False-Negative Pregnancy Tests
At Your Options Medical, we have found that when many of our patients have a negative pregnancy test result, they assume they are not pregnant. However, this is not always the case. False negative pregnancy tests do occur. Here is how it works:
A urine pregnancy test detects the hormone called hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin). This is the hormone your body produces during pregnancy. When urine is being tested for the presence of this hCG hormone and a woman is pregnant, the result of the pregnancy test should read positive. However, there are a few reasons a pregnancy test can give a false test result including the following:
- In early pregnancy, the hCG hormone levels may be too low for a pregnancy test to detect. The earliest time to test for an accurate result is 7-10 days after a missed period.
- The best time of day to take a pregnancy test is first thing in the morning when a woman’s urine is highly concentrated. Because urine may be less concentrated later in the day, the test may not be able to detect the hCG hormone.
- If you have had a negative pregnancy test, but are experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, etc. it is always best to contact your doctor to access for causes unrelated to pregnancy.
- There is always the possibility of human error when performing home pregnancy tests. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most pregnancy tests require you to let the test set for 3-5 minutes. If the test is left beyond the recommended set time, this could produce a false test result.
- If you had a tubal ligation (i.e. tubes tied), are experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms, and test negative on a pregnancy test, contact your medical doctor to assess for causes unrelated to pregnancy.
If you think you might be pregnant because you have missed your period, know that there are other reasons besides pregnancy. To learn more, check out our blog.
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If you think you might be pregnant, Your Options Medical can offer you pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling at no cost to you and insurance is not required.
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Hi I’ve tried pregnancy test for the first time I missed my period,but it turns negative..then repeat for 2nd month,negative result again..but in 3rd month,it turns positive..and when i got check-up from OB ,I am only 2months pregnant..but 3months delayed.it is possible?
Hello Rona,
Thank you for reaching out to Your Options Medical with your concern.
I cannot say that your situation cannot happen. The body is a very complex organism!! I am wondering if your doctor did a blood pregnancy test or an ultrasound to help determine how far along you are. These are the best tests to determine positive pregnancy and gestational age.
You would want to ensure the person performing the ultrasound confirms the following four things: 1). If the pregnancy is in the uterus. 2). Measure to determine the dating of your pregnancy (how far along you are). 3). If there is a detectable heartbeat. 4). If there are multiple babies or just one.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you again for reaching out, and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Barbara, RN
Hello can I tes after 4 weeks of intercourse if I have irregular periods?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Your Options Medical with your question.
Typically, we recommend the best time to take a pregnancy test is one week after you have missed your period. Also, the best time to test is first thing in the morning. If the test reads negative, we recommend testing again in about one week. You may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy than urine tests.
If your blood test comes back positive, the next step would be to have an ultrasound to determine if you are definitely pregnant. You would want to ensure the person performing the ultrasound confirms the following four things: 1). If the pregnancy is in the uterus. 2). Measure to determine the dating of your pregnancy (how far along you are). 3). If there is a detectable heartbeat. 4). If there are multiple babies or just one.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Barbara, RN
I am 24 days late of my period and I took a pregnancy test like 4 days ago and came back negative and today I throw, what should I do
Dear C,
Thank you for reaching out to Your Options Medical.
Typically, we recommend the best time to take a pregnancy test is one week after you are due to start your period. Also, the best time to test is first thing in the morning. If the test reads negative, we recommend testing again in about one week. You may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy than urine tests. This way if pregnancy is ruled out, your doctor can further assess your symptoms.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free telehealth calls with a nurse, pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Gladys, RN
I got positive pregnancy 3days ago and now I got Negative today what’s wrong
Hi Grace,
Thank you for reaching out to Your Options Medical!
It is possible that you may be early in pregnancy which could cause a false negative or if you test later in the day your urine may be less concentrated which could also cause a false positive. Typically, we recommend the best time to take a pregnancy test is one week after you are due to start your period. Also, the best time to test is first thing in the morning. If the test reads negative, we recommend testing again in about one week.
You may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy than urine tests. This way if pregnancy is ruled out, your doctor can further assess your symptoms.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free telehealth calls with a nurse, pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Gladys, RN
I have pregnancy like symptoms. I took a pregnancy test it came back not pregnant but I do have PCOS. Can that have something to do with my symptoms?
Hi Lizbeth,
Thank you for reaching out to Your Options Medical!
To answer your question, yes PCOS can affect fertility and cause pregnancy-like symptoms.
Typically, we recommend the best time to take a pregnancy test is one week after you are due to start your period. Also, the best time to test is first thing in the morning. If the test reads negative, we recommend testing again in about one week. You may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy than urine tests. This way if pregnancy is ruled out, your doctor can further assess your symptoms. If symptoms persist and pregnancy tests continue to be negative, seek medical attention.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free telehealth calls with a nurse, pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Gladys, RN
So my period is 9 days late had intercourse on November 23rd had some spotting then stopped throwing up negative test boobs hurt smell of food makes me sick
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your inquiry!
It is possible that you might be pregnant and just having a false negative test result. Typically, we recommend the best time to take a pregnancy test is one week after you are due to start your period. Also, the best time to test is first thing in the morning. If the test reads negative, we recommend testing again in about one week. If you haven’t already tried retesting, you could try taking another at-home test.
At this time, you may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy than urine tests. This way if pregnancy is ruled out, your doctor can further assess your symptoms. If symptoms persist and pregnancy tests continue to be negative, seek medical attention.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free telehealth calls with a nurse, pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Gladys, RN
I got 3 positive pregnancy test, vomiting for 3 weeks now, but when I first got an ultrasound when I am 4 days delayed they’ve seen nothing on my ultrasound.
Hi Ivy,
Thank you for your inquiry!
It is possible that you are pregnant and the ultrasound was just performed very early when it could be very difficult to get a good view of the baby. However, it is also possible that you have what is referred to as a molar pregnancy. This is a case where a woman’s hormones levels change causing pregnancy-like symptoms but there is not actual baby within the uterus.
At this time, you may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy. This way if pregnancy is ruled out, your doctor can further assess your symptoms. If symptoms persist and pregnancy tests continue to be negative, seek medical attention.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free telehealth calls with a nurse, pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Gladys, RN
Hello, I need some advice.
I’m 15 days late. I feel so nauseous, my lower back hurts and I have heart burn without eating anything. I took a clear blue rapid test and it was negative. Is there something wrong with me? My period is usually normal, I’ve never been this late. Well actually the last time I was this late I was pregnant with my daughter. But even after a missed period when I was pregnant with my daughter, I didn’t find out till I was around 6 weeks pregnant because the OTC test didn’t show that I was pregnant. What should I do? I feel like I have morning sickness but I got a negative test.
Hi Alexis,
Thank you for your inquiry!
There can be several reasons for a missed period besides pregnancy including stress, weight gain or loss, medications, etc.
At this point, you may want to consider requesting a blood pregnancy test from your primary care physician or OB/GYN as these tests are more accurate at detecting pregnancy than urine tests. This way if pregnancy is ruled out, your doctor can further assess your symptoms. If symptoms persist and pregnancy tests continue to be negative, seek medical attention.
At Your Options Medical, we provide free telehealth calls with a nurse, pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and pregnancy options counseling. To schedule your confidential appointment, please call or text 508-251-9022.
Thank you, again for reaching out and please do not hesitate to contact us in the future if we can be of any further help.
Best Regards,
Gladys, RN
Hey, my period is 15 days late my cycle was 33 days and my cycle before that was 29 days. I’ve taken 4 pregnancy tests already. One on the 5th day, the 8th, the 9th and the 10th… All negative! I have nausea without vomiting and I have mild heartburn. Also my discharge is milky white and slimy, also more then usual. Can you please tell