, when working out how far a pregancy is advanced, doctors work from the first day of the period. So lets say your last period started on the 1st of January. You conceive on the 14th of January and then realise that you didn't get a period that was due on the 29th Januray. You are classed as being 4 weeks pregnant (even though it is only two).

HTH's

[alijangra]

A test can be used from the day your period would normally be due, so in that case it can be a about two weeks as thats when you ovulate