How far into pregnancy do tests work?

[Legoblockskillfeet]

I'm not sure where to put this.

Can anyone tell me whether pregnancy tests are accurate all the way through pregnancy and if not whe they stop being accurate?

I am having a freak out as I keep thinking that I can feel kicks in my stomach.
Last had sex in June and had a condom split. I went to get the MAP 36 hours later and have had normal periods ever since (a few days late on a couple of occasions).
I know it is really unlikely but the 'kicks' are making me panic.

Wondering whether it is worth taking a test or whether I need to speak to the GP.

Do a test to check.

However, I do sometimes feel ‘kicks’ as if I was pregnant, I’ve had a hysterectomy so they definitely aren’t kicks 😂 it’s just active intestines with me I think, I do eat a lot of fruit/veg.

Phantom baby kicks happen more often than you think. There can be a number of reasons for this outside of being pregnant. It could be a muscle spasm, or it could just be gas. If the feeling persists, you should consult a doctor.

I will have to go and buy one but could really do without the stupid cost.

I have had the odd phantom kick before but this has been persistent for about a week now, multiple times a day.
The logical part of me knows that I haven't had any symptoms and have had periods but the panicked part wonders what if...?

Well I tested at what turned out to be 14 weeks and got a strong positive.

But yes, phantom kicks are a thing. I’ve got myself in a tizzy about it before and ended up testing (history of my body not doing pregnancy symptoms when pregnant).

A friend discovered she was pregnant at 22 weeks and the test worked then (she had no idea how far along she was, just felt a strange sensation). She went for a scan with no idea how far along she was.

It is unusual, but has been known, for some women to still have what seems to be periods, especially if they are very light periods.
Have you had any other changes eg sensitive boobs, nausea, just "feeling different"?

Not really. Periods seem normal. I'm maybe a bit short tempered but am going through some stressy things at the moment so that would explain that.

I have 2 children already so I know how my body reacts to pregnancy. I wouldn't be considering it, if it wasn't for the weird sensation of movement.

If you are in the UK, Cheap tests from Boots:
www.boots.com/clear-simple-pregnancy-test-strip-3-tests-10327194?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Baby&gclid=CjwKCAjwyY6pBhA9EiwAMzmfwce0a9ht0Pn4EdKMA3Kbg6MjesrktfvmV_R5ATZXpkMvVGaMnw4YwhoCKE0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Article:
www.myhealth1st.com.au/health-hub/articles/pregnancy-tests/#:~:text=Human%20Chorionic%20Gonadotropin%20(hCG)%20starts,and%20then%20begin%20to%20fall.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) starts being produced when an egg is implanted in the uterus and the levels of the hormone increase exponentially for the first seven to 10 weeks of pregnancy, making this the optimal window for testing. After 10-12 weeks of pregnancy the levels of hCG plateau and then begin to fall.

You have a drop off i. HCG when the placenta fully takes over from the corpus luteum, by the end of the first trimester.

I've just found some in a drawer but they are out of date.
I can't get to boots for a few days so might have to stick with the local supermarket and pay £10 for one.

It's good to know that one will still give an accurate reading.

Someone I know has just found out they are pregnant and 17 weeks along. They were still having periods and had no other symptoms. Very similarly to you, they started feeling movement.

Home bargains tends to have cheap tests but I’m not sure how reliable they are. Boots are also quite reasonable.

Managed to get to B&M today and have just done 3.
All of which are negative. Phew!!!

It must be some kind of muscle spasm but my goodness, it still feels like kicks.