Am I Pregnant?

Pregnant?

How to test and what to look out for

Finding out if you are pregnant can be exhilarating or upsetting or a little bit of both. Whatever your situation, we're here to help with answers to your pregnancy questions.

Myths about getting pregnant

We'll help you find out the truth.

We tackle the most popular myths about getting pregnant and help you find the truth by giving you the facts

(X) MYTH: It's impossible to get pregnant the first time you have unprotected sex.

(✓) FACT: It is a common myth that you can't get pregnant the first time you have unprotected sex. This is simply not true. There is always a possibility that you will get pregnant if you have unprotected sex – even the very first time. If you are having unprotected sex and don't want to get pregnant, you will need to choose a method of contraception that will suit you.

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(X) MYTH: If you forget to start the next pack of contraceptive pills after the 7-day break, you can't get pregnant.

(✓)FACT: No, it is possible to get pregnant. One of the ways the pill works is to prevent you from ovulating. If you forget to take any of the pills, the effectiveness of the pill as a contraceptive will be reduced.

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(X) MYTH: If you have sex during your period you can't get pregnant.

(✓)FACT: It's unlikely that you'll get pregnant, but not impossible. You are fertile on the days leading up to and around the time of ovulation – due to the lifespan of sperm – and if you have a short cycle you could be ovulating just after your period. So you could be fertile very early in your cycle when you are still bleeding.

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(X) MYTH: You are most likely to get pregnant on the 14th day of your cycle.

(✓)FACT: Not necessarily. It depends on your cycle length and when you ovulate. You are at your most fertile the day you ovulate (which is when your body releases an egg) and the day before. This is generally 12-16 days before your next period starts. So if you have a short cycle, say 20 days, it's likely you'll ovulate well before day 14, and likewise if your cycle is long, say 35 days, you are more likely to ovulate around day 20. So the 'day 14' rule is a 'textbook truth' – for those women whose cycles match the textbook idea of 28 days every time. And remember, cycle lengths vary from cycle to cycle and woman to woman.

And don't forget that sperm can survive for several days, so even if you have sex a few days before you ovulate, you could still get pregnant.

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(X) MYTH: You can only conceive on two days each cycle.

(✓)FACT: This is not true. The 'fertile window' lasts for 6 days. You are at your most fertile the day you ovulate and the day before. However, because sperm can survive for up to five days, having sex on the days leading up to ovulation can increase your chances of getting pregnant.

• accu-test® Ovulation Tests can help you pinpoint the two days or, four or more days when you are most fertile.
• accu-test® Fertility Monitor can typically identify up to six fertile days by detecting the two fertility hormones estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH).

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(X) MYTH: You can do a pregnancy test as soon as you have had sex.

(✓)FACT: No you can't. It takes about six to seven days after an egg is fertilized (after having sex) before your body starts to produce the pregnancy hormone (hCG), and a few more days before the level is high enough to be detected by a pregnancy test. accu-test® Pregnancy Tests can be used up to four days before you expect your period (which is 5 days sooner than waiting until you miss your period)1 although the pregnancy hormone levels in your urine may not be high enough to be detected. So if you test early and you get a 'Not Pregnant' (negative) test result, we recommend you test again when your period is expected.

To work out when your period is due, calculate your usual cycle length by counting the number of days from the first day of your period until the day before your next period starts.

• If you have irregular cycles, it's a good idea to allow for your longest cycle in recent months before testing
• If you have no idea when your period is expected, we recommend waiting at least 19 days after the last time you had unprotected sex before taking a accu-test® Pregnancy Test
• If you are testing from the day you expect your period, you can test any time of the day
• If testing early you should use the first urine of the day
• To get an accurate result, avoid drinking a lot of any liquid (including water) before testing
• If you get a 'not pregnant' (negative) result:
  • If you tested early (before your period is expected), test again when your period is expected
  • If you tested on or after the day your period is expected, wait for three days and test again
  • If your second pregnancy test still gives you a 'Not Pregnant' (negative) result and you still haven't had your period, you should see your doctor

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(X) MYTH: You need to wait several days after you've missed a period before you can do a pregnancy test.

(✓)FACT: Not true. All accu-test® Pregnancy Tests are over 99% accurate from the day you expect your period². In fact, you can even use accu-test® Pregnancy Tests up to four days before you expect your period (which is 5 days sooner than waiting until you miss your period)1. If you test early and get a 'Pregnant' (positive) result you can trust it. However, if you test early and you get a 'Not Pregnant' (negative) test result, we recommend you test again when your period is expected. You should always read the in-pack leaflet before taking a pregnancy test

When can I take a pregnancy test?

After the egg is fertilized, it travels to the uterus (womb) and implants itself in the uterine wall. At this stage, tiny amounts of the pregnancy hormone, hCG, start to appear in your urine. It is this hormone that all home pregnancy tests detect.

No matter when you test, you can be confident in the accuracy of a 'Pregnant' result with any accu-test Pregnancy Test. But if you are testing early, you should be aware that even if your result is 'Not Pregnant', you may still be pregnant. This is because levels of hCG vary from woman to woman and there may not yet be enough hormone for the test to give a positive result. However, hCG levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy, as shown in the graph below, meaning that if you test again on the day of your expected period, your result (whether positive or negative) will be over 99% accurate¹.

So if you are thinking of testing before your missed period, try a Accu-Test Digital Pregnancy Test.