Missed Period With Negative Pregnancy Test Result
It happens more times than you think, so if this is happening to you try not to panic just yet. For women who are trying to conceive the negative result could be heartbreaking. For women trying to avoid pregnancy the result could be pleasing. The reactions are different, yet the questions remain the same, “Why haven’t I started my period?” and “Why is this pregnancy test negative?”
Importantly enough, just because your period is late and just because you’ve taken a pregnancy test that comes out negative doesn’t mean the two are related. There are numerous answers to both of the questions, so let’s break each one down carefully.
Why Haven’t I Started My Period?
When a woman says her “period is late” she actually means her ovulation cycle is late, not the menstrual cycle. So, if you’ve made changes in your daily routine either physically or emotionally, it can throw off your cycle and cause you to miss a period. Other reasons could be:
- Stopping or starting the usage of birth control
- Too much stress
- Diet changes
- Increased activity
- Heavy activity
- Irregular monthly cycles
- Anxiety
- Lack of sleep
- Hormone levels
- Traveling
- Illness
- Medication
- Perimenopause or menopause
- Overweight or underweight issues
- Thyroid problems
Why is This Pregnancy Test Negative?
First it’s important to know that different pregnancy tests yield different results at different points in your cycle. So it truly depends on the accuracy of the test you’re taking to determine why you’re late and why the test is spitting out a negative result. Some tests can determine whether or not you’re pregnant the day after you ovulate, some require at least a week, and others take up to 10 days after ovulation to determine a true result. Other reasons why your pregnancy test results are negative could be from:
- Tested too early- Pregnancy tests vary in their sensitivity, meaning how soon they can detect the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. It’s extremely possible that your egg might be fertilized, meaning you may be pregnant, but your body has not started secreting enough Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) for the test to measure. Your body needs time for the hormone to rise to a high enough level to be detected in a test. Also, try not to drink fluids before testing, as this can lower or dilute the hCG levels.
- Didn’t follow instructions correctly- Like with most things, instructions are there for a reason. If you don’t follow the instructions on the home pregnancy test correctly, it could yield false or negative results. You must dip it correctly and aim correctly onto the stick to gain real results.
- Missed reaction time- In the instructions, it will tell you to check the reaction time after a certain amount of minutes. If you miss this time, either by checking too early or too late, you could get false results. Letting a stick sit there for too long makes the test invalid.
What Can You Do Next?
The best thing to do if you are truly worried about the situation is to contact your doctor. Not only do they have more sensitive pregnancy tests, but they can also run blood tests and get to the bottom of it. Another logical thing to do is to go back to your local drug store and purchase a more sensitive, or powerful test. Some of the tests sold over the counter are unreliable and have a low sensitivity rate. You could also wait another day or two and test again. Sometimes it takes a little longer for some women to build up the hCG hormone, even if they are pregnant.
My last period was on January 15 and it is now March 2nd and still no period! I have done numerous pregnancy tests and they all say negative! I was taking humira and when I thought I was maybe pregnant, stopped taking it. Could the humira be causing a false result? Going to get a blood test done, but have to wait another week before I get my result! Can any one tell me if they had false readings but were still pregnant. My pants seem tighter, but I don’t know if its because I’m just putting wait on or not. Haven’t changed my diet. What are some reasons for such a late period? I’ve already got three boys with no problems with their results and could a negative result mean that I am pregnant but there is something wrong! Please help!
I am going through the same thing!
i havent had a period since january 7 ..and im about to skip a 2nd period. I have taken numerous pregnancy tests and they all say negative! Im tired, emotional, tired, headaches, frequent unrination, spotting, and im hungry all the time! I know i should probably get blood tests done. I just am completely lost and confused because i have never done this for all the years ive had periods and im always on time. If you find out if your pregnant let me know! Bc then i just may be too!
im supposed was supposed to have my period on the third of Febuary. My last two periods were really light and one of them lasted a week long, that never happens. I took a test and it said negative, however im showing all the signs of pregnancy. Any answeres??
i havent had my period in 3months and i took 2 pregnancy test and they coming up negative… whats goin on? help me please
I had my last period December 7th, and haven’t started again yet. I took an ovulation test on the 22nd of December, and it gave a positive reading that I was ovulating or would in the next 24 hours. That’s almost 2 months ago and I haven’t started my period yet, but every test I’ve taken (I’ve taken one a week now for 5 weeks – all different brands) says I’m no pregnant. I haven’t had any changes in activity, or diet – etc. What could be wrong?
I had a period on Dec. 24th. I am nervous that it’s not going to come this month. I took a test on like the 18th of Jan. and it was negative. My problem is I am dealing with an unknown medical problem that is causing a lot of lower back pain for me. I have been to my doc. and he made sure I took antibiotics to cure a bladder infection. I just really don’t know what to do or think.
I can’t remember exactly when my last period was, but I know that I was on it on my Anniversary on December 4th, 2009. I still haven’t started and it is January 18th 2010. I have taken 2 preganancy tests and they were negative. I did start a dieting and walking on January 5th, but it was still behind then. I haven’t taken any birth control since my last period either because my RX ran out. Anyway, should I contact the Dr or just wait it out a little longer?
Wait a little longer. If you just stopped your bc, it may take a while for you to regulate. It took me 6 months to get a period after I went off bc!! Good luck!
I was suppost to get my period December 15th but I didn’t took one pregnancy teat and it was negative. Does drink a lot of water make aDifferance? I have all the symptoms? Please help.
Yes. If you drink a lot then take a test, your urine will be diluted. If the horomones are still low, then there’s a good chance there won’t be enough HCG to be detected by the test. That’s why they recommend you wait and use first morning urine.
I’m like you. I was supposed to start Dec 20 (give/take a day). Still nothing, tests are negative, but on 2 (and in no particular order) I have seen the faintest of lines. I have symptoms occassionally, so I don’t know what is going on. Nothing like this happened with my 2 previous pregnancies, nor even with the miscarriage I had due to horomone imbalances.
Good luck to you. Hope you get some answers soon.