

Some pregnant women may not have detectable amounts of hormones in the urine when they test, even on the day of their expected period. While these are pretty strong numbers, it is important to note that there is significant variability among individuals that could affect these results. They give the following numbers on their website: In laboratory testing, FIRST RESPONSE™ detected the pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of pregnant women, 5 days before their expected period in 96% of pregnant women, 4 days before their expected period in >99% of pregnant women, 3 days before their expected period in >99% of pregnant women, 2 days before their expected period in >99% of pregnant women, 1 day before their expected period and in >99% of pregnant women, on the day of their expected period." One such product is the First Response Early Result test. They may be able to produce a positive result more than 3 days before a missed period. Over 95% accurate on the day or missed period or after.Īs mentioned above, over the counter pregnancy tests have different sensitivity levels for hCG, which of course alters how soon they can detect pregnancy.Īdditionally, some products test for different forms of hCG, such as hCG-h and beta-hCG.86% accurate one day before a missed period.69% accurate two days before a missed period.52% accurate three days before a missed period.

There have been some studies discussing how accurate pregnancy tests are in regard to when the test was taken. The more days before your expected period you test, the less accurate the test becomes.įor example, testing on the day of your expected period will be far more accurate than testing 5 days before your expected period. The accuracy of pregnancy tests increases as you get closer to the date of your expected period. Pregnancy Test AccuracyĪ key factor in the accuracy of pregnancy tests is the particular product you are using to test since they all have different sensitivities for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), the hormone present in urine after an egg is fertilized. Some studies indicate an accuracy rate of around 50% while some products claim nearly 96% accuracy. Pregnancy isn't likely in your situation but ruling it out can certainly bring peace of mind.ĭata vary widely in regard to how accurate a pregnancy test is 4 days prior to your period. Having said all that, it's never a bad idea to take a pregnancy test after a month in which there may have been a problem taking your pills. You do not need to use a back-up birth control method if you have sex.Take the next pill at your regular time.Take your missed dose as soon as you remember.In fact, most sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control, state that emergency contraception generally isn't needed after one missed dose. For best results, take a test on or around the day of your expected period or see your doctor for the most accurate results.Īs discussed in one of our previous answers, while missing one dose of your birth control pills in the first week isn't ideal, it likely won't decrease their effectiveness that much. Reported accuracy rates in determining pregnancy four days before your expected period day range from as low as 50% to close to 96%, but figures that high are doubted by many studies. The closer you are to your expected period date, the more accurate the test will be.Pregnancy test accuracy rates on the fourth day prior to your expected period date vary greatly (depending on source you refer to). Nevertheless, taking a pregnancy test is never a bad idea if you didn't take your pills consistently over the month or you have missed your period. Missing one dose of birth control pills in the first week won't significantly reduce their efficacy.
