Do pregnancy tests really work from the first day period is due?

[polly30]

My period was due anytime last Thurs and I am never more than 3 days late so now I am definitely late but I did a test on Saturday, then Monday and today.. but all are negative. Someone told me today that you should wait until you are about a week late before doing a test but I was going by what they say on the packet - do they usually work from the day the period is due?

I got a positive the day before my period was due with a Clearblue Digital.

Generally yes.

BUT if you ovulated late this month this might delay your period/ any positive preg test. Were you ill, travelling or stressed a couple of weeks ago?

Alternatively sometimes women just don't show as pregnant on tests. This is very rare though!

Yup. They're pretty accurate from the day your period is late. Of course if you ovulated late, your period isn't late yet. Confusing innit?

I've always tested positive a few days before my period was due.

Thanks that's helpful, I think I must just be late with all the stress of Christmas! No idea when I ovulated but can't see why it would be late this month.

thanks

I had a very very faint line on the test I did the day I was due. Had a (unrelated) doctors appointment a couple of days later so asked him to do a test and he again wasn't 100% sure one way or the other so told me to wait and do another in a week as it could just be very low levels of hormones... I went and bought a cleablue digital and got a definite positive the next day - go with the digital tests every time! :)

I didn't get a positive until a week after my period was due (DC1) and about 3 days after period was due (DC2).

Mine was v v faint - could have been missed if I wasn't straining so hard to see it. I had a nice line around 4 days later.

i did a 99p pregnancy test 3 days before missing my period, the line was faint but visable, i am now 34 weeks!

I always like the cheap multipacks from supermarkets (I'm a multiple checker and I like a lot of tests to go at). Sainsbury's ones have always been really reliable for me and costs about £4 or £5 for 2 - and just as accurate as the more expensive 'early test' ones.

I have been over a week late both times, and am normally regular/know when ovulated. I did like the Clear Blue Digital, no squinting to see a second line, it was a definite answer :)

This is my 2nd pregnancy and i tested the day before my period was due using a clearblue digital and it came up positive with the accurate conception indicator. But i also had bought cheap tests from the pound shop and those showed upvery faint lines aswell so i think it depends !!

I used supermarket cheapy the day I was due on. Line was so faint, I wasn't sure if it was there. Sent DH out to get a first response and that was a definite +. Tested another couple of cheapies a few days later and one was still pretty faint.

I am 34 weeks now.

Clearblue digital a couple of days before I was due here too. Now 28w

I got a positive from a Superdrug cheapie a couple of days before missed period... Now 34+5

You just said yourself 'the stress of christmas' ...... that can delay ovulation.

The month i moved house my ovulation was delayed due to the stress of the move.... i also got pregnant that month

Its very possible that your ovulation was delayed due to all the stress of christmas. Generally pregnancy tests give you a + around the time your period is due. I use internet cheapies (which are fantastic) & i always get a + test at 10-11 DPO.

Stress & being unwell will often delay ovulation. Once you've ovulated i believe stress & being unwell won't delay the start of your period.

NO!!! I tested negative (with digital and the normal kind) 10 days after my period due and I'm never late. Had even felt the ovulation pain so whilst I felt pregnant the tests were all saying no and it didn't matter how many I did.

As I write this my negative test is 3 weeks old and laid next to me in his moses basket!! Once we got our positive it was such a faint line we were sure I was going to miscarry but I obviously didn't!! Good luck.