Can you take a pregnancy test before implantation bleeding

• Definition
  • What Are Pregnancy Tests?
  • What Do Pregnancy Test Results Mean?
• When to Take
  • When Can A Pregnancy Test Be Taken?
  • How Soon Will A Pregnancy Test Read Positive?
• False Results
  • Why Might A Pregnancy Test Produce the Wrong Result?
• Guide
  • How Soon Will A Pregnancy Test Read Positive? Topic Guide

What Are Pregnancy Tests?

In 6 to 12 days after conception, a woman may experience implantation bleeding. About 7 days after that, hormone levels in the urine are high enough to detect using a home pregnancy test. In general, take the test after you notice your menstrual period is late.

Pregnancy tests are used to verify if a woman is pregnant. They work by checking urine or blood for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) that the body produces when pregnancy occurs. This hormone is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, signaling the beginning of pregnancy. 

What Do Pregnancy Test Results Mean?

If pregnancy test results are positive, it means a woman is pregnant. If they’re negative, it means a woman is not pregnant.

When Can A Pregnancy Test Be Taken?

Pregnancy tests may be taken any time after a woman’s menstrual period is late.  

A woman may also choose to test after implantation bleeding has occurred. Implantation bleeding is an early sign of pregnancy. It occurs when a 6 to 12-day-old fertilized egg attaches to the inner lining of the uterus, causing light vaginal bleeding or spotting. About one-third of women experience implantation bleeding, which is normal and typically happens near the time of a woman’s next expected menstrual period.

About four to five days after implantation bleeding, HCG levels in the body reach detectable levels in the blood. For at-home urine pregnancy tests, it may take up to 7 days for HCG levels in the urine to reach detectable levels for testing.

How Soon Will A Pregnancy Test Read Positive?

While some pregnancy tests claim to work a few days before a missed period, the results are usually less accurate at that point. Some tests may be able to detect pregnancy hormones in urine as early as 10 days following unprotected sex, but the results are not very reliable, and women may get a false positive or false negative test result.

For women who have irregular periods or who do not get periods at all, testing about 3 weeks after unprotected sex may yield more reliable results.

If a test reads positive, a woman may want to check with her doctor for a blood pregnancy test to confirm the results. 

Most women who have a positive pregnancy test should wait a week or two before calling the doctor for a blood test. 

Why Might A Pregnancy Test Produce the Wrong Result?

There are 2 types of inaccurate results:

• False negative – the test indicates a woman is not pregnant but she is
• False positive – the test shows a woman is pregnant but she’s not

There are several reasons for inaccurate results:

• Urine is too dilute – this can occur if a woman drinks too much water or tests later in the day
• Testing too soon after unprotected sex – the body may not have produced enough HCG to be detectable 
• Using a test that does not detect lower levels of HCG – check package labels for which tests are more sensitive
• Using an expired test
• Not using a test right away after opening
• Use of infertility medications such as clomiphene (Clomid), menotropins (Pergonal, Humegon, Repronex) can cause false positives 
  • The manufacturer of Clomid suggests waiting three days between the last Clomid dose and the first day testing for ovulation

SLIDESHOW

References

Medscape Medical Reference

When you're trying to get pregnant, your senses are on high alert for any indication that you're officially a parent-to-be. One of the earliest pregnancy symptoms can be implantation bleeding, which happens when the fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus. About one-third of pregnant people will experience implantation bleeding, according to the American Pregnancy Association, and it often resembles a light period. Here's everything you need to know.

When Does Implantation Bleeding Occur?

Only about one-third of people experience implantation bleeding in early pregnancy. If it happens to you, it will occur 10 to 14 days after fertilization, says Lauren Barlog, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health at Rutgers NJ Medical School. "It typically occurs around the time of your next expected period."

In fact, because of the timing, some people might confuse implantation bleeding for a light menstrual period. They don't realize what it is until a pregnancy test comes up positive, says Zev Williams, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University Medical Center.

What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like?

Implantation bleeding will probably look different than your normal monthly period. The color usually ranges from light pink to dark brown (period blood is typically red), and it doesn't contain any clots. Also, implantation bleeding is usually lighter than a menstrual period. Some people don't even notice it at all—or they see a small amount of blood when they wipe. In some cases, implantation cramping can occur along with the bleeding.

How Long Does Implantation Bleeding Last?

Typically, implantation bleeding appears for a day or two (though some people only bleed for a couple of hours). Rather than consistent blood flow, it might be off-and-on.

How Soon After Implantation Bleeding Will You Get a Positive Pregnancy Test?

If you think you're experiencing implantation bleeding, what's the best course of action? Take a pregnancy test, says Dr. Barlog. Every test has a different threshold for sensitivity, but the absolute earliest you should take one is about four or five days before your expected period, says Dr. Williams. Otherwise there might not be enough pregnancy hormone (hCG) to give a positive result. If the pregnancy test is negative, repeat it in a few days.

When Should I Visit the Doctor?

Implantation bleeding isn't cause for concern, but if you're experiencing unusual spotting, it's important to recognize when symptoms might require a visit to the doctor. "If you are spotting but also have pain that's concentrated on one side, rectal pain, or a history of infertility or tubal disease, you should see a doctor immediately," says James Segars, Jr., M.D., director of Reproductive Science and Women's Health Research, and a professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Johns Hopkins Medicine. "These are signs that you could have a tubal or ectopic pregnancy, when the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, usually within the fallopian tubes."

And you also should see your doctor if you've had bleeding or spotting between periods for several months, because you may be dealing with other conditions such as fibroids or polyps.

Will a pregnancy test work before implantation bleeding?

Can you get a positive early pregnancy test before implantation?