For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

6 Reasons Why Your Positive Pregnancy Test is Wrong

Reasons behind a false-positive pregnancy test result.

false-positive pregnancy test

Home-based pregnancy tests measure the level of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your urine, which is the hormone secreted by the fertilized zygote once it implants into your uterus.

And while a positive pregnancy test can be a cause for celebration for some, and disaster for others, they are not completely fool-proof.

That means there is a possibility that your positive pregnancy test is actually false-positive and you are not really pregnant.

Want to know why that happens?

Read on to find out.

#1 The Test Stick Was Sitting in Your Urine For Too Long

#1 The Test Stick Was Sitting in Your Urine For Too Long

There's a reason why home-based pregnancy tests come with a set of guidelines. This is because if you do not take the stick out of your urine sample once the recommended time is up, you will end up with a false positive result.

This happens because urine tends to evaporate if left standing for too long. And this evaporation line pretends to be the additional line over your negative test result.

So if you are not sure if you are truly pregnant (or are hoping the test is wrong), you should re-take the test with a new stick and this time adhere to the correct time guidelines written on the package.

#2 The Test Has Expired

#2 The Test Has Expired

Pregnancy tests can sometimes remain in drug store aisles for too long. That's why you should vigilantly check the expiration date before you buy anything.

Because once the stick expires, the test does not function in the correct way anymore, and it ends up showing a false-positive pregnancy result.

#3 You Suffered a Miscarriage

#3 You Suffered a Miscarriage

In this case, your pregnancy test was correct. Unfortunately, your body ended up rejecting the zygote (because it had abnormal DNA), which is why you got your period after a positive test.

This condition is called a chemical pregnancy. And is responsible for 50 - 75% of all miscarriages.

#4 You are on Fertility Medication

#4 You are on Fertility Medication

If you have been trying to get pregnant through in-vitro fertilization, then your positive pregnancy test result may be because of the hCG drugs and injections you received to increase the success of IVF implantation.

That's why doctors recommend that if you are on fertility pills, you should wait for a few weeks before you take the test to prevent a false-positive result from giving you false hope.

#5 You Have These Medical Conditions

#5 You Have These Medical Conditions

Urinary tract infection, ovarian cysts, and kidney diseases that leave blood cell casts in your urine are some of the reasons why you might get a false-positive pregnancy test even if you are not really pregnant.

#6 Ovarian Cancer

#6 Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a silent killer because it keeps growing within your womb and is usually detected only in its advanced stages once it has metastasized all over your body.

And one way of knowing if you have ovarian cancer is by using a home-based pregnancy test.

This is because ovarian cancer cells produce an abnormal amount of hCG, which is picked up easily by the pregnancy tests.

So if you are not sexually active, and you get a positive pregnancy test result, please visit a gynaecologist immediately.

false-positive pregnancy test

Was This Article Helpful?

At Boldsky, we strive to bring you the most-updated medical information, health tips, and home remedies so you can live stress-free and cut down unnecessary visits to the doctor's office.

So if you found this article useful, please share it with your friends on social media so they can read it too.

9 Abortion Methods You Can Try at Home9 Abortion Methods You Can Try at Home