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Pregnancy Testing Too Early

Premature Home Pregnancy Testing

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

Even when used correctly, to get accurate readings, pregnancy tests must be done at the right time. "It is important that women wait to take [home pregnancy tests] until their chances of getting an accurate reading are very high," says Dr. Brasner. "This means beginning the day a woman misses her period or later. Taking a test too early can result in a false negative response for almost 50 percent of pregnant women, which could lead them to resume behaviors that might unknowingly put their unborn babies at risk."

Another factor that could contribute to an inaccurate reading on a home pregnancy test includes miscalculating the day of an expected period. According to the ACOG survey, 51 percent of OB/GYNs polled say fewer than half of their patients properly track their cycles, which can lead to miscalculations of when to test, possibly resulting in a false negative reading.

According to Brasner, if you think pregnancy is a possibility, you must find out for sure – even if that means waiting and testing again. "Until they know for sure whether or not they are pregnant, women should eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and abstain from any behaviors that could compromise their health or the health of an unborn baby," she says. "And finally, if after testing negative, a woman's period does not start, she should test again a week later and contact her physician."

Want to see more?

• Pregnancy Test FAQs: Answers to Your Questions
• Home Pregnancy Test Basics
• Are You or Aren't You? Common Signs of Pregnancy
• Talk about it!