Can a pregnancy test be wrong

How a pregnancy test works

Technically, a pharmacy pregnancy test is simple. It is a reagent on paper that reacts. Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? on a specific substance - a hormone called "human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)".

This hormone begins to be produced in a woman's body only after the fertilized egg is attached to the lining of the uterus (endometrium). This usually occurs about 6 days of Pregnancy tests after fertilization. HCG enters the bloodstream and urine, and its level in these biological fluids rises rapidly, doubling every 2-3 days.

How does a pregnancy test work and can it be wrong

As early as 10-14 days after conception, home pregnancy tests detect the hormone in the urine and report this by highlighting the second strip or the corresponding window on the indicator.

If you see two stripes or a plus sign on the indicator, it means that the pregnancy has come.

The error is practically out of the question.

Can a pregnancy test be wrong

Sometimes yes. The likelihood of this happening depends on various factors, including the result obtained.

When a pregnancy test can be false positive

Situations when a woman is not pregnant and the test shows two stripes are extremely rare.

Therefore, How accurate are home pregnancy tests is considered? that a positive result is almost always true.

However, it is worth knowing the reasons for Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? for which the test may turn out to be false positive. Spoiler alert: many of them require a mandatory consultation with a gynecologist, so if you see two stripes or a plus sign on the indicator, it is better not to delay a visit to the doctor.

You lost your pregnancy soon after the egg had attached to the lining of the uterus. In this case, the embryo is no longer developing and you are technically not pregnant, but within 2-3 weeks Five reasons for false-positive pregnancy tests, the test can still detect an increased level of hCG. Most often, such an egg is rejected and leaves with the onset of menstruation. But sometimes a frozen pregnancy can cause inflammation in the uterus.
You did the test right after you took a fertility drug containing hCG.
You have an ectopic pregnancy. This means that fertilization has occurred, but the egg is not fixed in the uterus, but in another place - the fallopian tube or, say, the ovary. An ectopic pregnancy is deadly, it is impossible to bring it to a happy ending.
You develop an ovarian tumor. It also causes hormonal disruption and inappropriate production of hCG.
You may be going through menopause. It can also lead to hormonal imbalances.
You are taking certain medications. How accurate are home pregnancy tests? … For example, diazepam-based sedatives, diuretics, anticonvulsants, or antiallergic drugs. If this is the case, you should not rely on a pharmacy test to determine pregnancy - it is better to take a blood test for hCG.

When a pregnancy test can be falsely negative

A false negative result is when a pregnancy has begun, but the test does not show it for some reason. This situation is more common. Therefore, doctors advise to repeat the test after a few days if signs of pregnancy (for example, a delay in menstruation, an increase and soreness of the mammary glands, nausea) persist.

Here are the most common reasons for Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? false negative.

You bought an expired or damaged test.
You did the test too early. And the level of hCG in urine has not yet had time to rise so high that the reagents could catch it. Most manufacturers recommend that you do the test no earlier than the first day of your period delay.
You are in a hurry checking the result. It takes time for sensitive substances to react to hCG levels. It is indicated in the instructions. For example, the manufacturer might say, “Dip a test strip in urine, hold for 10 seconds, then place it on a dry, horizontal surface. The result will appear in 4-7 minutes. " If you run the test earlier than 4 minutes later, you run the risk of seeing a false negative result.
You did the test in the evening. The vast majority of manufacturers recommend checking if you are pregnant in the morning. This is important: it is in the morning that urine is most concentrated, and the level of hCG in it is highest. By the evening, the content of human chorionic gonadotropin decreases, it is more difficult to catch it.
Before taking the test, you drank a lot of water or other drinks (tea, juice, compote, fruit drink). The liquid dilutes the urine and lowers the hCG concentration.

What to do if you think the pregnancy test is wrong

Several options are possible. Choose any or try everything in turn.

Recheck the result

Repeat the test the next morning. Or, which is better, in 2-3 days.

When purchasing a second screening test, ask your pharmacist for the most sensitive test available. The sensitivity is indicated on the package and is indicated by numbers - 10, 20, 25, 30. These numbers indicate the concentration of hCG in urine (in mIU / ml) that the test is able to detect. The lower the number, the better.

Get a blood test for hCG

This is a more accurate and reliable option than rapid pharmacy tests. With the help of a blood test, pregnancy can be detected as early as 6-8 days. Pregnancy tests after conception - that is, even before there is a delay.

Consult a gynecologist

Sometimes it happens that the test results do not correspond to the state of health. For example, menstruation is delayed for several days, and the test stubbornly shows "no pregnancy."

Doubtful results are often caused by various malfunctions in the body, for example, thyroid diseases, problems with the ovaries, and lack of nutrients. To exclude them, and you need a visit to the doctor.

The gynecologist will ask you about the symptoms, conduct an examination, offer to take tests and find out exactly why rapid pregnancy tests give an ambiguous result. If any disease is found, the doctor will tell you how to treat it, or refer you to a specialized specialist.