When to test?

[rebeccamm]

I'm 22 days into my cycle and my iphone P Tracker says i have a 23 day cycle. I've been so unwell for the last five days and I can't sleep at night but I'm always tired. I'm bloated beyond words and I've got cramps. I only EVER get cramps the day of. Don't get me started on this metallic taste and if anyone catches me burping I'll die of embarrassment! Would it be normal to have signs this early? Am I just run down, gassy and tired with PMT? x

You can get symptoms at 4-5 weeks (2-3 weeks after ovulation) definitely - I did with all my pregnancies (3 so far, but 2 miscarriages). I'd test TBH, but maybe stick to using a First Response with FMU to get the best chance of picking up a positive.

thanks so much. I'm only just coming up to two weeks after now so am thinking I'm just run down, etc. mon dieu! the stress! x

With my first I was 2 weeks late when I tested. With DC2 I was about 4 days late and the same with DC3.

I tested just short of the two weeks and got a faint positive with first response but no response with some of the cheaper ones. I think I tested on around day 12 of the two-week wait. Problem was, it wasn't that reliable because I would test in the morning and get a faint positive and then test int he evening and get no positive. It was a difficult week! I ended up preferring the digital tests where you got a positive or negative popping up in the screen.

The sympton I had from literally day 1 was burning nipples. I knew something up was up straight away just from the nipples. I still bloody have it and I am 25 weeks pregnant now!

You could just test with First Response or Clearblue digital to put your mind at ease.

Thanks so much. I'm completely clueless about when I should or shouldn't test, etc! I'm worried if I test too early it will just show up negative. I'm also a bit worried about waiting for my boobs to be an indicator. I had them made smaller about 8 years ago and was told I wouldn't be able to breastfeed, etc. I've always wondered if they'll react at all. So will First Response Early or Clearblue Digital still be ok if it's before I'm due. I don't know how much longer I can wait!!! I'm so not good at focussing at work, etc if I've got something on my mind!

I was like you - dying to test - so I didn't bother waiting the full 2 weeks. I was on Clomid as well so I knew almost to the day when I ovulated and so had it down to the day when I could test. Even then I couldn't wait.

My boobs weren't sore - but just the nipples particularly in the cold.

Because I didn't really have a proper cycle and was on Clomid I didn't have a due date for my next period. I just knew I needed to wait 14 days. But yep I used First Response before the end of the 14 days - several days before - and then used Clearblue probably at about the 14 days.

ok, you've convinced me. will get a test on the way home. keep all xd! shall report back in a few hours. thanks so so much for sharing! x

Clearblue digital tests are less sensitive than First Response.

Ok good luck! Fingers crossed for you. I remember how nervous I was. It was like sitting an exam!

If you're testing before you're period is due your really are much MUCH better off waiting till the morning - you want the HCG (the hormone that the tests pick up) concentration to be as high as possible, and that usually means when you haven't been to the loo or drunk very much for a good few hours (ie first thing in the morning).

i couldn't wait till morning!!! it was -ve. maybe next time. xxx

It may just be too early.

I tested the day I was due on as I had a feeling.

It was a Tesco test and the line was very very faint. I used a first response and the line was much darker but I tested later in the week with the cheap tests and the lines were still very faint.

And as others have said, morning wee has more hormone in it.

What test was it? Different tests have different sensitivities...

I think the "official" advice is to wait 3 days and if your period still hasn't started then do another test (with FMU ). This site do some nice cheap tests in case you develop a POS habit - and their own brand ones seem just as reliable as the branded ones.

Aww thats a shame, yeh may be too early tho so there may still be hope. Im testing in the morning, 7 days late then, cant hold out for 2 weeks. Eeeek! fingers crossed!