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If you’re trying to conceive, you know all the stress that comes with it. As much as you enjoy getting nasty between the sheets, the weeks that follow will be filled with anticipation and eagerness. You cannot wait to get your hands on a home pregnancy test and see if you’ve been blessed with the good news. It’s natural for you to wonder if you’re pregnant and observe your different patterns. You might be craving a specific chocolate or ice cream flavor, or you might be irritable and experience changes in your appetite. It’s common that you mistake these symptoms for pregnancy, but it could also be PMS. You can never know for sure until you take a test. But you also need to know when is the right time to take a home pregnancy test. Scroll below to find out.
How Does A Pregnancy Test Work?
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The reason that you take a pregnancy test is to detect the hormone hCG, otherwise known as human chorionic gonadotropin. After fertilization occurs, your body starts producing the hCG hormone approximately six days later (1).
Taking a test is simple. We’ve all seen the commercials or television references that show a long stick you have to urinate on. After a few minutes, it shows you the result. Although the principle is the same in every test, it is designed slightly differently. Therefore, make sure you read and follow the instructions properly to get accurate results.
Can You Take A Pregnancy Test At Night?
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Most at-home pregnancy tests are quite accurate. However, there are a few cases where you can get a false-positive result or a false negative result. Some factors affect the results, and one of them is whether you take the test in the morning or at night. A pregnancy test detects the presence of the hCG hormone, which is released in your urine. However, the results might be more accurate in the morning due to a stronger presence of the hormone. At night, the presence of the hormone might be slightly reduced, which may show an inaccurate result.
Because urine is more concentrated in the morning, the hCG hormone has a higher chance of showing up on the test. Most of the time, the machine or test strips may not even pick up the hormone in urine at night, making it difficult to show the correct results. Even if you are pregnant, the test might show a negative result. Therefore, ensure that you take a home pregnancy test in the morning for the best results.
What Should You Look Out For If You Take A Test At Night?
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If you’re wondering when the best time to take a pregnancy test is, it is in the morning. However, if you take one at night, here are some things you should keep in mind:
- If you get a positive result at night, you are most likely pregnant. However, if you get a negative result at night, it might be inaccurate, and you may get a better result in the morning. But remember that a negative at night could also mean that you are not pregnant.
- There are a few things you can do if you want a more accurate result at night. Avoid consuming drinks with caffeine or artificial sweeteners in them. Avoid salt and drink plenty of water. Do not consume water for up to six hours before taking the test at night.
There you have it! These are a few things to know about taking a pregnancy test at night. If you continue to get the same result consistently, it is most likely accurate. However, to be completely sure, consult your doctor and get a blood test to confirm your result. Was this article helpful? Comment below and let us know.
