You can find out if you are pregnant as early as 6 to 8 days after ovulation through advanced pregnancy tests or blood tests that detect the hormone hCG. However, most home pregnancy tests are designed to be accurate from the day of your expected period or the first day of your missed period, which is usually about two weeks after ovulation.

How Pregnancy Tests Work

Pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine, which starts to be produced after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, typically around 7 to 9 days after ovulation. Some very sensitive home tests can detect hCG as early as 6 days before your missed period, but testing too early may result in a false negative because hCG levels might not yet be high enough to detect.

Best Time to Test

• The most reliable time to take a home pregnancy test is on the day your period is due or after you have missed your period.
• For early testing before your period is due, use the first urine of the day when hCG concentration is higher.
• Blood tests can detect pregnancy earlier, around 6 to 8 days after ovulation.

Early Symptoms

Some women may notice mild early pregnancy symptoms as early as 4 days after ovulation, but these signs are often subtle and not definitive for confirming pregnancy. In summary, for the most accurate result, it is best to wait until the day of your missed period to take a home pregnancy test, though certain sensitive tests can detect pregnancy a few days earlier. For the earliest detection, blood tests by a doctor can confirm pregnancy about a week after ovulation.