Healthier Scotland. Scottish Government

Pregnancy testing

When to take a pregnancy test

Testing for pregnancy works from the first day of a missed period.

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How pregnancy testing works

A pregnancy test works by detecting hormones present in a woman's pee that are released into the body soon after a fertilised egg starts to grow in the womb.

You can collect the urine at any time of the day using a clean, soap free container.

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Where to get a test

Free tests are available from your GP or Sexual Health Service.

You can buy home testing kits from supermarkets, pharmacies or from online stores.

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What test results mean

Pregnancy testing is very accurate. A positive result almost certainly means you are pregnant. Negative results are not so reliable – you could still be pregnant.

Wait a week and take another test yourself or, if you still think you're pregnant, go and see your GP.

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What to do next

As soon as you think you may be pregnant, contact your GP. Being pregnant may affect the treatment of any current or future illness so it's important to discuss any treatment or medication you're getting or are about to start.

Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) may cause complications during pregnancy. However, if you and your doctor and midwife know about it, steps can be taken to make sure you and baby stay healthy.

Even if the pregnancy test results remain negative, if you think you've had unprotected or unsafe sex, you should consider getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

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