Important to know

General Questions about pregnancy

Expert answers to your questions about pregnancy, ovulation and fertility

Do you need to wait several days after you have missed a period before you can do a Clearblue Pregnancy Test?

No. All Clearblue Pregnancy Tests are sensitive enough to detect hCG in your urine from the day your period is due.You can use Clearblue Pregnancy Tests up to 4 days before your period is due, although the pregnancy hormone levels in your urine may not be high enough to be detected. So if you test early and you get a “Not Pregnant” test result, we recommend you test again when your period is due. Click here for more information about Clearblue Pregnancy Tests.

I had sex without protection. When should I test?

We recommend testing for at least 19 days after unprotected sex, or from the day your period is due.

I’m taking the contraceptive Pill. When should I test?

If you’re taking the contraceptive pill you may be unsure when to test because the bleeding you have when you are taking the contraceptive pill is a ‘withdrawal’ bleed and not a real period. We recommend testing for pregnancy at least 19 days since the last time you had sex or from missed pills/stomach upset/antibiotics. If the test is ‘Not Pregnant’, and you still think you might be pregnant, wait at least 3 days and then do another Clearblue Pregnancy Test.

I Have recently stopped taking the contraceptive Pill. When should I test?

If you have recently stopped taking the contraceptive pill your periods can be irregular, so you might test too soon. If you have no idea when your period is due, we recommend testing at least 19 days from the last time you had unprotected sex. If the result is ‘Not Pregnant’ and you still think you might be pregnant, wait at least 3 days and then do a second Clearblue Pregnancy Test.

I’m using an injectable/implant contraceptive or an IUD and I think I might be pregnant. When should I test?

Missing and irregular periods are common with these types of contraceptives, so it’s difficult to know when to do a Clearblue Pregnancy Test. We recommend testing at least 19 days after unprotected sex. If the result is “Not Pregnant” and you still think you might be pregnant, wait at least 3 days before doing another Clearblue Pregnancy Test, because you may have tested too early.

I have recently had a baby and I think I might be pregnant again. When should I do a Clearblue Pregnancy Test?

After giving birth, hCG may take up to 3 weeks to return to normal levels. If you test during this time, it’s impossible to know if a “Pregnant” result is caused by a new pregnancy or by hCG from your previous pregnancy. In this case, we would recommend that you contact your doctor.

General Questions about Fertility and Ovulation Testing

Here are the most frequently asked questions about fertility and ovulation testing, answered by the Clearblue experts.

What is the difference between using one of the Clearblue ovulation tests and the Clearblue Fertility Monitor?

Clearblue Ovulation Tests detect the Luteinising Hormone (LH) surge which occurs approximately 24-36 hours prior to ovulation. This is how they help you pinpoint the 2 best days of your cycle to conceive - the day before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. So, if you make love on these 2 days, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance of becoming pregnant. The Clearblue Fertility Monitor can identify more fertile days each cycle, both High and Peak Fertility days. It not only detects the LH surge and pinpoints your 2 Peak Fertility days, but also identifies typically up to 5 additional fertile days when you may conceive (High Fertility days) by detecting the rise in estrogen which occurs immediately before this LH surge. As your partner’s sperm can survive in your body for several days, making love on those days can also result in pregnancy. It also gives you personal information, telling you when you need to test and when the end of your cycle is.

I’ve recently stopped taking the contraceptive pill. Does this affect my result?

No, it will not affect your results. But your cycles might be irregular if you’ve recently stopped taking the pill, so it may be harder to know when to start testing. For this reason, it might be a good idea to wait until you’ve had two natural menstrual cycles in a row, and note the length of these cycles, before using a Clearblue Ovulation Test.

I don’t know how long my cycle length is. How will I know when to start testing with the Clearblue Ovulation Test?

Before you can be sure when to start testing, you need to work out your usual cycle length. The length of your cycle is the number of days from the day your period starts (Day 1) to the day before your next period starts. The length of the cycle can vary from one woman to another and can vary from cycle to cycle in the same woman. If your cycle length varies by more than 3 days, choose the shortest cycle you have had over the last 6 months to work out when to start testing. If you wish to start using Clearblue Ovulation Tests before knowing your cycle length, we recommend that you start testing on day 10. However, without determining your cycle length, it is possible that you might miss your surge because you have started testing too late, or you may need to use additional test sticks to detect your LH surge.

My cycle is outside the range shown in the table. How will I know when to start testing?

If your cycle is 21 days or less, you should start testing on day 5 of your cycle. If your cycle is longer than 40 days, you should start testing 17 days before you expect your next period.

I’ve used Clearblue Ovulation Tests for several months and haven’t got pregnant. Can I be sure of getting pregnant?

It can take normal, healthy women many months to conceive. There are many reasons why you may not get pregnant, even if you've made love at your most fertile time. So keep trying. Alternatively, you may want to start using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Research shows that the Clearblue Fertility Monitor almost doubled the chances of conceiving over the first two cycles of use1. Click here to find out more about the Clearblue Fertility Monitor. If after several months of trying you\'ve had no success, it’s advisable to go to see your doctor to find out more about your next steps.

I’ve done all the tests as instructed, but I’ve not yet detected my surge. What should I do?

The number of tests in a Clearblue Ovulation Test pack is sufficient for most women with regular cycles to detect their LH surge. If your cycle length varies by more than 3 days, then you may need to start a new pack and use additional test sticks to detect your LH surge.

Do I need to compare my daily Clearblue Ovulation Test results?

No. Each test that you do will give you a positive or negative answer. You either have or haven’t detected your LH surge.

I made a mistake during testing, what should I do?

The best solution is to test again as soon as possible today (though you should wait 4 hours before passing urine again to ensure that the level of LH in your urine is not diluted). Try to avoid drinking excessive amounts between doing the tests. Make sure that you follow all the instructions carefully. It’s best not to wait until the next day to do another test, or you could miss your LH surge. If you have collected a sample to test, then you can use this same sample straight away to do your second test. If you don’t detect your LH surge with this second test, then test again tomorrow at the usual time.