When to Test?

[maybebaby]

I know a lot of women on these boards seem to test really early. How many days past ovulation are you likely to get an accurate result?

I know obviously if you wait until your period is due, that's one way...But is it possible to get an accurate result earlier?

[Scooter]

An accurate, definitive result is different than an early positive. If you get a positive result, it is accurate, even if you test before AF is due. It is testing for hCG, which is a hormone made in pregnancy, so to be positive that hormone needs to be in your system.

If you get a negative result, it is not necessarily accurate until about 14 or 15 days after ovulation. A negative test before then may just mean that not enough hCG has built up in your system to register on a test yet.

The reason is implantation. The hCG begins to slowly be produced when the fertilized egg implants and then it is usually 2 or 3 days later you can get a positive test. The tricky part is that implantation happens anywhere between 5-12dpo, so you may get a positive test sometime between 7 and 15dpo, but you won't usually know when! (Sometimes people have spotting just after implantation, for a day or two, which helps you know that you can probably test early.)

That's why some women get really early BFPs while others don't get one until AF is already late. And the sensitivity of the test isn't the reason. ;) I hope I explained all that clearly!

[guinevere]

I know that Fertility Friend recommends waiting 16-18 days past ovulation to test.

It's possible to get an accurate result earlier but that doesn't always happen.
In my opinion it's better to save your money (buying all those HPTs!) and test later.

[karlatta]

I always start testing really early (9 or 10 dpo). I know it's not likely that I will get a positive test, because implantation may not have occurred, or may have occurred too recently, but I tend to think that testing is really fun, even if it's a BFN. I use Dollar Tree tests so that I'm not wasting so much money.

[Mystikal]

I believe the average time frame for a BFP would be 12-14dpo. I got my very light BFP at 12dpo, and a blazing BFP at 14dpo. :)

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

I bought two tests b/c I wasn't sure if it was too early to tell during the first. Sure enough I tested negative and then 2 weeks later I tested positive.

[maybebaby]

Thanks, ladies, especially Scooter for a very clear and detailed explanation. I'm already tempted to test at 10DPO, but I guess getting a negative result still leaves room for hope.

I can see how this process can make you crazy!

[Scooter]

Thanks, ladies, especially Scooter for a very clear and detailed explanation. I'm already tempted to test at 10DPO, but I guess getting a negative result still leaves room for hope.

I can see how this process can make you crazy!
You're welcome. And testing early is why BFN doesn't always mean Big Fat Negative--it means Big Fat Neutral! Good luck.

[Reenie]

BUMPING to ask a related question

If my usual LP is around 10 days, when could I test? Should I wait until 14 DPO, and if nothing, then test? Or since AF would be due around 10 DPO, test after that? :confused:

[jennylou]

If your usual LP is 10 days, I'd test at 11dpo.

[Ericka]

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[Reenie]

Thanks for the advice! :) Maybe I'll test 11 DPO instead of waiting any longer.

[Squee]

Hey ladies, I was wondering if you could help me with this question.

Ok so I charted this month and am at 12dpo. I bought a pregnancy test (FR) not FRER. Soo in the paper thingy inside it says can test as early as 1st day of missed af. I know alot of ppl get bfps on 12dpo and I checked what the hcg level is for this test and its 25. On the net tho so may not be reliable. So knowing when i ovulated would that mean I could take the teat earlier and have the possibility of a bfp if I was infact preggo or would it mean that I would not get a bfp if I was going to untill Im late which would be about 15dpo??

Sorry maybe a confusing question but I really dont understand!

[Soulmate]

There is no real concrete answer (sorry :( ). HPTs will pick up hcg a few days after implantation. Implantation can happen anytime between 7 and 12DPO (hcg is released only once the egg has implanted). So the answer is never based off of the timing around AF. The safest answer is to wait until AF is due or late, though 14DPO for anyone is a good time to test. If you don't mind seeing BFNs then 12DPO is o.k. but I'd use a more sensitive test.

[jennylou]

What soulmate said. :)

I've tested as early as 9dpo and got a faint positive. With this pregnancy, I didn't have the guts until 11 dpo, and got a very faint positive, almost more faint than the one at 9 dpo with my first pregnancy.

If you can deal with a BFN, and realize it might just be that (a neutral) then feel free to test. If it will upset you, I'd just wait until 14 dpo. Unless, of course, you know that your usual LP is longer than 14 days, in which case you might want to wait longer.

[Squee]

Thanks ladies! youve helped clear that up for me!

[Ericka]

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[mimieliza]

I like to test early. :) I got my BFP at 9 DPO with two different types of tests - FRER and an internet cheapie.

[Squee]

Wow I was confused for a second! didnt think I had replied to a thread like this. Thanks for merging them.

[Baby Lust]

My LP was 10 days and I didn't get a BFP until 14DPO, and I tested every single day starting at 9DPO so it's not always accurate if you get a BFN even after AF is late! :)

[maniach]

I have no idea when I O, because I don't chart and haven't really been able to get on a regular cycle. I went of the BCP in late March/early April and it took me a couple of months to get into the groove. First AF after pill was 4 weeks after previous and every one since has been pretty much 5 weeks after previous. Every 5th Saturday. I think my last one might have come on Friday or Sunday, I remember it being off by a day. Anyway, I have tested before because I felt "late" but this time, I KNOW that 5 weeks was this past Saturday and now it's Tuesday. I'm afraid to test both because I'm afraid it will be negative and I feel like if it is negative, I will get AF like 5 minutes after I take the test. So my question is to those who have been pregnant before... are there any other signs? I know morning sickness and all that, but it takes time for that to develop. Plus there are certain "I'm getting my period" signs that my body does. Like my monthly period zit on my chin (nice, right?) and my tender boobs. I got both of those this month. So I'm also wondering if you feel like it's a normal month and then AF just doesn't come by to visit? Or do you not even get any of AF's symptoms?

Thanks you guys, you are all really so helpful with all of this stuff!!

[Tonysweetie]

To ease your mind why don't you just take a test and see what it says. I know many months my periods would be late and I'd start wondering and then AF would show and it probably meant I O'd late. Once I started charting last September I always knew when I O'd so I didn't have that "scare" until the month I got my BFP which was last week. I didn't have my usual AF symptoms when I got my BFP. I didn't start getting PG symptoms until after it. Good Luck!

[flygirl]

maniach, here it comes..... Every woman is different :). That's the only answer I can give you. Many women are absolutely convinced AF is on her way, many have very sore bbs starting a few days after implantation, and just as many have absolutely no symptoms at all for the first few weeks. There are other minor symptoms women report, such as increased sense of smell & very juicy CM around the time AF is expected, but they are not at all indicative. The only way to know is to test :)