How Common Is A False Negative Pregnancy Test And What Causes It?

Home Pregnancy Tests

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy tests or home pregnancy tests determine pregnancy through the detection of the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in a woman’s urine. Doctors recommend that you wait until you have missed a period to take a home pregnancy test. If you can not wait that long to find out and you know the day you may have conceived, then the earliest you can take a test would be 14 days from possible conception. Home tests are usually 97% accurate when all instructions are followed correctly and the results are read on time. Some kits come with two tests so that in case you have made a mistake, you may take the home pregnancy tests gain. Learn more about the accuracy of home pregnancy tests in another relevant article.

False Negative Pregnancy Tests And What Causes Them

If you take a home pregnancy test too early, you may get a false negative result. A false negative result is when the test says you are not pregnant but you are. This can be misleading and when using home pregnancy tests you must be very careful of avoiding any factors that may cause false results.

There could be various reasons for a false negative test.

Early Detection Attempt
One reason for a false negative pregnancy test could be that you took the test too early. Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity which means how soon they can detect the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. It is possible that although your ovum might be fertilized, meaning you may be pregnant, but your body has not started secreting enough Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) for the test to measure. Your body needs time for the hormone to rise to a high enough level to be detected in a test.

Erratic Technique
There is a possibility that while using the home pregnancy test strip you either did not dip it well or did not hold it well in your urine stream. This error in technique may give false negative results.

Missed Reaction Time
For accuracy in home pregnancy tests it is essential that you read the test results in the stipulated reaction time. If you let the test sit for too long (after the instructions on the box tell you), the test is invalid. This may cause it to show false negative results.

If the home pregnancy test shows negative results but you still think you could be pregnant, wait a few days and try again. A negative result can mean that you are not pregnant, you took the test too early or you took the test wrong. Also, if you have received different answers on multiple pregnancy tests, it is recommended that you get a blood test done to get an accurate answer.

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Alena

OMG!i have same story as u do!also trying to get pregnant for 6 months,and finally bought the ovu strips and didnt detect anything!so will be more than happy to hear any explanation!eh..and good luck to us!and hope God will hear us and send a little present from heaven…
Tori

I’m soo glad I’m not the only one!!
Alena

)Did you go to any doctor and ask whats going on??Cause i am going crazzzyyyy and so desperate!:-((
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

I would suggest testing with another brand of pregnancy test. If a new brand shows a negative, I would definitely contact your doctor again. Good Luck!
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

Regarding the ovulation tests, how often did you test? With the ovulation tests we sell, we suggest that testing twice a day would be a good idea, just in case you have a short (less than 24 hr) LH surge. It could be that you just missed the positive result. I’m not exactly sure how a negative pap smear would affect ovulation, unless you had been treated for cancer. I’m not a medical professional, so I may be misunderstanding what you are saying. As for being 2 weeks late, I’ve seem quite a few posters saying that they are late with repeated negative pregnancy tests. They never come back to confirm pregnancy or not, but I do know that I had a pregnancy that didn’t show positive for a long time (was 13 years ago so I can’t remember how late I was before a positive showed up) and I had a friend who was pregnant and the tests never showed she was pregnant. Good Luck and I hope you get an answer soon!
Tori

I tested two times a day. I followed the directions on the box. I usually tested in the morning when I woke up and then again right before I went to bed.
My friend just said I shouldn’t worry because I’ve never had any abnormal pap smears and no other things in my medical history to indicate infertility.

I plan on testing again on Sunday if I haven’t started by then.
Tori

No, I haven’t gone to the doctors yet. I’m taking another test if I haven’t started my period by Sunday. That would put me at almost 3 weeks late by then. I’m going to give it a month and if I still haven’t started by then I’m definitely going to the doctor. I didn’t feel like being a couple of weeks late warranted a doctors visit.

Let me know if anything changes for you
Mel

Hi I am a little worried I might be pregnant but I took two hpt and they came out negative . I had unprotected sex and I am pretty regular with my period and I started three days early but it was really really light and just stopped a day and a half later can I be pregnant? When I took the hpt test my urine wasn’t a lot so I don’t know if I got a lot on the stick but does that even matter?
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

If you didn’t saturate the test well enough, the test won’t be able to give you a reliable answer. I would suggest taking another one to see what the result it. There is a chance you could be pregnant with that sort of change in your cycle, but the only way to be sure is to get a positive pregnancy test or wait to see if your period arrives as it should next cycle.
Amanda

I haven’t got my period since march 8th and it is now may 10th have taken 4 test and different brands too all came back neg. I have sickness here or there. I have no clue whats going on help?
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

Unfortunately, there is no telling what is going on. I’d suggest that you schedule a doctor’s visit and see if they can figure out what is going on.
Tori

Just wanted to update yall…
I did end up starting my period but I was about 3 weeks late when I finally did.
Good luck conceiving ladies!!
Jenni

Im glad to hear that I’m not the only one ladies. I’m sixteen days late today. My husband and i are trying to conceive so I stopped my birth control in February and have had crazy side effects ( fatigue, nausea, headaches… Etc) Began going to an acupuncturist about two months ago and I feel much better but my cycles are still not 100% regular, but I’m usually 3 to 5 days late, never 16 days. I have taken 2 tests about a week ago and they were negative. Im so confused because i felt like i ovulated and i also showed a positive ovulation around what was supposed to be my ovulation time. I’m new to this blogging thing I just feel like I need to vent can’t really talk to hubby about this since he won’t really understand and I don’t want to worry him. I have scheduled an appointment to see my OBGYN because I’m getting a little worried. Only a little lightheaded and more discharge than usual no other side effects.
Jenni
Bella

Hi my last period was 23/04/13 I normally have 29-30 day cycle we had sex a lot around ovulation time I have taken a few different pregnancy tests always first wee in the morning but all negative I have cramps as if period is going to arrive but it’s not here yet and for past 5 mornings I have been wretching to be sick I’m also more tired than normal could I still be pregnant even with negative results
Bella

I also feel very bloated and this would be my 4th baby
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

It is possible that you are pregnant. If your period doesn’t come in the next couple of days and the tests still keep coming back negative, a visit to the doctor may be in order.
Tcup

Ok so my lpd was 4/4/13 had the merina put on 4/23/13. Doc said use protection for the first month. I’ve had the merina before so I know my cyle which is the same as if I never had birthcontrol. Anywho, we didn’t follow docs order and started having unprotected sex on week 2. I still haven’t had my period and I’m tired, nauseous, pee a lot, very moody, and eating like a pig w/o gaining a lb. I have 2 kids and this feels very similar. I took a hpt and came back negative. False negative perhaps?
karen O.o

So im regular on my periods i had sex on january 23 (i havent had sex since then) and we used condom (people say theres always that one chance it can rip) i took a plan b pill the next day just too make sure. Two weeks later i took a pt and it came out negative and i thought it was because it was too early
The next day i went to the doctors and did a physical test and my pregnancy test came out negative and it was early in the morning. The doctor told me that once a test is negative it cant be wron but if its positive it can be a mistake. So theres two negative tests right there i started on bcp and my periods were still normal i only took them for 3 months and then i stopped because i would forget them and i would spot in between. After that i still got my regular period . Im scared that i might be pregnant because sometimes my stomach is a little big and somtimes its really flat(im a really skinny person) my first pregnancy i missed my first period and thats how i knew i was prego and when i took a test at 3rd month it came out negative and the only symptoms i got were tiredness; soar breasts and skipped period and thats it. I took a pt yesterday and it came out negative (again). Could i still be pregnant??? Shouldnt it of read positive now if i was (because if i was the i would of already been 4months). PLEASE I NEED HELP! !!! My co-workers tell me that i definitly am not that its just all up in my head.
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

If all the tests keep coming out negative and you took the plan b, the chances of you being pregnant are pretty slim. If you are really concerned, you should talk with your doctor to find out what is going on.
Amber

I have missed my period for the last 5 months but every test I take comes up Negev I feel what I think is movements but I don’t know what they are I feel them everyday I have a son who will be a year old in two weeks and my body is still making milk any kind of help would be nice
cora

hi,, i wanna ask if I’m pregnant because its been 36 days since my last menstruation and had my pregnancy test already twice but the result was negative… i had contact last month May16 took contraceptives 1 week before and after my unprotected sex… and May 27 i had bleeding.. now I’m experiencing vaginal discharge..
cora

hello,, just concern if i am pregnant or not.. cause i had two pregnancy test already and turned out negative… its been 36 days from my last menstruation… i had unprotected contact on May16 but before that i took contraceptives pill 1 week before and 1 week after,, then May 27 i had bleeding for 3 days that i have to use sanitary napkins,,, is it still possible that i am pregnant??
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

You really need to contact your doctor about this if the pregnancy tests keep coming back negative. The doctor may be able to help you figure out what is going on with your body.
http://www.earthsmagic.com/ Vickie B.

Until you get your period, there is always a chance that you are pregnant. Due to taking contraceptive pills, that can really mess up your hormonal balance so that could be the cause of what you are experiencing.
t

I missed my period and have taken three pregnancy tests. All of them came back negative but the results showed up as soon as i peed on the stick. I still have not had my period. Is it possible to get a negative test result that fast?
cora

hi vickie should i do the pregnancy through blood now?? or its too early for me to do it,,, i dont feel anything except for i have vaginal discharge that looks like scanty milk creamy to watery…
kat

I took a test at 10 days after sex and it qas negitive then i took another at 14 days and again it was negitive so would i be pregnant? I feel just awful im also have the implonon inplant and have pocs as well. She i takr another test its been 3 weeks since then and i havent started my peroid yet.

Last modified: May 13, 2013

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