Taking a pregnancy test can be filled with excitement, nerves, or a little bit of both. While at-home tests are highly accurate there are rare occasions when you might get a false positive – when the test shows you’re pregnant but you’re not. Understandably this can leave you feeling a little confused and wondering what went wrong, especially if the result wasn’t what you were expecting.
If this has happened to you try not to worry. Let’s talk about the reasons why and what you can do about it.
Testing Too Soon After Pregnancy Loss Or Birth
If you’ve recently given birth, suffered a miscarriage or terminated a pregnancy your body may still have human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – the hormone that pregnancy tests detect – in your system. It can take weeks for hCG levels to drop back to zero, leading to a lingering positive result.
Evaporation Lines
Sometimes a faint line on a test might not actually indicate pregnancy. After the recommended time has passed evaporation lines can appear as the urine dries. These lines are often grey or colourless and while frustratingly easy to mistake for a positive result they don’t mean you’re pregnant.
User Error
Let’s face it, we’re all human and mistakes happen. Make sure you read the instructions properly and follow them to the letter. Waiting too long can lead to a false positive so always stick to the time frame specified and discard the test afterwards.
You’re Taking Fertility Medication
Certain medications, like those used in fertility treatment can introduce hCG into your system. If you’ve recently undergone fertility treatment, trace amounts in your body might lead to a false positive. In this instance, it’s best to get a pregnancy confirmed with your healthcare provider.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Sadly, although a pregnancy test will show positive with ectopic pregnancy it won’t be viable and it can be life threatening. This is where the egg starts growing in the wrong place, most likely the fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the egg to the womb before it implants). It is a medical emergency. If you have a positive test at home but experience bleeding and abdominal pain in the days and weeks after, seek medical help straight away.
You’re Experiencing A Chemical Pregnancy
This is another one that can give you false hope, very early loss can occur usually just before five weeks meaning that your pregnancy test will be positive but the pregnancy itself won’t progress. This can be tough to deal with, especially after the joy of discovering you’re pregnant, but is also quite common which is why it’s a good idea to wait a week after your last missed period before you test to make sure it’s a genuine result.
You Have Certain Medical Conditions
Ovarian cysts, kidney disease, or in rare cases, certain types of cancer can interfere with a pregnancy test. While these situations are uncommon it’s important to speak to your doctor if you’re unsure about the result.
Rare Medical Conditions Which Produce hCG
Even more rarely, certain conditions can produce hCG without a pregnancy. Pituitary hCG or trophoblastic disease can cause this. If your test is consistently positive and you know you’re not pregnant, it’s time to see a doctor.
Pregnancy tests such as the one CIGA offers at Suresign can give you an accurate result up to six days before your period is due. If you’d like to know more about our range click here or get in touch.
