How long do you wait before taking HPT?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
How long do you wait before taking HPT?
2
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 3:09pm
How long should you usually wait between missing your period and taking the HPT? Right now my hands are just up in the air because my period doesn't seem to be showing, but then again, I don't know if I should be expecting it to.

I'm not overly concerned but I started a new brand of BCP(Minorval) at the end of last month, and had the last active pill last Tuesday(took each on time, no issues with that). My period still hasn't shown up, which is probably because my body is still getting used to the new pill (on Loestrin my periods were always on time, if I was still on them I would have gotten it yesterday) yet if it doesn't show up, I don't exactly want to have to wait til next month to see if it shows up because my body has finally settled.

Can I go sometime this week and buy a HPT just in case or just assume it's the new pill? I start my next pack Wednesday so I guess I should give it until then to do the test?

~Brookie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 4:35pm
There are some out there that you can buy before you're "actually" late....some you can use like 4 days before your period's due....When I was ttc my last pregnancy I used a test (and it came out correctly) 2 weeks past ovulation....
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Mon, 04-26-2004 - 11:00am
If you can't stand waiting for next month, I would suggest you at least wait until the day you'll start your next package of pills to test.

A lot of HPTs say that you can test as soon as you miss a period, or even x days before your period is due, but that is because they are making assumptions as to when in your cycle you ovulate. IF you ovulated & got pregnant while on the pill, there is really no telling when in the month it happened!!! It takes a certain number of days after implantation (which can take a few days after fertilization) for there to be enough "pregnancy hormone" in your system to show up on a test. I think the number of days varies by test, but is around 2 weeks.

I honestly expect you're fine! Since you've changed pills, you can't expect your period to be on the same schedule as before. Even on the same pills, period scheduling can change, and you can even skip periods without being pregnant. Personally, I think you should wait for next month, but if you just can't, at least wait until the day you are to start your new pack.

Good Luck, I truly feel you don't likely have anything to worry about!!!