While taking a pregnancy test, a woman will go through lots of new experiences like excitement, hope, fear, and nervousness. However, all of these are normal until you get an accurate result.
But the most common question is whether taking a pregnancy test at nighttime gives an exact result. In general, home pregnancy test kits are designed to analyze your HCG level (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your urine to detect your pregnancy. When there is a rise in this hormone production, the test result will be positive.
It is usually recommended to take a test in the morning. Doctors used to say that a pregnancy test at night may show negative results since the hCG level is diluted at that time.
Can You Take a Pregnancy Test at Night?
The answer is simply, “yes.” But it is doubtful whether the result is accurate. When you are pregnant, the placenta produces the hCG hormone during the first 8 to 10 weeks. It can be detected exactly in your first urination of a day. Because you haven’t been drinking much water or peeing often while sleeping. So that hCG levels in your urine can show the exact pregnancy result.
Factors Affecting Accuracy of Night-Time Pregnancy Tests
The accuracy of a pregnancy test depends on the levels of hCG in the urine. The accuracy may be affected due to some significant factors while taking the test at nighttime. They are:
HCG Levels and Their Importance
Human chorionic gonadotropin is the hormone produced during pregnancy, which can be identified either through blood or urine tests. The highest level of production continues until the end of the first trimester.
A pregnancy test kit is designed to analyze your hCG levels to confirm a pregnancy. It will be accurate when you first urinate in the morning. While checking at nighttime, its concentration level may be reduced, and there is a chance for showing negative results.
Concentration of Urine at Night
Throughout the day, you will drink water and urinate often. So that the concentration level of hCG will be reduced at nighttime. There is more likely to be a false result while checking your pregnancy test at nighttime. Mostly, the doctors and healthcare providers suggest taking a test with your first urination in the morning.
Pros and Cons of Taking a Pregnancy Test at Night
Pros:
Convenience: If you are often thinking about your pregnancy test result, then do it at nighttime for your convenience. It may calm down your mind and make you feel relaxed.
Know Results Quickly: If you would like to know the results quickly, especially if you are experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, then you can take a test.
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Less Accuracy: The accuracy of the pregnancy test is likely to be less reliable when you check at night. As stated above, the urine is not more concentrated and may lead to a negative result.
Risk of False Result: When you are in early pregnancy, your hCG level might be low and show a false result in a home pregnancy test. It doesn’t matter whether you are taking it in the morning or at night; your increased hCG level in the urine is significant.
Cause Stress: Pregnancy tests during the night might cause extra stress and anxiety, which may negatively influence your sleep and overall well-being
How to Increase Accuracy If Testing at Night
Here are some important tips provided to increase the accuracy of a pregnancy test:
Avoid drinking too much fluid or water, which can dilute your urine and cause negative results while checking.
Choose a sensitive test kit to detect low levels of hCG.
Ensure that you have read the results after the recommended time limit.
It is essential to read and follow the instructions mentioned over the test kit.
Common Myths about Night-Time Pregnancy Testing
These are the myths about pregnancy testing at nighttime:
- Urine is more concentrated only in the morning, and there is a chance for negative results while taking it at nighttime.
- Testing at night will give you a faster result. In reality, you should wait until the recommended time to know an accurate result.
In a Word
If you have decided to take a pregnancy test at night, then keep in mind the results can be influenced by several factors. To know the potential or accurate results, the urine will be more concentrated with an increased level of hCG hormone. If you strongly believe that you have a positive pregnancy, then consult your doctor to ensure it.
FAQs
Yes, a negative result can appear while taking the test at night. Here are some reasons listed why the results are not accurate:
- Less urine concentration
- Medications
- Testing too early
Yes, drinking too much water before bed can affect the pregnancy result. This is because the urine will be diluted, which prevents the HCG from being detected in the home pregnancy test kit. If you have already missed a period, then you can take a test at any time. There is a high chance of a positive pregnancy result.
Yes, it can harm your physical and mental wellness. If the result shows negative, you will feel stressed, which typically affects your sleep overnight. You will find it difficult to concentrate and feel less productive at work.
You can take a pregnancy test even after the first day of your missed period. But for getting the most accurate result, you can wait for at least one week after a missed period. However, testing too early can result in negative outcomes.
Yes, you can test again after getting a faint line on a pregnancy test. Sometimes, the hCG level in your urine will be visible in the result later. If you strongly feel that you are pregnant, you can check again after a few days.
