Can I take a pregnancy test right after sex?
By Emily @ Planned Parenthood | Aug. 8, 2014, 3:28 p.m.
Category:
How early does a pregnancy test read.? If sperm entered me yesterday and I took a test two days afterwards and took a test would the results show?
Taking a pregnancy test right after sex is too early. It can take up to three weeks after sperm gets in the vagina for a pregnancy test to be accurate.
This is because pregnancy doesn’t start right away. It can take up to a week for sperm to fertilize an egg, and another week or so for the fertilized egg to implant itself into the uterus. Then it can take some more time for your body to start releasing the hormone that a pregnancy test looks for.
In general, the best time to take a test is after a missed period. Wait to see if you get your period when you expect it, and if not, take a test then. You can visit a Planned Parenthood health center for a test, or pick up a home pregnancy test at your nearest drugstore.
If you had unprotected sex and you don’t want to become pregnant, you can take the morning-after pill, also known as emergency contraception (EC). EC is birth control you can take up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Learn more about whether EC is right for you.
-Emily at Planned Parenthood