How many times have you heard someone say, “I did not know I was pregnant”? You may have heard so many stories involving these types of statements. The problem is that so many women use at-home pregnancy test to confirm their pregnancy and feel relaxed when they get a negative result. They continue with their routine but find them in a shocking situation when they finally discover they are pregnant. This happens due to false negative pregnancy test. You may have to deal with this situation for many different reasons. Keep reading to learn more about the chances of getting a false negative pregnancy test when doing a pregnancy test at home.
What Are the Chances of Getting a False Negative Pregnancy Test?
The way you perform your test will have an impact on the chances of getting a false negative pregnancy test.If you use urine home pregnancy tests, you should bear in mind that they are 99% accurate. It means there is 1% chance that you will get a false negative test. But if you take the tests too early, the chances of getting false negative results are much higher. It is suggested to wait a week past your due period date to get an accurate pregnancy test result. Blood tests are usually more accurate as compared to at-home pregnancy tests.
What Causes a False Negative Pregnancy Test?
Statistics show that the chances of getting a false negative are a lot higher than getting a false-positive. Here are some common reasons why you may end up getting a false negative pregnancy test:
1. Testing too Early
You will get incorrect results if you take the pregnancy test too early. A home pregnancy test works by measuring the levels of hcG in your urine, but the levels may not be that high if you take the test before the period. For the best results, you should take your test at least a week after a missed period when the levels of hcG are relatively higher. A blood test is a better choice if you cannot wait that long.
2. Checking Too Soon or Too Late
Checking your test results too soon will also result in inaccurate result. You need to give the test enough time to work. Check the instructions on the package and set a timer. You usually get an accurate result in three minutes if you are doing the digital EPT pregnancy test. Other tests may take up to 10 minutes to give accurate results. Be sure to read the directions about how long you should wait to get an accurate result. Letting the result sit for too long will also lead to a false negative pregnancy test.
3. Expired Kit
You are likely to get a false negative if you have used an expired pregnancy kit. You need to pay attention to the expiration date of pregnancy kits and buy them carefully.
4. Urine Being Diluted
You may not get accurate results if you consumed plenty of water and fluid before taking a test. Diluted urine may not produce accurate results, so you should take it first thing in the morning. That is usually the time when your urine is the most concentrated.
5. Taking Drug Containing HCG
You may also get false results if you are using fertility drugs and any other medications that may contain HCG. These medications can interfere with how home pregnancy kits work. You do not need to worry about using regular birth control pills or antibiotics.
What to Do If I Get a False Negative Pregnancy Test?
Even if your pregnancy test is negative and your period is still missing, you should repeat the test again in a week’s time. If you get negative test results once again, the chances are you are not pregnant. If you are still missing your period, you should check with your doctor because many other underlying factors can lead to missed periods, including strenuous exercise, illness, stress, weight loss, and hormonal imbalance. In case you are not pregnant, your doctor will help identify the issue and help bring your menstrual cycle back on track.
What Others Say
“I never knew false negative pregnancy test is that common. A recent study conducted in London showed that every 9 women out of 15 who take the pregnancy test get a false negative test, especially until their 8th week of pregnancy. I recently had natural triplets. I decided to take a test when I was about 4 weeks late on my period. I received a negative reading, but tried again in a week’s time and get another negative. I then decided to go to my doctor just to ensure I did not have a cyst or another problem. They took a blood sample and confirmed that I was pregnant. It was quite shocking.”
“I can testify to the fact that false negative pregnancy tests are more common than you actually think they are. I had about 10 false readings and even a false blood test. I checked on January 17 and had a negative pregnancy test, but then I had my first sonogram on February 15 that revealed I was 7 weeks pregnant.”
What About False Positive Results?
As mentioned earlier, false positive results are a rare occurrence, especially compared to false negative pregnancy test. A false positive means your test results show that you are pregnant but you are not. It sometimes happens when you lose a pregnancy after the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus. This may also happen when you take fertility drugs and check for pregnancy a little too soon. An ectopic pregnancy as well as menopause may also produce misleading results.