What is Negative Pregnancy Test ?

Negative pregnancy test 

The test could be taken in the hospital or at home.

Normally, if you get a negative pregnancy test result, you are likely not pregnant.

Women who miss a period usually take a test to check for pregnancy, especially those who are planning to have a baby.

The first at-home pregnancy test was invented in 1976, but historically,
there was not a reliable method of knowing if there is a pregnancy or not without going to a doctor.

Even though technological advances that let women know they are pregnant, there is a mystery about how the menstrual cycle works.

Sometimes you may have a delayed period but still, have a negative pregnancy test.

What reasons for a negative pregnancy test?

1-  Taking the pregnancy test too soon:

If you are planning to have a baby, you can't get a positive pregnancy test until a certain set number of days has passed since ovulation,
because you may have ovulated later this month.

After you ovulate, an egg is fertilized, and it takes about a week to travel through a fallopian tube to the uterus,
then your body starts producing hCG only after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. So if you take the home test early,
you may have negative results, because your body might not have produced enough hCG yet.

 

2- Following the test instructions falsely:

Not waiting long enough or not using enough urine on the test stick, may affect the results.

Also, make sure that your pregnancy test is not expired.

3- Low hormone levels:

Sometimes, levels of the pregnancy hormone (HCG) early in pregnancy are not yet high enough for a home pregnancy test to detect.

If you are planning to have a baby, it is recommended that you do this test in the first week or two after conception could be inaccurate,
because hormones of pregnancy may not have risen high enough to be detected.

4- Testing late in the day:

The best time to do the test is when you wake up early in the morning, because drinking a lot of water during the day may affect the accuracy of the test.
It is harder for an at-home pregnancy test to determine whether hCG is present when the urine is diluted.

Read Also  What is pregnancy glucose tolerance test (GTT)

 

5- Ectopic pregnancy:

It is a rare but worrying cause of negative pregnancy test.

Less than three percent of ectopic pregnancies can show up as negative on the pregnancy test.

There are some symptoms of ectopic pregnancy:

• Bleeding or spotting.


• Severe pain low in the abdomen or on one side.


• Vomiting and nausea.


• Lightheadedness or dizziness.

If you are planning to have a baby, you have these symptoms, and your pregnancy test is negative, you have to seek medical attention.

6-Negative pregnancy test means there is no pregnancy:

There are variety of conditions and factors may be responsible for the lack of menstruation:

* Breastfeeding:

Breastfeeding can cause some irregularities in your cycle. It may take some time before your cycle goes back to normal,
even after your baby arrives and your period returns.

Also, you can read Is it difficult to get pregnant late?

 

* Medication:

Some types of medications may lead to a missed period, such as allergy medications and blood pressure drugs.

* Lifestyle factors:

Consuming too much caffeine or not eating enough food can delay your period. Also, sudden life changes may affect it too,
such as working the overnight shift on your job or intense exercise.

• Illness.


• Poor sleep.


• Travel.


•  Very high stress.


•  Being severely over or underweight.

   There are many different reasons for a negative pregnancy test after a missed period.
If your period is late and you suspect you may be pregnant, wait 7-10 days before trying the at-home pregnancy test.
After getting a negative test result, you should wait a few days and before trying again.
If you still test negative and your periods do not return to normal, make plans to see your doctor immediately.