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I last had my period on July 8th. I am not always the norm 28 day cycle. I am wanting to know how soon i can take a home pregnancy test...i don't want to take one too early and not have the HCG show up on it. Thanks!

By August 5, 2009 - 9:43pm
 
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I don't normally get my period every 28 days. I keep having dreams that I need to take a pregnancy test, which i never have. We had protected sex however, i am not on birth control due to ovarian cysts. My choice, not determined by my gyno. I just would like to know how soon I can take a home pregnancy test without it being a waste, as it may be too early to determine if i am prego or not. Thanks for your help!

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Hi, Mindilish,

Welcome to EmpowHer! And thanks so much for your question.

Home pregnancy tests look for the pregnancy hormone, HCG. Some tests advertise that they can detect HCG within one day of a missed period (in other words, if you are one day late). However, it's possible to have low HCG levels if you test too early.

Since you are somewhat irregular in your cycle, it's probably safer to wait until you're a solid week late. So if your cycles can be 30 or 32 days long, maybe wait until day 37 or 39 to test.

Menstruation generally happens 14 days after ovulation (regardless of how many days came before ovulation). If you think you know for sure when you ovulated, that might help too.

I hope that helps, and that you get the results you want. If we can help with anything else, please don't hesitate to ask.

August 7, 2009 - 10:16am
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