You are late for your period, the coffee now smells terrible, and by mid-afternoon, you are feeling exhausted. The negative result doesn’t really make sense. Yet it might be too early, something could have influenced the result, or the symptoms might have some other cause.
The Paris Pregnancy Care Center provides free and confidential pregnancy testing as well as limited medical services in cases where the result from at-home testing leaves you with questions.
The cause of the discrepancy is usually one of three things.
The Timing May Be Off
A home test looks for human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. The placenta begins producing this hormone after implantation, but it takes time for the amount to rise high enough for a test to detect.
A period predicted by a period-tracking app doesn’t always take place, and implantation can also vary; if either of these events happens later than expected, your period may appear to be late even though pregnancy is still too early to be detected.
Many home tests claim 99% accuracy, but this depends on when and how the test is used. Results are more reliable after the first day of a missed period. If you tested early, wait a few days and try again.
Something Affected the Pregnancy Test
Even on the right day, a home test can be finicky. Did you check the result before the recommended time had passed? Was the test expired? Had you recently had a lot of water?
Any of these details could affect the result. Testing later in the day may also make hCG harder to detect because your urine is often less concentrated. Then there is the test itself. Some brands detect lower amounts of hCG than others.
If you decide to retry, then carry out a new test and make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Test it first thing in the morning, when your urine is at its most concentrated. However, if you still obtain a negative result and your period has not yet started, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you test again in a week or contact a healthcare professional.
Pregnancy Might Not Be the Cause
In some cases, a negative result is right.
PMS may cause breast tenderness, fatigue, bloating, and nausea, and recent ovulation can also lead to noticeable changes. Moreover, hormonal birth control or fertility treatment represents another factor, particularly if you have recently started or stopped taking it.
Stress and bad sleep often have a physical effect, and so do changes in weight or in exercise; all of these can influence how you feel and when your period comes. Moreover, some health conditions are linked to menstrual irregularities.
If you’ve carried out several negative tests and still haven’t gotten your period, then it would be a good idea to consult a medical professional, since they may help you to investigate other possible causes besides pregnancy.
Check Again at Paris Pregnancy Care Center
You can schedule a free, confidential pregnancy test at Paris Pregnancy Care Center. If your result is positive, our nursing team will let you know if you qualify for a limited ultrasound.
Call (903) 784-1555 to make an appointment or to find out when the mobile medical unit is available. For help any time, call the 24/7 helpline at (800) 712-4357.
