Any girl seeking to have a child always wants to know if the cherished event has happened as early as possible. Fortunately, we live in the 21st century, and the arsenal of means for early detection of pregnancy in modern medicine is already quite impressive. Impressive, but imperfect: all diagnostic methods have limitations, and so far no way has been invented to check whether conception has occurred immediately, a couple of hours or days after the act of love. But, fortunately, it will not take long to languish in anticipation.

About what is the earliest period when the conception that occurred can be reliably judged, and on what day the pregnancy test will show a positive result, and will be discussed in this article.

Determination methods. How early can you find out about pregnancy?

All methods for early diagnosis of pregnancy can be divided into two groups: visual and laboratory.

Visual examinations include ultrasound or examination by a gynecologist in a chair, and laboratory tests include determining the presence of a special hormone in the body, chorionic gonadotropin (usually abbreviated as hCG). There are two main ways to determine the level of hCG - by taking a blood test or by making a well-known home urine pregnancy test.

Let's say right away that visual methods lag far behind the "chemical" ones in the speed and accuracy of determining pregnancy. It is physically possible to see a pregnancy on an ultrasound scan only from the third week of development of the embryo, and then only with sufficient qualifications of the doctor and high quality equipment, since. the ovum at this time is only a few millimeters in size. Examination by a doctor in a chair is also subjective, since certain symptoms (softening of the cervix, a change in its shape) only indirectly indicate the patient's pregnant status.

In contrast, tests to determine the level of hCG can be applied as early as a week after the start of fetal development and are free of uncertainty. An increase in the level of hCG (normally in a non-pregnant person who is absent) starts immediately after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, and serves as reliable evidence that the desired event did occur.

If we summarize the methods according to which of them is the fastest, we get something like the following list:

1. Blood test for hCG.
2. HCG test strip (urine).
3. Ultrasound.
4. Visual examination by a doctor

And since our article is about how to determine pregnancy in the first place, below we will talk in more detail about the level of hCG in the body of a pregnant woman and on which day it is worth taking a pregnancy test or running to the laboratory to donate blood.

How does a pregnancy test work?

The principle of the pregnancy test is very simple - the reagents in the test strip change their color if the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine exceeds a certain level (this level is written on the test box; standard tests start to show a second strip of 25 units of hCG. There are also highly sensitive tests , showing a second strip from 10 units of hCG.However, only an increase in hCG to a level of 25 or more is considered a reliable sign of pregnancy, since lower levels can be caused simply by physiological abnormalities).

On what day will the pregnancy test show a positive result?

Let's figure it out.

A positive result will appear only after reaching a certain level of hCG in the body, but how long does it take for hCG to become sufficient?

Most readers know that fertilization is possible only during ovulation. However, after fertilization has occurred, a number of events must occur, requiring a certain period of time:

The period from the moment of fertilization to the moment when the test shows two strips is counted from the date of ovulation and is made up of the period of several events:

1) Fertilization time (up to 1 day)

2) Time to move from the fallopian tube to the uterus (up to 4 days)

3) Time for implantation (up to 4 days)

4) Time to produce a sufficient amount of hCG (up to 7 days).

First, you need to determine when ovulation was in this cycle. There are a lot of methods for its determination - from “folk” calendar to 100% accurate ultrasound. If you are not familiar with them, we advise you to read the article "How to" catch "ovulation"? All about the menstrual cycle by day. "

Let's say you were able to calculate when ovulation was in this cycle. What's next?

Not later than one day after leaving the ovary, the egg must be fertilized. We add 1 day to ovulation, we get 1 DPO (day after ovulation) or 15 day of the cycle (for a 28-day cycle).

For 3-4 days, the fertilized egg moves through the fallopian tube into the uterus. It enters the uterus on 5 DPO or 19 days of the cycle.

The embryo (in which at this moment there are already about a hundred cells) needs 3-4 days to attach to the wall of the uterus. If everything went well, then at a maximum of 9 DPO or on the 23rd day of the cycle, the embryo will attach to the uterus (by the way, a number of pregnancies are interrupted already at this stage - if a normally fertilized egg simply could not attach to the wall of the uterus. This may be one of the reasonsinfertility ... Therefore, girls who cannot get pregnant for a long time in the absence of problems with the cycle must undergo a check of the endometrium of the uterus with a gynecologist).

So, after the embryo has attached, its outer shell (chorion, which will later become the placenta) begins to secrete the cherished chorionic gonadotropin. It is this hormone that blocks the onset of the next menstruation.

Before implantation, its amount is approximately 0-5 units. HCG level by day of pregnancy approximately doubles every day. That is, if the first day after implantation it is equal on average to two units, on the second day after implantation it will be equal to 4, on the third 8, on the fourth 16, and, finally, on the 5th day after implantation it will exceed the threshold of 25 units and will be equal to 32 mIU / ml. Recall that we had implantation on the 9th DPO (23rd day of the cycle), add 5 days to this and get that the desired concentration will be reached on the 14th day after ovulation or on the 28th day of the cycle (that is, 1 day before the start of the expected menstruation) ...

But this is the concentration of the hormone in the blood! The right concentrationHCG in urine by day after implantation lags behind that in the blood by about 1-2 days. That is, the test will be positive about 1-2 days of your missed period.

But there are ways to "cheat" a little and find out the information earlier. Here they are:

• Buy highly sensitive tests (look at the box in the pharmacy. It should indicate that the sensitivity of the test is not 25 mIU / ml, but, for example, 10 or 15).
• Collect more "concentrated" urine. The highest concentration will be in the morning urine, because it has been accumulating for a long time - that is whya pregnancy test should be done in the morning. And if you drink a few glasses of water and do the test after that, the concentration of the hormone in the urine will be much lower.
• Take a closer look at the test. Often, at very short periods, a very, very pale second strip is visible. If you notice such a "ghost" - it makes sense to repeat the test in a couple of days.
• Well, or just do not conjure with urine, but go to an independent laboratory and take a blood test for chorionic gonadotropin there. Of the disadvantages of the method, it is more expensive (the price of an analysis for hCG in Moscow is about 500-700 rubles, and the price of a pregnancy test is about 150).

Test positivity calculator.

To simplify calculations, we have created for youhCG calculator. Enter your cycle length in the box below and the calculator will calculate,on which day the pregnancy test will show a positive result.

And also a table of hCG by days after ovulation:

Output. On what day will the pregnancy test show a positive result?

Let's summarize all of the above.

How long before your period can you take a pregnancy test?

2-3 days before menstruation, if using a highly sensitive test and morning urine. However, the most reliable results are at the end of the first week of delay.

And some of the most common questions a girl has in connection with pregnancy tests:

The delay is too long and the test is still negative, how long to wait?

If the date of the last ovulation is known, and more than 21 days have passed since its moment, and the test is negative, then it is worth visiting a gynecologist to exclude the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy, especially if symptoms such as pain or spotting are present.

On what day will the pregnancy test test positive if the cycle is irregular?

If your cycle is irregular, calculate the latest date of expected ovulation. Add the length of your longest cycle to your last period and subtract 14. This will be your ovulation date for that cycle. Add about 15-16 days to this date - at this time the test should already show the correct result.

What does it mean if in a pregnancy test one strip is bright and the other is pale?

You are most likely pregnant. Repeat the test 1-2 days later on morning urine.

That's all. I hope we were able, if not to answer all your questions, then at least give an idea of \u200b\u200bhow my mother's body works in the early stages of pregnancy. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments. And if you have already found two strips on your test, then we advise you to read the article: “I'm pregnant. 5 things to do early in pregnancy ”

At what stage of pregnancy can the test already show 2 strips? If the cycle is 26-28 days, can it show on the 25th day? and got the best answer

Answer from Cranberry Kislyukin [guru]
on average, tests show 10-14 days after fertilization, and the cycle and the delay have nothing to do with it, it's just that ovulation usually happens 14 days before the delay.
but everyone's organisms are different and the amount of hormones is different, for someone it shows only 4 weeks after the delay, and for someone long before it.
the test showed me pregnancy 6 days before the delay, 7 days after conception.
so try, if there are 2 strips, then congratulations, you need to make a couple more different ones for fidelity, if one, then try later if your period does not start.
and it is not necessary to buy expensive tests, I have always used tests for 10 rubles, never let me down.

Answer from Natalia Tsybina[guru]
Shows me!

Answer from Natalia Popova[active]
better try after a day of delay

Answer from FUCK[guru]
if there is a delay of a couple of days it may show

Answer from Ninon[active]
better buy 3 more tests, and do it on the fifth day of the delay in the morning! and then there will be no doubt for sure! although on the third day I showed a delay! the main thing is to take tests from different manufacturers and different prices!

Answer from Elena[guru]
from the 1st day of delay

Answer from Maryska[guru]
test shows only after delay !! ! I usually take two different tests and do them in the morning on the first and second day of the delay. the result has never failed

Answer from Caroline[expert]
Most home tests are sensitive from 9 to 12 days of fertilization.
Doing the test helps to dispel doubts.
A blood serum pregnancy test (performed in a laboratory) allows you to detect pregnancy from 8 to 11 days of fertilization.

Answer from Albina Volkova[guru]
Can. But I don't have to :)

Answer from 3 answers[guru]

The early signs of pregnancy appear in women at different times, since everyone's cycles are slightly different. For some it is 16-18, for others - 20 days. But the main messengers of conception can be seen on days 21 - 22 of the cycle.

The very first signs - can you feel it?

The modern world offers a large number of means of determining pregnancy at the earliest possible date. Most often they are reliable in the first weeks after a delay in menstruation. Emotional, by nature, women can feel the slightest changes in their body and, even before the end of the menstrual cycle, suspect signs of a small life in themselves.

They are unlikely to name the exact date of conception, and the beginning of the cycle for each is marked on the calendar. Obstetricians will take this day as a basis in calculating the timing of pregnancy and the upcoming birth. Women planning a motherhood are more likely to get due date if they track ovulation, which often occurs mid-cycle.

The frequency of the cycle is different for everyone, most often it is a 4-week period, but it can be either shorter or longer. As soon as the fertilization of the egg has occurred, metamorphoses occur in the woman's body. For some, they do not immediately become noticeable, others feel the slightest nuances of physiological transformation already on the 16-18th day of the cycle.

The first are the most responsible and wonderful transformations

The zygote is a unicellular embryo that travels through the fallopian tube for about 6 days. Its purpose is a warm and nourishing womb. At the same time, the ovary produces a corpus luteum, which is then responsible for the production of the necessary hormones that support the onset of pregnancy.

The introduction into the wall of the uterus takes place on the 7th day (22 - 23 days from the beginning of the cycle). Small bleeding during these 2 days is possible, but not necessary.

On the 24th - 25th day of the cycle or on the 9th day after the birth of a new life, the ovum is arranged, its place is carefully guarded, and its outer layer signals the onset of pregnancy with the help of the hCG hormone.

The new hormone in the body works like a skilled and experienced leader. All systems work hard:

• a heart;
• lungs;
• kidneys;
• endocrine glands.

This mechanism starts a miracle machine, it is no coincidence that women even before the delay assume a possible pregnancy.

What signs can indicate a successful conception

The onset of pregnancy does not pass asymptomatically, the first signs are considered insignificant, attentive women will feel them:

• Bloody discharge 6-12 days from the onset of ovulation, if the couple had unprotected intercourse (similar to the beginning of menstruation, but the color is yellowish-brownish;
• An elevated basalt temperature up to 37⁰ or slightly higher lasts for a long time and does not change at the time of a delay in a new cycle - it speaks of a hormonal factor when progesterone works to provide the fetus and create better conditions for it;
• A sharp drop in t⁰, and then the restoration of an elevated basal temperature. Symptoms of chills appear, the face turns red, but a feeling of heat can suddenly come, it becomes stuffy. Change of heat and cold - the first signs of pregnancy on the 20th - 21st days;
• Breast conditions, usually painful before menstruation, may remain unchanged. In rare cases, on the contrary, the skin around the nipples swells;
• The feeling of overcrowding in the lower abdomen, due to the large flow of blood to the walls of the uterus, a woman can notice on the 21st - 28th day of the cycle.
• Changes in libido from 22 to 26 days indicate hormonal changes, desires may not arise at all or flare up with strong attraction.
• Lack of sleep, agitation, weak superficial sleep, early awakening may indicate conception on the 18th-22nd day - this is relevant.
• Lack of attention in the daytime, drowsiness and a depressed psyche will support the version of pregnancy as early as 22-25 days.
• A change in the smell and taste of familiar foods, even before the onset of the delay, will confirm the possible conception.
• The surest sign may be early toxicosis, on the 11-14th day after the conception has taken place, the expectant mother may experience nausea. On the 22nd - often vomiting in the morning.

The dependence of signs of pregnancy on fetal development

The most basic changes in the development of the fetus begin from 21 to 22 days of the cycle, and the first signs of pregnancy are most pronounced from this time.

The formation of the nervous system of the embryo affects the change in the work of the taste buds of the expectant mother.

The spinal cord, brain and heart muscle, developing in the womb, bring a headache to a woman, the sense of smell becomes acute, a woman begins to be annoyed by pleasant smells until now.

The level of hormonal changes on the 22nd - 23rd day, increases salivation, a state of mild nausea in the morning is the first sign of a successful conception. After this period, a pregnancy test in some girls may slightly stain the second strip.

From about 27 to 28 days, the signs become brighter. Certain food addictions appear, the woman is disoriented, she is embarrassed by smells or attracted, even those that she did not notice in the recent past. She often refuses to take her usual food. Spicy and salty foods are attractive.

So the body reacts to the lack of vitamins, trace elements, minerals necessary for the development of the fetus. A planned pregnancy should aim at consuming only high-quality and healthy foods from the first days.

If your period is late, you need to check your assumptions about a successful conception using a test. After 2 days, it is simply necessary to repeat the testing if the first attempt did not give a solid result.

Initial signs and a positive test are almost 100% maternity guarantee. A visit to a doctor will be necessary, and the sooner, the more calm the mother will be for the future life of the little man.

It is no secret that many women at the planning stage want to quickly find out if conception has occurred in the current cycle. Having barely started planning, expectant mothers stock up on tests in order to quickly see the cherished two stripes. But sometimes these stripes behave in a strange way: they seem to be, but it seems they are not! This is how a woman first encounters the concept of a "ghost" on tests. Some manufacturers of pregnancy tests are especially different, and give out a "ghost" in two out of three cases, regardless of the presence of pregnancy!

One of our readers shared her experience of determining pregnancy using tests from two different manufacturers. The girl began to determine a possible pregnancy even before the expected end of the cycle, and before the so-called "day X".

"Today I have the 26th day of the cycle. In the morning I did a test:

and it seems that he is quite "pregnant" ... Of course, I was hoping that the second strip would appear so early, but still I'm a little shocked.

The situation is this:

today is supposedly 12 days after ovulation (DPO) with a cycle of 28 days, day X is still only after 4 days. That is, there is no delay yet.

I am worried about the symptoms - the stomach somehow burns ... it doesn't hurt, it doesn't colitis, but I feel this stomach, the uterus itself ((((Periodically. And it started after I showed this test to my husband in the morning ... we have been planning a year, Well, I wanted to please him ... maybe in vain so early.

Or maybe these burning sensations in the stomach are due to nerves?

Has anyone had it that the test before the delay is about such a striped, and then a breakdown? Did you have a burning sensation in your stomach in the early stages? Please, if you have something to tell - do not be silent. And it's so hard. It has already reached the point that I'm afraid to go to the toilet, I'm afraid to see blood.

P.S. add tests on Day X and 2 days delay. Sensations - nausea occasionally, the stomach is good, but sometimes I still feel these burning sensations.

The fear that everything seems to me that there is no pregnancy at all does not leave me. I'm afraid to relax and believe. Now I already think that I will continue to be afraid both after the ultrasound scan and after the start of the movements ... I need to read less sad stories, probably ..

two different tests (two different manufacturers) on the 2nd day of the delay:

dynamics Wonder tests: note that the Wonder test with a sensitivity of 10 by 2 days delay shows a significantly fainter streak compared to the Evie test. Maybe someone will need this information to be less nervous.

dynamics Evie tests:

Here is an analysis of the tests. I, of course, liked the Eviks more, they are more reliable))))

AAAAApchhi on the planners !!! "

Pregnancy calculator - calculate your pregnancy term and find out how your baby is developing now!