Could your pregnancy test results be wrong? So, you’re trying to get pregnant. But your test comes back negative and you think you just might be pregnant.
False Negative
Wrong pregnancy test results do happen. A “false negative” pregnancy test result shows that you’re not pregnant when you are. But you need to be careful about false hope here. A negative pregnancy test is still most likely to mean you’re not pregnant.
Pregnancy Test Checklist
1. Did you take the test first thing in the morning? Usually your first pee contains the highest pregnancy hormone (hCG) levels. If you don’t do the test first thing in the morning when your urine is most concentrated your result may not be true
2. Did the test go properly? Did you see the control line or another indicator showing that the test worked as it was supposed to? Read the instructions again to make sure.
3. Did you try another brand of test? Different types of pregnancy tests all have different levels of sensitivity to hCG levels. You may want to try another brand to check your results.
4. Did you wait until at least 14 days after conception/ovulation? Before that hCG levels are too low to be detected with a home test. (The earlier after a missed period that you take a home pregnancy test, the harder it is for the test to detect hCG.)
Am I pregnant or not?
Often the symptoms associated with pregnancy can be caused by other things like:
- Ovulation and premenstrual symptoms
- Ovarian cysts
- The flu or other illnesses
- Hormonal contraception or birth control
- Stress and anxiety
If you’re concerned about your pregnancy test results or about not getting pregnant, make a confidential appointment with Dr Tamara for a private fertility consultation.
Useful links
Want to know about some other reasons why you might not be falling pregnant? Click here to learn more.