How Early Can Pregnancy Be Detected?

When you are trying to become pregnant, the first question all women have is how early can pregnancy be detected? The answer is approximately ten to fourteen days after ovulation has occurred. This can be tricky for some women to figure out if they are not sure when ovulation has taken place. You need to know how long your cycle is and how a menstrual cycle works.

The simplest way to figure out whether or not you are able to test based on ovulation is to know what cycle day you are on. Cycle day one is the first day that you have your normal period. This does not include spotting, which is considered the last days of your last cycle. Typical ovulation occurs 14 to 16 days before your next period. If you have relatively normal cycles that do not vary in length, you can simply count backwards to figure out approximately when ovulation has occurred. Many web sites also offer conception calculators and calendars that can also be useful in detecting when one would fall pregnant in any given month. You just put in your information and let the computer figure out the possible time you conceived.

Today, most medical professionals will tell you to take a urine pregnancy test once you have missed your period by at least one day. There are some doctors who will have you wait up to a week. This is not needed as most tests in the drug stores today are sensitive to hCG, the pregnancy hormone, at levels less than 25 mIU/ml. This makes it very possible to get a positive test up to 5 days before your missed period. If you get a negative result, but have not gotten your period yet, it is still possible to be pregnant but not have enough hCG to be detected. The implanting embryo begins to secrete hCG when it implants. It can take 2-4 days after implantation for enough hormone to be detected in the urine. If you have missed your period by 2 weeks and still are getting a negative pregnancy test, see your doctor for a blood test. The blood beta hCG will tell you and your doctor if you are pregnant or not with the highest of accuracy.

Pregnancy is being detected in women at the earliest of gestations today. As soon as eight to ten days after conception, women are now able to see that they are pregnant. This has both pros and cons attached to it. Being able to find out early can help some women who need support to continue a pregnancy to term get the help they need fast enough. In some cases, early detection of pregnancy does not mean one will remain pregnant and many women find that their menstrual cycle comes on time and they do not remain pregnant. Once you find out with a home test you are pregnant, it is best to contact your doctor immediately.

References:

Ovulation-Calulator.com - http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/pregnancy-tests/early-pregnancy-tests.htm

WebMD - http://women.webmd.com/tc/normal-menstrual-cycle-topic-overvieww

American Pregnancy Association - http://americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/ovulationcalendar.html

Disclaimer:  The information provided within this site is not meant to be a substitute for a medical doctor's opinion.  This site is for informational purposes ONLY.  Please check with your medical practitioner before any type of treatment or prevention method is started.