Negative Pregnancy Test but No Period?
When you miss your period, you may be wondering ‘Am I pregnant?’ Perhaps you’re feeling a little nauseous, your breasts are tender, or you’re experiencing other early signs of pregnancy, but you’ve taken the test, and the results say you’re not pregnant. You may be asking: Can I trust the results? Sometimes you can get a false negative on your pregnancy test – meaning you’re pregnant, but the test says otherwise. On the flipside, you can miss your period, but you’re not pregnant.
What does getting a negative pregnancy test result mean?
A negative pregnancy test result means the test hasn’t detected hCG in your urine. A pregnancy test works by detecting the hCG hormone, which is usually only present in your body if you’re pregnant. Your hCG levels will increase over time if you are pregnant. If your period is very late, or you’ve skipped your period, and you get a negative result, you are unlikely to be pregnant.
Why did I get a negative test result?
You can get a negative result on your pregnancy test for two reasons: You are not pregnant or you are pregnant, but you tested too early for the pregnancy test you used to pick up the hCG ‘pregnancy’ hormone in your body. If you test too early, a test may not pick up enough hCG to turn positive. If you’re testing before the day of your expected period, you may see a negative result – even if you’re pregnant – due to the following circumstances:
- Your test wasn’t sensitive enough for early testing.
- You didn’t use the first urine of the day, so concentration of hCG in your urine wasn’t high enough.
- You drank too much liquid before testing and you diluted the hormone in your urine.
| Factor | Impact on Test Result |
|---|---|
| Testing timing | Testing before the date of your expected period may result in hCG levels being too low for detection. |
| Urine concentration | Not using the first urine of the day or drinking too much liquid can dilute the hormone. |
| Test sensitivity | The test might not be sensitive enough to pick up low levels of hCG ‘pregnancy’ hormone. |
Is it possible to be pregnant and get a negative pregnancy test result?
Yes, it is possible. Getting a negative result doesn’t mean you’re not pregnant, it may just mean your hCG levels are not high enough for the test to detect the hormone in your urine. Even the most sensitive, ‘Ultra Early’, pregnancy tests available can only detect pregnancy up to six days before your missed period.
What is happening when my pregnancy test is negative, and I missed my period?
Chances are you are not pregnant and your period may be late or you may even skip it due to stress or illness. If the test is negative and you didn’t test early, you may have missed your period if:
- You’re breastfeeding
- You’ve been ill
- You have irregular periods (e.g., due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, often called PCOS)
- You’ve been travelling or not been sleeping properly
- You’ve been under very high stress
- You’re on fertility medication
- You’re menopausal or peri-menopausal
See your doctor for further advice if you’re worried about a missed or skipped period.
How do home pregnancy tests work?
This type of test is a qualitative test, since they simply show a dash or two when reacting with urine. If, after waiting the time indicated in the test instructions, two stripes appear, the test result is positive, that is, pregnancy is present. If only one stripe appears, the pregnancy test result is negative and there is no pregnancy. This stripe that appears corresponds to the control line that ensures that the test has worked correctly. Therefore, if this control line does not appear, the test is invalid and must be repeated.