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How Early Can You Detect Pregnancy?

By: Alyssa Ast

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Many women wonder how early you can detect pregnancy. The answer varies depends on which method is used to determine whether a woman is pregnant. Two methods can be used to determine if a woman is pregnant. A blood or urine sample can be used, both of which can detect pregnancy at different times. How early can you detect pregnancy depends on the level of the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone found within the blood or urine.

Urine tests can be taken at home or at a doctor's office, both of which test for the hCG hormone. The urine is collected into a container and a test stick is placed into the urine to determine the results or the test stick can be placed into the urine stream to collect the urine. How early can you detect pregnancy? It's recommended that urine pregnancy tests are used after the first day of a missed period. If the urine test is sensitive, you may be able to detect pregnancy early. If not, it may take up to two weeks after a missed period to detect pregnancy. Urine tests are said to be about 97 percent accurate when it comes to detecting pregnancy.

How early can you detect pregnancy using a blood test? The answer is based off of the type of blood test used. A quantitative blood test or a qualitative hCG blood test can be used. The first method tests the exact level of hCG within the blood and the second simply gives a yes or no answer regarding if a woman is pregnant.

How early can you detect pregnancy? Well, if a blood test is used, it's estimated the pregnancy can be detected seven to twelve days after contraception, whereas a urine test usually takes fourteen days after contraception to detect pregnancy.

Posted on: May. 22, 2011