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Wrong pregnancy test results

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The results of the pregnancy test

A pregnancy test can return a positive or negative result. If the amount of HCG hormone is less than 5 mIU / ml, you are not pregnant. If the amount of the HCG hormone is equal to 5 mIU / ml or higher, there is pregnancy. You can see in this post everything about the tests and their sensitivity.

In the case of presenting positive, the result (depending on the test) can show the weeks of gestation that you have based on the concentration of the hormone already mentioned.

False negatives and false positives

We refer to when the test is negative and finally it is positive, something relatively common; or to a positive test result that later does not conclude in a pregnancy, something much more occasional. 

Recommendations to avoid errors in the detection of pregnancy with home tests

To avoid false negatives and for the result to be reliable, it is advisable to follow a series of recommendations:

  • Thoroughly follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of the chosen test, both regarding the operation and the days on which the test should be carried out. Not all products work exactly the same and, with nerves, instructions and recommendations may not be interpreted well enough. And if it is advisable to wait for a certain moment of the cycle to carry out the test, it is good to try to respect these times. 
  • In the case of women with irregular cycles, the accounts are complicated, being able to have become pregnant several days after the initially calculated and have more probabilities of obtaining an erroneous result if the test is carried out with a lot of time limits. In any case, in these cases the tests should be repeated after a few days to confirm the result.
  • It is recommended to perform the test first thing in the morning. As soon as we wake up, the urine has higher concentrations of HCG, so there is less chance of false negatives. During the rest of the day the test can also be carried out, but, especially if we drink a lot of water, the concentrations of the hormone drop and the test may not be sensitive enough and not detect the hormone. 
  • You should be aware that some fertility drugs or other drugs that contain HCG can interfere with the results of the pregnancy test. However, most medications, including antibiotics and birth control pills, do not affect the accuracy of home pregnancy tests.
  • Last but not least, it is advisable to check the expiration date of the test.

 

Either way, when in doubt, the safest way to confirm pregnancy will always be through a blood test for the hormone HCG.

Could a positive result be wrong?

Although it is rare, since a 97% chance of success is calculated (if the test has been carried out correctly), it is possible to obtain a positive result of a pregnancy test and finally the pregnancy is not confirmed. This is known as a false positive.

A false positive can occur in the event of pregnancy loss shortly after the fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium. It would be what is known as a biochemical pregnancy. 

Another case of false positive can occur in anembryonic pregnancies or anembryonic (without embryo), that is, when an ovum is fertilized but after implantation in the endometrium only ends up forming the gestational sac, without the embryo inside developing.

A false positive result can also be obtained in women with hormonal disorders or from contamination with residual artificial HGC hormones from fertility medications. This usually happens if the test is done too early and the body has not yet been able to eliminate the hormone. 

Some rare diseases, such as trophoblastic diseases and some cancers (gonadotropin-secreting tumors), may also produce a high amount of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin, giving a false positive test result. 

And another possibility would be in the case of ectopic embryos, that is, those that occur outside the uterus or womb, where the chances of its coming to fruition are very low but the levels of HCG do rise. 

 Could a negative result be wrong?

It is possible to get a negative pregnancy test result when you are actually pregnant. This is known as a false negative. 

The main reason for a false negative result is testing too early in the gestational cycle. In case of a negative result, it should be done again a week, or resort to a blood test, which manages to detect HGC levels from days 7 or 9 after conception. 

Anyway, a secret: sometimes it's just a matter of waiting just a few more minutes! 

The rush can make the minutes it takes for the test to react into forever. It is not crazy to contemplate using a stopwatch to wait for the proper time. 

So… a little patience and good luck!

Here are two of the best-selling sensitive pregnancy tests to avoid any error in the result

  Clear Blue digital weeks Test that tells you how many weeks you are. 

 

  claer blue pregnancy test Ultrasensitive test. 

 

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