You are 3 weeks and 1 day

Pregnancy hormones are being made, but they may be hard to detect accurately, so it's best to wait before testing.

258 days until your due date

You may be eager to do a pregnancy test as you enter the fourth week of your cycle. Most women use home tests from a pharmacy, which are simple to use and detect hCG in your urine, the hormone made as soon as the embryo implants in the uterus lining.

Some home tests claim to detect pregnancy six days before your period is due. But if you test that early, your hCG level may not be high enough for a positive result, even if you are pregnant.

Ask a Doctor

I'm worried my partner will be disappointed if the test is negative

Feeling pressure to conceive is stressful, and stress can affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls your menstrual cycle. So your partner's keen interest could actually work against you.

Be honest with him. Explain that you share his enthusiasm for a baby but feel under pressure and worry it will affect your chances. And if you're not completely sure you're ready for a baby, now is the time to say so. Pregnancy changes your life, you both need to be fully committed, and it can be stressful in itself.

Have fun together and don't let the pressure take the fun and spontaneity out of sex.

Good to know

Your pregnancy diary

Trying for a baby is exciting, so why not keep a diary? It's a good way to pass the time while you wait to take a test. Rather than just noting period dates and ovulation signs, record the highs and lows so far.

Once you're pregnant, you can keep recording your feelings: how you felt seeing a positive test, how you told your partner and how he reacted, what the baby's first kick felt like, and the best and worst parts of pregnancy. Letting off steam about your partner's quirks or your mother-in-law can be surprisingly therapeutic too.

As well as being a unique record, a diary can help in later pregnancies. For example, it can be reassuring to look back and see that morning sickness was just a phase.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.