I had a faint positive pregnancy test and one negative what do I do?
If you've experienced one or two faint positive on a pregnancy test followed by a negative test, it can be confusing and emotionally challenging. Here are some steps you can consider:
- Wait and Retest: HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), the hormone detected by pregnancy tests, can take some time to build up in your system. It's recommended to wait a few days and then retest. Use a different brand or a test from a different batch to rule out any issues with a particular test.
- Consider using a more sensitive pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests come in a range of sensitivity with 10miu HCG being the most sensitive.
- Is the pregnancy test you are using too sensitive? Pregnancy tests that detect as low as 5miu hcg will give a lot more false positives as they may detect background levels of hcg in urine. It is best not to use any pregnancy test that detects below 10miu hcg.
- Test with a first morning urine sample: Pregnancy tests are often more accurate when performed with the first urine of the day as it is more concentrated. This can potentially yield clearer stronger results.
- Check expiry dates: Ensure that the pregnancy tests that you are using to test are in date and are not expired. Expired pregnancy tests may not provide accurate results.
- Follow instructions carefully: Make sure you are following the instructions for the pregnancy test carefully, as improper usage can affect the accuracy of the results
- Make sure you are you reading the result at the correct time: Always use a timer, and do not read any results appearing after the manufacturers specified read time. Reading the result at the wrong time can affect the accuracy of the results. Any result that appears after the manufacturers read time should not be considered as a positive pregnancy test result, as a pregnancy test may pick up lower background levels of hcg if you leave it too long to read the result.
- Consider a digital test: Digital pregnancy tests often provide a clear "pregnant" or "not pregnant" result, which may be easier to interpret than faint lines on strips.
- Consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional: If you continue to get mixed results or if you're uncertain about the results, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional. They can perform a lab blood pregnancy test, which is more sensitive and accurate than urine tests.
- Monitor symptoms: Pay attention to any symptoms of pregnancy you might be experiencing. However, keep in mind that pregnancy symptoms can sometimes be similar to symptoms of other conditions. if you are experiencing abdominal pain it is advisable to seek medical attention to exclude ectopic pregnancy.
- Consider other possible explanations for the results: It's possible that there may be other factors affecting the pregnancy test results, such as medications, certain medical conditions, or issues with the tests themselves. Some fertility treatments can contain HCG and give false positive pregnancy test results.
Further reading on pregnancy tests
If you're trying to conceive or if you have concerns about your reproductive health, seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is often helpful They can provide personalised advice based on your medical history and conduct more sensitive tests to confirm or rule out pregnancy.