You can test for pregnancy as early as about 6 to 8 days after ovulation or conception, but the accuracy of the test improves closer to the day of your missed period.

• Home pregnancy tests detect the hormone hCG, which starts to be produced after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, typically around 6 to 12 days after ovulation. Trace levels of hCG can be detected as early as 8 days after ovulation, meaning some tests may show positive results several days before your expected period

• Some of the most sensitive pregnancy tests on the market, such as Clearblue Early Detection tests, can detect pregnancy up to 6 days before a missed period (which is about 5 days before the expected period), with about 77-78% detection rate at that early stage

• Testing very early can result in false negatives because hCG levels may not yet be high enough to detect. For the most reliable result, it is generally recommended to wait until the first day of your missed period to take a pregnancy test. Testing a week after a missed period increases accuracy further

• For early testing, it is best to use the first urine of the day when hCG concentration is highest and avoid excessive fluid intake before testing, to avoid diluting the hormone in your urine

• Blood tests can detect pregnancy earlier than urine tests because they measure lower levels of hCG, but home urine tests are about 99% accurate when used from the day of the missed period onward

In summary, while you can test as early as 6-8 days after ovulation with sensitive tests, the most accurate and reliable time to test is from the first day of your missed period onward. If testing early and the result is negative but pregnancy is still suspected, retesting a few days later is advised