Negative Test But No Period? Common Reasons for a Missed Period & Negative Pregnancy Test Result
85Negative Pregnancy Test But Still No Period?
Feeling sure that you're pregnant but have ended up with one or more negative pregnancy test results and still your period hasn't arrived? If so, you are not alone - getting a negative test but no period is more common than you might think.
While home pregnancy tests have improved over the years, and they are an extremely accurate predictor of pregnancy, there have been many instances where the test gives a false positive or a false negative result. The woman may get a positive result but after a trip to the doctor, reveal nothing. There are those who keep getting a negative test but still have no period. So why does this happen? Here we will look at the six most common reasons for a negative test result.
Home pregnancy testing is one of the fastest, most convenient ways a woman can tell if she is pregnant or not. These tests work by testing a small sample of urine for hCG or human chorionic gonadotrophin. HCG is the hormone of pregnancy and is produced by the developing embryo and later, by part of the placenta. Measuring the hCG via home pregnancy tests is qualitative which explains why the results are a plain ‘yes’ or ‘no’, ‘negative’ or ‘positive’.
1. Taking A Pregnancy Test Too Early
If you are pretty sure you are pregnant because you've been experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms but have a negative test result, then one of the most common reasons is that you have taken the pregnancy test too early. Many people think they can test for pregnancy right away but like all things,it takes time. HCG can be detected in the urine at a minimum of 2 weeks after conception occurred. So to get a reliable test result, you need to wait until at least the day your period is due and take the test then. If you can wait a week or two after your period is missed, all the better as by this time your body will be creating plenty of HCG and your home pregnancy test will be far more accurate.
2. Not Following the Pregnancy Test Instructions
Read the instructions on home pregnancy test’s package carefully so that you can do the test properly - the test is only as good as your ability to follow the instructions! Since the tests are qualitative, this makes them sensitive to the process of testing. Most home pregnancy tests ask you to hold a test trip in urine and pee on it while on the toilet. Some make you dip the test strip in clean cup where you have collected the urine (my preferred method for an accurate pregnancy test result). However it is done, just make sure you do it right.
It’s always good advice to get the first urine in the morning and most pregnancy test kits will tell you to do that in their instructions. The first pee of the day is the best urine to use because having collected in the bladder overnight it gives much more accurate results. Then depending on the brand, the result will be in the form of a coloured line, a plus or minus sign, etc.
Results may also be affected by medications you are taking. They can mask the presence of hCG or affect their sensitivity. If in doubt ask your pharmacist or doctor.
3. Irregular Periods and Late Ovulation
If you have irregular periods, then having a negative test but no period might mean that your ovulation was late this month. This will ultimately delay the implantation date which might have caused you to miscount the number of days when you can finally take the test. This is why it's advisable to test a week or two after the day you were expecting your period. If you conceived late in the month, your HCG levels could well be lower than the pregnancy test can detect and therefore giving a false negative.
A negative test and no period could just mean that your period is late. Women with irregular periods have a longer window for ovulation and thus, are particularly prone to miscounting and even having skipped periods. If you keep getting a negative test but still have no period then you should consult with your doctor as major changes in your cycle can be symptoms of other conditions as well as pregnancy.
4. HCG Levels Are Not the Same For Everyone
A slow rate of hCG production is another good explanation for a negative test and no period. Not everybody is built the same and levels of HCG produced vary from woman to woman. If you have tested too early or your body is not making enough HCG for the test to pick up then you will get a false negative.
As was previously stated, home pregnancy tests are usually very accurate, but there are times when they are less so and this is one instance where that could happen. While these tests have become better over the years, it’s always best to get your test result confirmed. The confirmatory tests are usually diagnostic procedures done by your doctor: a verification of the gestational sac and fetal parts using ultrasound, the detection of a fetal heartbeat and the detection of fetal movements by a trained examiner.
5. You Are Not Pregnant
Of course it comes a huge disappointment if we are trying for a baby and get a negative test result, but unfortunately not being pregnant is one of the most common reasons. You may have simply skipped a period which happens from time to time or your cycle may have become longer. Try not to get too disheartened - there is always next month :)
6. Other Medical Conditions
There are several other medical conditions that can result in a negative pregnancy test and no period which is why it's always wise to see your doctor if this occurs. One of the most common medical conditions that causes this is an ectopic pregnancy which is very dangerous and must be diagnosed early to prevent life threatening consequences for the woman.
Other conditions which may cause your periods to stop unexpectedly are ovarian cysts, hyperthyroidism, polycystic ovarian disease, menopause, anorexia, obesity and adrenal cancer.
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Don’t just rely on home pregnancy testing because stressing over a negative test but no period just isn’t worth it, especially when there is the possibility of having another life to take care of. Read up on what a woman experiences during early pregnancy, the symptoms you can expect to experience and listen to your body as well. If you firmly suspect that you are pregnant or your period still hasn't arrived after a few weeks then set an appointment with your doctor without delay to find out for sure.
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Great research and fantastic, informative hub.
If you have an irregular cycle, it can be difficult to determine pregnancy without a test.
Just came across your hub by chance. My girlfriend had missed her period for 2 weeks. After three home pregnancy test it all came out negative. And she had all the signs of a pregnancy too, such sore breasts. So she went to the doctor and it turned out to be a hormone imbalance. So the doc gave her some pills and in the same day she had her period with heavy bleeding. I have to say the experience was like a roller coaster for the both of us.
Like like! Thanks
Useful and informative hub.I like this info.
Great Info, voted up!
i deliverd 1st baby last november and i had my period a month after and regularly until april then it stoped. i took several pregnancy tests thinking i might be pregnant again but there was the same negative results. until now i don't menstruate. what do u think is wrong?
my friend is worried for she had contact during fertility period but they used condom.she feel something heartbeat faster than before..took some cortal for shes thinking of pregnant..made a test on the expected date but its negative..what must she do??
If she used a condom, she shouldn't be pregnant. I think she's anxious, but all she can do is wait for her period.
I'm a virgin,neva had sex b4 i missed my period last month,am jst scared if i wil miss it again dis month,wat is really wrong wit me or wat do i do?
Ok my husband n I been together 13yrs married going on 8yrs, I had a child at a young age n now she is 24yrs old. So I'm just wondering if I could be prego
Sorry entered my comment to soon,I'm the one that has the 24yr old. So my question is could I be PREGO I was to have a period October 2 2011 n I'm now 4 days late n my last period was September 9th? Me n my husband been praying for a LIL blessing forever:) How much longer should I wait to test again cause I tested October 2&3rd of this month?
Give it another week or so - it can take a while for hcg levels to build up. Good luck and best wishes
I had sex with my partner 2weeks ago to which he realised after he released that the condom broke, so i went to chemist the next morning and took the morning after pill, my period was due on the 2nd but didnt come, its not the 8th and still hasnt come, i took a test on the 3rd and it was a faint positive, took 3more tests and all negative, why have i still had no period, i've been having symptoms, feel the pill failed, but now im not sure, what to do???
my period was 9 days late last month, it is normally exactly every 32 days. it was light, and i also had some nauseated moments but it hasnt been consecutive. i was wondering if i am not pregnant why was my period late? i have taken hpt's and a blood test (all negative). we are trying to concieve. and also when do you think my period would start this month if i were to get it? it being late last month has thrown me all off. just trying to figure out whats going on. thank you!
i am 10 days late for my period, i am always on time, never usually late, if so only by a day or two, my husband had a vasectomey 6 years ago, but i feel pregant, (having had children previously), i have nausea,& a metalic taste in my mouth, and obviously missed my period, i have taken 2 tests which both showed negative, but as far as i can work out i would only be around 3-4 weeks preg at the most, could i be pregnat and get false negative? is it too early for a test to dectect?
can any one help shed some light? hubby had vasectomy 5 yrs ago, i am 10 days late, having all the signs of been pregnant (nausea, tiredness, mild headaches, metalic tatse in my mouth), done two tests which were negative,been to see my gp who says i cannot be preg, but could not explain while i have all the symptoms, i asked if it was poss that his tubes had grown back & she said no way, yet ive read posts of proof that they can, my head is battered, cant seem to get any answers, any help would be greatly appreciated.
I was suppose to be having a period 0ct 4 i have a reg 28 cycle. Ive taken two prego test...both negitive! So im not sure....could i just be getting false positive?
I was on the pill for 8 years and it started to make me frel sick. I would take it with food, feel tummy sick, I would take it before bed, feel tummy sick. I was with my boyfriend for 4 years and I knew we would be married one day. I stoped taking my pill and haven't had a period since. I have takin 3 diff at home tests and all have been negative. I feel pregnant but I would love to be so it would be fantastic news. In the 4 months we have had sex twice unprotected. I have many symptoms including frequent urination, swollen breats, I am bloated, I feel like I have gained weight, I can't lay on my tummy cause my lower abdomen hurts, I can't lay on my back it's not comfortable.. I have not experienced norning sickness at all.. I went to the doctors and I am waiting on blood test results but what else could be going on?
i had my last period on sept 9th the one b4 that was august 8th they were normal but mornally it take 33-35 between cycles... well like i said my last period was sept 9th and i have took 6 hpt's an all are negative any advise
I HAVENT HAD A PERIOD SINCE SEPTEMBER....I SERIOUSLY BELIEV I'M PREGO BUT THE HOME TEST KEEP SAYIN NEGATIVE... COULD I BE LIKE MY MOM WAS WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT WITH ME ND IT NOT SHOW UP FOR THREE MONTHS ND THEN IT ONLY BE IN A BLOOD TEST? I WAS PREGNANT IN 09 ND IT SHOWED UP BY FIVE WEEKS.... COULD I BE PREGNANT?
excellent hub thanks
its been about week and my Brest are feeling really weird and i have a headache and med wont take it away and i have gained weight can someone please help me
Gwahh Im scared
need help. i was ones pregnant and lost the pregnancy at 6month. the things is i have always had hormonal imbalance and i didn't know i was pregnant the first time until i was almost 3months gone, because i didn't have any early morning sickness. i had to go for an ultrasound before detecting i was 10weeks gone. but after the lost, i had been on fertility drugs for some months. i stopped using it in august and my menses came naturally on it's own october. since then i haven't seen my menses for 2months tomorrow will make it 3months. i have gone for pregnancy test trice in the hospital and they all came back negative. i have been having some pains on the left side of my stomach and i had back ache for a while. i will be going for ultrasound on saturday. can i be pregnant and still test negative? i am really praying i'm pregnant.
I've been regular that I've tracked for the past 3mnths on a 36 day rotation. Were ttc and I spotted a 7-9days before my period was due it never came and I have taken 3 tests all neg. Today I am 12days late and I took my last hpt 5 days ago. Should I test again?
I've had lower back pain, slight frequent headaches, and indigestion reflux that I've never had before.
currently am 22 years old virgin am single i had never had a boyfriend am scared of having sex please help?
hi i dont know whats wrong with me pls anyone who has expierence of this help. im 22 and im a mothr of a 9 month baby. i missed my period last month and its been 16 days late i took a hgc test but the result is negative. and ive peeing alot feeling nauses in mornings my nippels are very sore my body tempreture changes and feels very bloated fatique. but stil a negative hgc test result. what can i be pregnant or not help....
Fantastic hub! Also stress and exercise are reasons for missed cycles that I have personally experienced. Great information. Thanks for sharing. Kelley
last month i my period started on the 5th end on 8th and it was very light now is the 16 april no period and i tested negetive what is wrong
Good points Kelley! I should add them into the hub.
6 month i have no period but negative ,what i have to do
You need to go and see a doctor sami.
Spider Girl 17 months ago
Very useful!