How does a home pregnancy test (HPT) work?

A home pregnancy test (HPT) is a urine test that can be purchased at your local drug store or pharmacy and easily conducted at home. If you are pregnant, then the urine home pregnancy test (HPT) can be positive as early as 10-11 days after ovulation and fertilization, i.e. several days before the next menstrual period. A positive pregnancy test depends on the amount of pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine, and the amount can be different from one woman to the other. Sometimes a urine test may be positive as early as 12 days or so after ovulation, that's 1-2 days before you expect your period.

However, if the urine pregnancy test is negative before you miss your period, that does not necessarily mean you aren't pregnant. About 98% of home urine pregnancy tests will be positive 15-16 days after ovulation and fertilization, or 1-2 days after you miss your period. A blood hCG test may become positive as early as 10-12 days after ovulation. keep in mind that different test have different values for what constitutes enough hCG to result in a positive pregnancy test, and it's worth it to research brands and accuracy before purchasing a home pregnancy test.