When Is the Best Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?

03/12/2025

If you’re wondering whether you might be pregnant, knowing when to take a pregnancy test can feel like a big question mark. Timing is everything—the difference between a reliable result and a frustrating guess. Pinning down the best moment to test puts you in the driver’s seat.

Here’s what you need to know to pick the perfect time and trust what that little stick tells you.

Watch for Symptoms

Feeling off with tender breasts, tiredness, frequent trips to the bathroom, or even nausea? These could be early pregnancy signs nudging you to test.

They’re not proof on their own, but if they line up with a missed period, it’s a strong hint that it may be time to grab a test.

Wait for a Missed Period

The sweet spot for testing is a day after your period doesn’t show up—typically about 14 days after ovulation. By then, your body has had time to build up hCG, the hormone pregnancy tests look for.

Testing too soon can lead to a false negative, so holding off until a day or two past your expected period gives you a solid shot at accuracy.

Take First Thing in the Morning

The best time to take a pregnancy test is in the morning, right after you wake up. This is because hCG is most concentrated in your first urine of the day. If you test later, especially if you’ve been drinking fluids, hCG may be more diluted, which could affect the accuracy of the results.

Double-Check if Unsure

Is there a faint line or a negative that doesn’t feel right? HCG doubles fast in early pregnancy. Wait a couple of days and try again at our clinic. We offer lab-quality testing that can give you results you can trust.

Get Free Pregnancy Testing

You don’t have to take this all in on your own. Crystal Women’s Clinic is your best first step for free and confidential pregnancy services. Our lab-quality pregnancy tests and ultrasounds confirm if you’re pregnant and give you critical details, you’ll want to know.