The earliest you can take a reliable pregnancy test is about two weeks after a missed period, but it can be as early as at least one week after a missed period before testing.
If you have irregular cycles, test three weeks after unprotected sex. If you get a negative result but your period still doesn’t start, wait another week and test again.
At our center, we offer no-cost, lab-quality pregnancy testing.
What Will I Feel Like If I’m Pregnant?
Early symptoms may mimic premenstrual signs like bloating, moodiness, fatigue, and sore breasts due to hormonal changes.
Women may feel premenstrual symptoms and think their period is coming when they are actually in early pregnancy. Other typical early signs include frequent urination, tender breasts, food aversions, and smell sensitivity.
However, the specific symptoms can differ widely from person to person. Taking a pregnancy test is the best way to confirm pregnancy, as the lack of apparent symptoms or the presence of premenstrual-like signs can make it difficult to know before a missed period.
How Do Pregnancy Tests Work?
The fertilized egg attaches to the uterus 6-12 days after conception, and the placenta develops. The placental cells start producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that rises rapidly in early pregnancy, doubling every 2-3 days.
Pregnancy tests detect these increasing hCG levels, making them reliable biomarkers for confirming a new pregnancy, even in the earliest stages.
Confirming Your Pregnancy
The Pregnancy Help of West Houston offers free, confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasounds to provide the answers you need to move forward confidently.
We also provide appointments where you can meet our staff, ask questions, and learn about your options
Don’t wait; schedule your appointment today! We are here to support you on your pregnancy journey.