Pregnancy Tests

It can be tempting to take a pregnancy test a few days after a missed period, but you should wait a week to ensure you get the most accurate result.

This is because it can take time for your body to develop the HCG (a hormone that’s released when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus) that your pregnancy test will pick up to form a reading.

It’s possible to have a positive reading on a pregnancy test even if you aren’t pregnant - this is why it’s advised to wait at least a week after your period was due to have the most accurate reading.

A false positive may be because of a chemical pregnancy, where the egg is unable to implant very early on; an ectopic pregnancy, a recent miscarriage or abortion, and certain medicines or medical conditions.

It’s best to get your pregnancy confirmed by a medical professional before accepting the news to avoid any disappointment.

If you’ve missed your period or are showing pregnancy-like symptoms, it’s always a good idea to take a pregnancy test.

To use, first remove the lid and place the absorbent tip directly under your urine stream for 5 seconds, being cautious not to wet the remainder of the strip, especially the display.

Wait three minutes until your results show - many pregnancy tests will simply spell out ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’ and some even display how many weeks along you are. 

In others, there will be lines, with one meaning not pregnant, and two meaning pregnant.

All Clearblue Pregnancy Tests are 99% accurate at detecting pregnancy if you use it from the first day of your missed period.

The Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with weeks indicator is 93% accurate at detecting how many weeks when tested using your first urine of the day.