You can take a pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period for most accurate results. Testing on the day your period is late is generally reliable because by then the pregnancy hormone hCG is usually high enough to detect

. For women with irregular cycles or uncertain period dates, it is recommended to wait at least 21 days after unprotected sex before testing

. Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy a few days before the missed period (up to 6 days before), but testing too early increases the risk of false negatives because hCG levels may not be high enough yet

. For the most accurate result, many experts suggest waiting about one week after your missed period before testing, as this further reduces the chance of a false negative

. In summary:

• Earliest reliable time: first day of missed period
• For irregular cycles: at least 21 days after unprotected sex
• Most accurate: about 1 week after missed period
• Very sensitive tests: can test a few days before missed period but with less reliability

Testing with first morning urine can improve accuracy if testing early, but after missed period, time of day is less critical

. If you get a negative result but still suspect pregnancy, repeat the test after a few days or consult a doctor