Please make sure that you have read all of our rules before commenting! In particular, be aware that no mentions of a current pregnancy are allowed, with no exceptions. If you see something breaking the rules, please report it. If you think something may be against the rules, ask us or err on the side of caution. If you think that being sneaky (PMing members or asking them to PM you, telling them to refer to your post history, etc) is a good idea, it is not. Additionally, complaining about downvotes is frowned upon and never helps anything.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

As someone who always tests, here is my perspective: The thing I hate most in life in general and especially in ttc is uncertainty I‘d rather know three days earlier that it‘s an unsuccessful cycle than to have to endure uncertainty for three more days. So I always test 11/12dpo and if the test is negative I just see it as an unsuccessful cycle. The „worst“ thing that can happen is that my period doesn’t show up and I get a positive on a re-test later on. For me even thinking about living in this uncertainty for 14 days and then getting the end result by having blood streaming out from my uterus feels like a nightmare and would be my least favorite way of finding out. Not getting a second line feels a lot more gentle to me. But that‘s just personal preference and I als understand if other people feel differently about it.

I test for the following reason: - I have regular cycles with clear PMS symptoms. If my period is late and I’m not pregnant, this will inevitably bring up my hope and I will have a hard time not thinking about this. I usually test a day or two before my period but only if I don’t have period cramps yet (those are usually a give away I’m not pregnant anyways). - I have always known if I’m pregnant or not by day before period even before taking the test because of the clear presence or absence of my PMS symptoms even before taking the test. Not knowing would literally require me to dissociate from my body. The test is just confirmation for me. Everyone’s body is different and this is just mine. - I have had two chemicals, for both I would have tested positive up to a few days to a week of my missed period before losing it. A chemical isn’t always just a faint line and a period, it’s a loss anytime before 6 weeks unfortunately. - Knowing I was pregnant changes the type of healthcare I receive. I know that getting pregnant isn’t my issue, it’s staying pregnant. Knowing this has been helpful in planning what to investigate first, especially when not all fertility tests are covered by public insurance for us.

I test so that i can have a glass of wine and not worry about messing up a baby 😂🩵

But I totally agree with you!! Best to test only when period is late.

I usually test early and get the negatives and it helps me prepare for my period emotionally, but last cycle 10dpo I got a positive and by the next day it was negative. Because that hurt so much, I won’t be testing early anymore to protect myself from early chemical pregnancies. Maybe I’ll test 12/13 dpo to help myself emotionally prepare again for my period but definitely won’t be testing from 8dpo and on anymore.

I’m same as you. Seeing a negative test hits me way harder emotionally than getting my period.

I guess it's because I perceive period as something natural and, in a way, my body working properly. I've had many periods before, it’s a normal thing that always happens.

A BFN, on the other hand, reminds me that I failed to conceive in a very direct way. I've literally never done a pregnancy test prior to TTC, it's an alien feeling to me. Something out of the norm to do.

Idk, it's not entirely logical, just perception optics or something. But everyone’s different, and that's ok.

My period is due in 2 days, too, and I tested this morning. FRER and everything. It does nothing but harm but I still never learn. I think I'm just desperately seeking that moment. Where I expect nothing and I'm so sad but... 2 lines appear and I don't even have to squint! Then the moment never comes.

So for me, I usually don’t test and wait until my period. My brain tries to convince me after a BFN that I might be pregnant anyways, it’s crazy how my brain stays hopeful (of course I have read somewhere that a person had BFN on 11/12 DPO and still was pregnant, so why wouldn’t that be the case for me). I don’t believe I’m pregnant until I’m bleeding. I wish it was different. This cycle I testest as an exception because I wanted to have 1-2 drinks for Christmas, the test was negative (11DPO), then my period was a day late and I was so hopeful until midday the b**** shows up. Anyhow at least I can start infertility treatments next month!

Personally, I test early because the uncertainty stresses me out more than a negative. I’d rather be disappointed than sit in limbo. I plan for both outcomes, but I assume I’m not pregnant since that’s usually the more likely scenario. That way, if I do get a positive, it feels like a genuine surprise instead of something I’ve been emotionally building up for days.

For me, it's a series of smaller let downs instead of one big one. It keeps me from getting my hopes up too much.

I accidentally tested early with my first baby. I wasn’t trying or really tracking my cycle, I just noticed I was out of tests and took one for fun when I opened the new pack. I think my heart might’ve stopped for a second when I flipped it and it was positive. Not faint, fully positive. My period wasn’t due for 3-5 more days, so I found out basically as early as you can. The whole time I was terrified it was going to be a chemical, so I try really hard not to test early anymore because that stress was a lot on me. At the same time, while she wasn’t a chemical I did lose her for unknown reasons in the 2nd tri, so I am grateful that I had longer with her, like that I knew about her sooner, so I see the benefits on both sides.

I agree haha, I’ve never taken a pregnancy test before! I use OPKs so the trend has been that my period comes exactly 16 days after the positive strip. It helps me prep mentally to get my period that specific day and when it comes I know I can try again next cycle.

I’m the same way. I’d rather be disappointed once a month (when I get my period) instead of twice a month (when I see a negative and then the inevitable period).

I test early because I convince myself I’m pregnant otherwise, I’d rather have the disappointment there and then vs the constant feeling that I’m pregnant but haven’t confirmed it via a test. Guess it’s down to personal preference! I also feel so consumed by the timings and testing LH, that when the TWW begins, I feel a bit of relief, but then I just neeeeed to know. I also had a MC at 10W, and I want to make sure my HCG is progressing as it should as soon as I get pregnant.

I am just delusional, my period was never late a half of day and i always get spottings before period so i want to keep myself delusional and feel like all TTCers who at least do the pregnancy tests

Thanks for posting this, really interesting to hear others' thoughts. I've been testing on the day my period is due so far in my TTC journey but the negatives have hit me very hard every time and I'm wondering whether waiting for my period would be less bad as you say. My main motivation for doing it has been that I don't want to find out that it was an unsuccessful cycle in the middle of the working day (I'm in a very public, people-facing job) and I'd rather have a bit of time to process it with my husband before going to work. 

I have infrequent, long irregular cycles.  You are correct its either happened or it hasn't. But I test more than once. Because I never know when my period is coming. My cycle could be 32 days or 60 days. And have been this way since I was 36. And those long cycles. I take like 5 tests. One time I took 12. I just like the peace of mind. If its negative maybe I tested early but I sometimes keep testing till I get a period.

Yeah after 5 years in, I cannot test until my period is at least 4-5 days late. Even then, I find it hard to bring myself to do it. I’d rather just wait and have it confirmed by my body. Our brains are funny, sometimes I’ll take a test 4+ days “late”, it’s always BFN, but I’ll still convince myself that maybe there’s a chance. The only thing that confirms there is not a chance is my period. You’re not dumb, you’re human. This journey can be excruciating ❤️‍🩹 sending you love.

Once they told me about MFI, I stopped testing. I know we can't have children right now. We'll keep trying for a few months before IVF, but won't waste any more money. It's been a relief, honestly. I used to test at CD9 and cry later that day about anything. And then convice myself it's a late bfn or faulty test or vvfl or something. I'm done with that bullshit

Since having a chemical pregnancy i no longer test, saves some of the heartache!! Just wait for the period each month sadly

I don't test early because I've had more than one chemical pregnancy. I'd rather not know and just assume my period was a little late than take an early test, have all the feelings, then end up with nothing days later.

It means living with uncertainty a little longer, but that's easier to me than a rollercoaster.

I have PCOS and my cycle is all over the place, can't even pinpoint when I'm ovulating so we just try and test regularly