To think people take pregnancy tests much too early these days?

[CounsellorTroi]

What is the point of doing it before you know you’re even late? Why not wait until you are late and getting a result that is at least conclusive even if not the one you want? Isn’t there something just a wee bit exploitative about these very early tests?

I must have spent over a hundred pounds on tests across the four pregnancies it took me to get my first child. At the time I would have been furious and defensive if I had read this thread. Looking back I can see what you mean about exploitation, OP - I was so desperate. I'm pregnant again and this time I've taken one test, a few days after my period was due - but this pregnancy happened, completely to my surprise, the very first time we had sex without contraception since DS. The experience of getting pregnant easily and staying that way is so different, even with a history of loss, that I really don't think that women who have had successful pregnancies first time can ever really get it.

That's the thing, not everyone testing wants to be pregnant.

I don't know what happened to me. Thinking about it, I think I was late when I tested, a few days maybe? I'm usually regular as clockwork. Would have been my third baby so after two pregnancies I just 'knew'. I felt different. I felt stretching across my womb at night. Did the test, clear blue digital, it said 2-3 weeks pregnant. And I really didn't want to be.

Then 2 days later I started bleeding and that was that. What was it? A chemical pregnancy or miscarriage?

I think it's good that women can test early. Anything that gives women as much autonomy over our health and bodies is a good thing.

I loved doing early tests, I had an idea I might be pregnant and knew both times around 3 weeks 2 days. If we had any more kids I would do an early test again. I just can’t physically wait till I miss my period.

Knowledge is power.

If I'm honest your original post irritated me a little because it seemed judgemental to when people choose to test early when you could just wait until your period is due etc. However I then read further down that you are a fellow infertility camp member and it made me read your initial post differently. Obviously in ivf your period is never due because of the progesterone so it makes things different.
I tested early this cycle, from 6dp5dt so 11dpo in "normal" terms. I had a lovely strong positive that unfortunatly ended in a chemical. A few of the post suggesting these are false positives and people who have chemicals are better off not knowing could not be more wrong. This has helped me soooo much! I and my consultant now know that I can actually achieve implantation. This helps with my next cycle planning. From a mental health point of view this is a huge relief. So I personally am glad these tests exist.

I've had multiple losses so I have to start on progesterone as soon as I get a positive test, obviously I want to catch it early as possible to improve my chances.

Also I just really enjoy taking pregnancy tests. No heartache here! Just excitement that it might be positive, no weeping and wailing if it isn't.

Sometimes I wonder if the pregnancy test factories make the tests have a little bit of a squinter so that we go back and buy more though!

Most products exploit us, I think there’s worse offenders.

@Nottherealslimshady @gancanny this is exactly what I came to say, it can be really valuable to know if you’re having recurrent early miscarriages because you can get tested and there might be something that can be prescribed (clexane, progesterone etc I’m sure there are others) that can help you keep the pregnancy. I’m hopefully getting just such testing soon based on my infertilty and chemical pregnancies.

@enrico I was going to say something about the “part of nature” comment but you have already articulated a better reply than I could.

Because if you have had problems with previous or recurrent miscarriage you may need to start taking certain medications ASAP and getting them booked in to multiple epu clinics.

But ultimately, it's none of your business

If I hadn’t taken early tests I would most likely never had a second or third child. I had multiple miscarriages at about 4 weeks. Was able to have investigations, took progesterone and had 2 more healthy children.