Different Pregnancy Test Results-Any Ideas on Why?

Updated on June 25, 2009
A.W. asks from Gulfport, MS
17 answers

Hey all! I recently have taken 5 at home pregnancy tests and don't really know how to take the results. I took one at night and there was a faint positive line, so I waited until the next morning and took another one, as well as a digital one and I got another faint line and the digital read "pregnant." I wanted to make sure again so I took another regular pee test and it definitely read - with no faint line, so I went to the store and bought a pack of 2 digital tests. I took one immediately when I got home and it said "not pregnant." I have yet to take the last test because I really don't want to see another negative. I have a doctors appointment on Friday to see for sure but the curiosity is killing me. Does anyone know why the results would be different or which ones I should believe?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all of the feedback. Today is Wednesday and as of Sunday, when I first began taking the tests I was 1 day late but I am normally very predictable and my husband and I have been trying for a while. I had increased appetite and the most random cravings ever. Also, my breasts were growing but weren't super tender (only tender in spots). However, I worked overnight last night and was completely drained and when I woke up this morning, I found that I was bleeding. It is not as much as a normal period is but it is more than a little spotting. I hate to think that I have no chance of being pregnant now and am really discouraged. I figured I might as well still go to the OBGYN on Friday so they can tell me what may have happened but I have lost a lot of hope of being pregnant.

EDIT* I went to the emergency room today and discovered that I am NOT pregnant. I had a chemical pregnancy and am no longer pregnant. Thanks again for all of the advice though.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Fayetteville on

You can have a false negative ( a bum test or something )
But you will never have a false positive.
CONGRATS!!! :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

When I was pregnant I never received a positive home test even 2 weeks before I gave birth. I asked the doctor about and they said you will never get a false positive, but a false negitive is very common.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Lake Charles on

The more water you drink to take a pregnancy test, the more you are making your urine dilute. Don't take the tests until the first urine in the morning. My sister is 10 weeks pregnant and she did the same thing. She had two positive and one negative. She drank a lot of water to take the test and it came out negative b/c she diluted the HCG hormone in the morning. Try to take the last one first thing in the morning. That test will be the most accurate. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Fayetteville on

If you drink a lot of water before a test, it might dilute the hormone enough that it will read negative. This is more likely early in the pregnancy.

I'm sorry to say that it could also be that you are miscarrying.

But take heart. Early on, the hormone is just building up in your body. You've gotten enough positive results that it might just be that there's not enough to make it positive across the board. Lots of women get false negatives early ohn for this reason.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.I.

answers from Fort Smith on

A positive is a positive. You are pregnant. The one that read negative was likely taken during the day and maybe after you'd had a lot to drink. Wait until morning and take the other test first thing before you've had a lot to drink.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Fayetteville on

From what I understand if you get a positive your definetely pg, there are no false positives but false negatives are possible.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.A.

answers from Biloxi on

Congrats A....your eggo is preggo....
it is common to see a false negative but i have never heard of anyone getting a false postive. You may just be taking the test a wee bit early for the test to detect the hormone.

Let us know about your appt on friday. I am always so happy when people are pregnant.

Good Luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.P.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

It may really depend on how late you are, or how early in the pregnancy. The hormones start out weak and should double every day...so every day you wait should be more accurate! Good luck!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Dothan on

How many days past your last menstruation are you? Have you been having regular periods? How long are your typical cycles?
Like the previous mom said, if a test says positive, it's because it's detecting the pregnancy hormones in your urine. They can't detect them if they aren't there. But, a real early positive test followed by a succession of negatives could mean that you had a chemical pregnancy, one that never really stuck.
Take a deep breath, mama. Take the other test with your first morning pee, and just wait. You'll know for sure with the blood test on Friday.
Here's hoping for a sticky baby!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Oklahoma City on

when i got pregnant it was a faint line too so i looked on google and everywhere i read said that line would not come up if you did not have that hormone and that you can only get false negatives not false positives.

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

If you take the test first thing in the morning, you'll get the best results. The regular tests never worked for me, I got some weird line that didn't make much sense. I used both of them in that pack, then bought a digital test. The digital ones have worked for me, both when I've been pregnant and when I haven't. I used Clear Blue and have been happy with those results. How late are you? Are the tests too early? That might be giving you false results. I would just wait for the doctor to confirm with their test. After all, you have to go anyway, so save your money on all of the home tests.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.C.

answers from Tulsa on

Well i know this sounds dumb but they could have been negative because you pee too long on them or your hormones were not as strong at that time you took them... with my first pregnancy I had a very faint positive line almost not there actually... i thought it was negative and a close friend new I was taking it and I told her it was neg. and she wanted to see and she said no! its positve look! So dont get discouraged and I hope you get positive new on friday from your doc!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.P.

answers from Shreveport on

Hey A.,
First of all it is very obvious you are trying to get pregnant and are very anxious too. You dont have to purchase that many test. You are probably pregnant and maybe not. Or you much too early and the HCG hormones havent had time to kick in your body. The HCG hormones dont kick in until you have missed a month of period and are about four to six weeks far along. So be patient and go see your OB gyn and relax.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.K.

answers from Tulsa on

Congratulations honey!! You're pregnant!! If 4 out of 5 tests are saying positive, then you're preggo, even with just a faint line. Its still a line. Seems way more likely to me that the one negative test is the defective one and it could just be that you'd drank a lot more water before that one and watered down your urine. Definitely go to your dr, but I think you can take it to the bank that you're for sure pregnant! Congrats again!!!

A. K

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.W.

answers from Baton Rouge on

My mom & sister are both nurses. They told me the best time to test is the first pee in the morning. It is more concentrated from holding it all night, and it will have more hormone in it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I'm not sure, but I think it's easier to get a false-negative than a false-positive. It's detecting the hormone in your urine, so if it's really there, it may have missed it and given a negative. But I don't think it would detect something that's not there.
Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Congrats.

It is more likely to get a false negative than a false positive. A positive indicated there is HCG in your system and that is only present during pregnancy. If you take a test when you are very hydrated there may not be enough HCG in your urine for the test to detect. If you are still concerned, take the test first thing in the morning with your first urine.

*** EDIT ***
You would be suprised how many pregnancies end up in miscarriage in the first few weeks of conception. There are so many things that can go wrong that are not your fault. The egg can have trouble implanting, the embryo does not develop properly, etc... and your body responds by expelling it. There is a light side to this though. Women who miscarry are even more likely to get pregnant immediately after the miscarriage. Sorry to hear that you are not pregnant any longer, but don't lose hope.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches