Which pregnancy test is best

You can use this test up to four days before you expect your period. Looking for the best items for your growing family? Add all your favorite baby products to ONE registry with Babylist. The design is sleek and modern, and the packaging comes with a nice little note. This kit also comes with ovulation tests. They measure your level of the luteinizing hormone , which increases in the day or two before ovulation.

The Natalist pregnancy tests on their own are also available directly at Target. With over 2 million pounds of plastic produced annually from tests, this is a big step forward. This box includes three tests. They always said patience is a virtue. This kit includes three different pregnancy tests, like a variety pack. One test lets you check six days before your missed period, another shows you a digital result and the last one is ready in only a minute.

The bottom line with any test you choose: if you tested early and it came up negative, but you end up missing your period, test again. And once you get a big fat positive, check out our week by week pregnancy guides and sign up for our pregnancy emails. Best Pregnancy Tests to Take in It can also let you know if you need to schedule an appointment with a doctor or midwife and put the cocktails on pause. Home pregnancy tests detect a hormone in your urine called hCG short for human chorionic gonadotropin.

When a sperm and an egg join and start growing, some of the cells that will soon become the placenta start producing hCG.

Levels of hCG rise rapidly in early pregnancy, and this is what home pregnancy tests are checking for. At-home pregnancy tests usually work one of two ways: You either hold the stick in your stream of urine preferably first thing in the morning, when your urine hCG levels will be more concentrated , or you pee in a cup and dip the stick in.

You then lay the stick or strip flat and wait the amount of time given on the box typically 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the test. Before this, there just might not be enough hCG in your urine to be detected on a pregnancy test. If you get a negative result on your pregnancy test, it might just be too early to tell. Try waiting a few days, then check again.

While there are other reasons your period could be late , an at-home pregnancy test is a good place to start. For this list we polled several physicians and midwives to get their expert opinions, read research studies, asked some parents, and in fact peed on a few sticks ourselves. They had a few key suggestions:. Additionally, there are some key differences that can make one test a better choice for you than another. Easy to find online and in stores, this simple, accurate, and affordable test is by far a user favorite and can be a great choice if you just want to know — NOW!

However, while the results are speedy, you should still wait to test a week after your missed period the study mentioned above showed only 64 percent accuracy on the day of the missed period! And while this test is widely available and easy to use, we found more reports of false positives with this test than any of our other choices based on online reviews. A false positive on a test can be an emotional roller coaster, so it may be worth waiting a few extra minutes with one of the tests better known for reliability.

Is that a second line or just a reflection? This test also claims to be sensitive enough to test 5 days before your missed period and certainly may be in many cases , but will be most accurate if you wait until after your period should have started — in fact, in the study we referenced earlier this test detected only 54 percent of pregnancies on the day of missed period!

Pregnancy test strips are smaller and flimsier than test sticks, and typically designed to be dipped into a cup of urine. Inexpensive, accurate, and fairly easy to use are the big pros for the ClinicalGuard test strips. If you are trying to conceive and will be taking a lot of tests, this can be a good way to go some of the tests with more bells and whistles can add up fast! These simple strips are fairly easy to use, easy to read, and accurate if taken near your missed period.

They will also be the person with whom you can share concerns or ask questions, even prior to your appointment. If the result is negative and you still believe you are pregnant, wait 48 hours to retest as the hCG level will typically double in that time. In this case, Dr.

Weiss always tells people to assume a positive is a positive and that a negative is an "I don't know yet" until your period starts or you have a positive. Act pregnant until you know you're not. You should repeat a test that is negative prior to the start of your period. It is best to wait at least two days to test to give your body a chance to build up to the hCG needed to turn the test positive. You should also repeat it if your period does not start after a couple of days to a week.

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and copywriter who covers lifestyle, parenting content for a variety of platforms. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Church and Dwight C. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Are You Pregnant? Pregnancy Tests. Learn about our editorial process. Updated on August 23, Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD.

Elaine Hinzey is a fact checker, writer, researcher, and registered dietitian. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. Get results up to six days before your missed period thanks to the extra-sensitive hCG detectors. Best Budget:. Just as accurate as a stick test, minus the costly price tag, you can stock up on these test strips without breaking the bank.

Fastest Test:. Skip the antsy wait with this test that offers faster results with the same high level of accuracy. Best Digital:. Take the guesswork out of reading lines on a test with this straightforward digital pregnancy test option.

Best Strips:. These no-frills test strips will get the job done quickly. Best Assurance:. When one test isn't enough, this three-pack will help you confirm the right results. View On Amazon. Pros Early detection 6 days before missed period App converts line results into words not pregnant, pregnant 1 best selling.

Cons Expensive. Pros Individually sealed, easy to carry around Affordable. Cons Not great for early detection Waste. The 7 Best Fertility Products of