You should ideally take a pregnancy test on the day your period is due or a few days after it is late. Most pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy hormone (hCG) levels accurately around the first day of a missed period. For even more reliable results, waiting about a week after a missed period can increase accuracy, as this allows hCG levels to rise enough for detection. If your cycle is irregular or you don’t know when your period is due, it is best to take a pregnancy test at least 21 days after having unprotected sex. Some very sensitive tests claim to detect pregnancy up to 6 days before a missed period, but testing too early may lead to false negatives because hormone levels might not be high enough yet. In summary:

• Test on the day of your missed period or a few days after.
• For more accuracy, wait about a week after the missed period.
• If irregular cycles, test 21 days after unprotected sex.
• Testing too early can cause inaccurate or false negative results.