You can take a pregnancy test as soon as the first day of your missed period for a reliable result. Some sensitive tests can detect pregnancy a few days before your period is due, but testing too early increases the chance of a false negative because your body may not have produced enough hCG hormone yet

. For the most accurate result, it is recommended to wait about one week after your missed period. At this point, hCG levels in your urine are usually high enough for standard pregnancy tests to detect pregnancy with about 97% accuracy

. If you have irregular cycles or don’t know when your period is due, it’s best to wait at least 21 days after unprotected sex before testing

. In summary:

• Earliest: Some tests detect pregnancy up to 6 days before missed period but with less accuracy

• Recommended: First day of missed period for reliable results

• Most accurate: One week after missed period to reduce false negatives

• Irregular cycles: Wait at least 21 days after unprotected sex

Testing with the first morning urine can also improve accuracy since hCG concentration is higher then

. Thus, the best practice is to take a pregnancy test on the first day of your missed period or wait a week after for the most accurate result.