Confirming you are pregnant

How to Confirm Your Pregnancy in the UK

There are methods you should use to confirm pregnancy, both at home and through your GP.
A home pregnancy test is the most easily accessible and readily available test. When you follow the instructions carefully, these tests are highly accurate.

You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.
Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period.
You can do a pregnancy test on a sample of urine collected at any time of the day. It doesn't have to be in the morninG.

Find out more below about where to buy pregnancy tests and when to visit a doctor to confirm your positive pregnancy test.

Where can I buy a pregnancy test?

You can purchase pregnancy tests from many places, such as pharmacies and supermarkets. It’s best to wait until your period is late before you test to ensure you get an accurate result, but there are more sensitive tests available that will give you an answer a little earlier.

You can also get a free pregnancy test from the following places:

• Brook centres (if you are under 25)
• Sexual health services
• some young people's services – call the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 for details
• You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP

Read about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and doing a pregnancy test.

When to visit the doctor to confirm pregnancy

• Positive test - you don’t need to see your general practitioner (GP) to confirm it but please inform maternity services as early as possible. You can refer yourself to Northamptonshire maternity services in different ways depending on which is your local trust. For Northampton, you can self refer online. For Kettering, you should call your local midwifery team to book your pregnancy. Please visit telling us you are pregnant’ for more information.
• Negative test - wait a few days and then try again. If your period doesn’t start and your tests are still negative, please see your GP.

Your pregnancy can be treated confidentially, even if you are under 16. Being pregnant may affect the treatment of any current illness or conditions you have or later develop.

What is an evaporation line on a pregnancy test?

An evaporation line on a pregnancy test is a faint, colourless line that typically appears if the results are read after the suggested period of time.

Alternatively, an evaporation line may indicate that the test has gotten wet.

Ultimately, an evaporation line does not mean that you are pregnant, and it is best to repeat the test to get an accurate result. 

If a pregnancy test is negative today, can it be positive tomorrow?

If you have taken a pregnancy test and it is negative, it is unlikely that it will appear positive if you take another the following day.

If you are still unsure, it is best to take another test a few days to a week later. This is occasionally due to the pregnancy hormone hCG being too low at the time of testing if the pregnancy is in its very early stages.