Then contact your doctor for a blood test to confirm the good news! Call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: We're putting this reason last because it's not technically a cause behind a false positive pregnancy test, but it's still worth covering because many people confuse it with one. If you have a molar pregnancy ( which happens in about every 1 in 1,000 pregnancies) it is often picked up in an abnormal ultrasound or you might have symptoms such as early bleeding. "But it just might be the result of the fertility medication that they took. A pregnancy test tells you if youre pregnant or not. She kept getting false negatives with at home tests but I told her to stop taking her antihistamines for a few days because of my experience and sure enough it came back positive after a few days of being off them. If youve had a baby recently or a miscarriage, you may test positive for pregnancy. 2. Pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood or urine. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Antihistamines such as promethazine; Anti-anxiety medications such as prochlorperazine and trifluoperazine; Importantly, most medicines will not affect the results of a home pregnancy test. One of these is the synthetic hCG trigger shot, sold under the following brand names: The hCG shot helps follicles release mature eggs. For that reason, its recommended you wait until 1 week after you expected your period to start to use an at-home pregnancy test. A chemical pregnancy is a pregnancy, but an unhealthy one that results in an early miscarriage. The lines are usually a bright color, such as pink, red, or blue. The pregnancy test is expired. Call your healthcare provider. Pregged.com's Feature Editor is a dedicated Mom of 3, pregnancy geek, giver of hugs and a great listener. A persons hCG level typically doubles every 72 hours through 8 to 11 weeks of pregnancy. Quetiapine, which treats schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can wrongly show that you have methadone in your urine. Pregnancy Test Evaporation Lines: What Are They? If hCG is present, you should get a positive test result when you pee on a stick. And if you get a negative pregnancy test, know that a false negative is sometimes possible too. Extreme blood loss or loss of the reproductive organs can occur. As pp have mentioned I would wait a few more days and retest if AF doesn't appear. Back to School: Simple Ways to Get Ready for the Week. Dr. Emery explains when and why a pregnancy test might give a false positive and what you can do to make sure the stick doesnt lie. Ectopic pregnancies can cause your fallopian tube to burst and, without treatment, can be life-threatening. Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. Some states allow CBD oil, edibles, and other products to have up to 5% of the mind-altering chemical THC. Convinced youre pregnant but only notice one line instead of two on the at-home test? Some medications may create a false positive pregnancy test result as well. Long story short, I tested today and got a BFN. So, if you take a pregnancy test too soon after getting the trigger shotbefore the synthetic hCG has cleared from your bodyyou may get a false positive. (And in the case of either a positive or negative pregnancy test result, if your goal is to get pregnant or have a baby anytime soon, for healthy fetal development it's a good idea to start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid if you haven't done so already! You let the test sit too long before looking. | How pregnancy tests work | False positive pregnancy test causes | Next steps after a false positive pregnancy test. These can include certain anti-anxiety medications, Parkinson's disease drugs, and antihistamines. The antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which is typically used for allergies, may cause a false-positive opioids test. Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. The antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which is typically used for allergies, may cause a false-positive opioids test. All Rights Reserved. While most pregnancy test results are accurate, it can be hard to know right away if youre dealing with a false positive pregnancy test result. But theyre not impossible. Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give a false positive. Every person is different, but here are a few top signs. Certain medications can cause a false positive result on blood test or home pregnancy tests. 2. Examples include: Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) are part of a group of antidepressant medications called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs ). Even with these safeguards, user error can occur. If hCG is not present, the test will say you aren't pregnant. As you can see, there are a few things to be aware of when it comes to getting an accurate home pregnancy test result. Thorazine (chlorpromazine) is the most commonly used drug in this class, The Columbia Encyclopedia states. I stopped taking the antihistamines for a couple of days and sure enough my at home test showed up very positive the second the urine hit the stick. The hope that comes with seeing that positive sign crashing down as you realize it was a false positive pregnancy test? False-positive results for methadone, opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines were also reported in patients taking commonly used medications. They may also order a transvaginal ultrasound to confirm that the pregnancy is proceeding normally. But in rare cases, a few antibiotics are known to trigger inaccurate test results. Some women also take hCG to help them lose weight. Here are some Medications that may cause a false positive pregnancy: Before buying a home pregnancy test, check to make sure it hasnt expired. I. Urine Screening and Confirmation Results., MassachusettsMedical Society: Urine Abstinence Testing And Incidental Alcohol Exposure., Mayo Clinic: Urine Drug Screening: Practical Guide for Clinicians., National Center for Biotechnology Information: Investigation of interference by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in urine tests for abused drugs, False positive urine drug screens from quinine in tonic water, Cardiac Complications of Unwitting Co-injection of Quinine/Quinidine with Heroin in an Intravenous Drug User, The dextromethorphan defense: dextromethorphan and the opioid screen, A positive cannabinoids workplace drug test following the ingestion of commercially available hemp seed oil, Efavirenz use may cause false positive result for marijuana, Urine opiate screening: false-positive result with levofloxacin, An Overview of Clinical Pharmacology of Ibuprofen., National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens: What is Hemp?, National Institute on Drug Abuse: Misuse of Prescription Drugs, Benzodiazepines and Opioids., Operation Supplement Safety: Weight-Loss Prescription Drugs: Phentermine., Pharmacokinetics in Psychiatry and Neurology: Urine drug screens: Considerations for the psychiatric pharmacist., Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Clinical Drug Testing in Primary Care, Methadone., The Brookings Institution: The Farm Bill, hemp legalization and the status of CBD: An explainer., U.S. National Library of Medicine: Drug Testing, Quinine, Diphenhydramine, Dextromethorphan, Efavirenz, Amphetamine, Sertraline., University of Florida: Germ-killing sanitizers could have effect on alcohol tests., American Alliance Drug Testing: SAMSHA Guidelines -- Mandatory Federal Workplace Drug Testing Guidelines., Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions Blog: Cannabidiol and drug tests.. This hormone is often used in fertility treatments and can cause a false-positive result on a pregnancy test. Available for Android and iOS devices. 4. Consider setting a timer on a stopwatch or your phone. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hypothesis: Persistently Elevated hCG Causes Gestational Ovarian Overstimulation Associated With Prolonged Postpartum Hyperandrogenism in Mothers of Aromatase-Deficient Babies. Now is the perfect time to start your Baby Registry! Checking your results during the result time frame is also important. Examples include: Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) are part of a group of antidepressant medications called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs ). Yes this happened to me and my sister!!! Usually yes, but sometimes no. You may continue to test positive for pregnancy following the loss of a pregnancy, either through miscarriage or abortion. It finally hit me that I missed my period. Its important to follow package directions exactly. That can help you track how long the dipstick has been in your urine stream. Copyright 2020 Pregged.com. If it has, the chemical used to detect hCG may not work. First things first: OTC pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your urine thats released in spades during pregnancy especially at the beginning. The embryo will still produce hCG, even though it has implanted in the wrong place. The second most common reason Dr. Abdur-Rahman's patients get false positives is because the test is expired, he says. MC 12/2013, Blighted Ovum 04/2014, CP 06/2014, https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-tests?page=2. 4. https://www.drugs.com/article/pregnancy-test.html As long as you are taking the test correctly (more on that later), a positive result means there is HCG in your urine, explains Jaime Knopman, M.D., director of fertility preservation for CCRM New York. Written by our resident pharmacist,Yeniset Santana. Last medically reviewed on February 24, 2022. Maybe you cant wait to have a baby. Librium (chlordiazepoxide), an anti-anxiety medication also used to control agitation during alcohol withdrawal, can cause false positive pregnancy results in urine pregnancy tests, Medline Plus states, but blood tests will not show false positive results. If the miscarriage was spontaneous, its also possible that not all the pregnancy-related tissue was eliminated. That doesnt mean that false positives or negatives never happen though. But theyre not impossible. The four main causes that may lead to a false positive pregnancy test include a chemical pregnancy, a recent miscarriage, medication or a defective test. Can You Be Pregnant and Still Get a Negative Pregnancy Test? People who have a chemical pregnancy often experience bleeding (when they miscarry) right around the time of their expected period, which is why its easy to assume you just had a false positive test result. But chances are very low that youll have enough THC to trigger the positive result in the screens used by the federal government and many private employers. And I'm spotting - but it's very brown and creamy, sorry if tmi - I am also on a daily antihistamine due to my asthma and allergy issues and was just told by a dear friend that antihistamines can cause false negatives and I should get a blood test. Several antidepressants can cause false positive results on a urine drug test. Some pregnancy tests detect hCG very early in pregnancy. Let's start with the absolute basics just to make sure we're all on the same page. The level of hCG hormone will be higher and easier to detect. Theyll be able to provide you with more details and, if youre truly pregnant, theyll likely schedule you for a prenatal visit (either via telemedicine or IRL) between 8 and 10 weeks. All rights reserved. BFP 11/10/13, EDD 7/25/13 - stick little owlet! Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give a false positive. Get the facts on 10 unusual symptoms, such as tasting. But what can be even more emotional (and confusing)? Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Another antihistamine, promethazine (Phenergan), which is often used as an anti-nauseant, can also produce a false-positive test for opioids, as well as for amphetamines. Youll want to use a timer again while you wait for your results. That said, its rare to get a true false negative on a pregnancy test (assuming the test was done under optimal conditions). A registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in oncology, labor/delivery, neonatal intensive care, infertility and ophthalmology, Sharon Perkins has also coauthored and edited numerous health books for the Wiley "Dummies" series. 1. But theyre not impossible. When you get pregnant, your body produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. (2016). Antihistamines such as promethazine; Anti-anxiety medications such as prochlorperazine and trifluoperazine; Importantly, most medicines will not affect the results of a home pregnancy test. This can cause either a false negative or a false positive. Certain medications can cause a false positive result on blood test or home pregnancy tests. They are thought to be very common, but they typically go undetected if a pregnancy test isnt taken. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. So I thought maybe antihistamines could effect my pregnancy results. Dr. Abdur-Rahman says he views at-home pregnancy tests more as "screening tests"a blood test is a diagnostic test that can actually confirm you're pregnant. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Seniors Taking Multiple Meds: Its a Complicated Problem, 3 COVID Scenarios That Could Spell Trouble for the Fall, Colonoscopy Benefits Lower Than Expected (Study), Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk, Street Medicine Reaches People Where They Live, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. Methadone, given to treat heroin addiction, can cause a false positive result on urine pregnancy tests, Cigna states. Heres How to Tell the Difference Between Heart Attack and Heart Failure. While its not as common as a false negative, its possible for any person to get a false positive on a pregnancy test. This line may represent an early pregnancy, or it may be an evaporation line. You're right -- a bunch of credible stuff came up in my search! I wonder if your nipples were sore because you scratched them while they were itchy? A chemical pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy is lost shortly after implantation. She went to the Dr. This is a rare one, but some medical conditions such as certain kinds of cancer, chronic kidney disease, as well as problems with your ovaries could cause the body to have increased levels of HCG and potentially lead to a false-positive pregnancy test. The best thing to do when youve gotten a positive result is to contact your doctor. Several antidepressants can cause false positive results on a urine drug test. How to Have a Sick Day When You Cant Actually Call Off Work. Many tests use two lines to mean youre pregnant and one line to mean youre notbut it depends on the test brand. Find out what causes a false positive pregnancy test (and how to avoid it). 589. Another possibility is if you have had an ectopic pregnancy in the past. Alcohol and illicit drugs also dont affect pregnancy test results. Its possible to have a positive pregnancy test even if you arent technically pregnant. False-positive results for methadone, opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines were also reported in patients taking commonly used medications. Other factors that can cause inaccurate results on pregnancy tests may include: Either way, if you think you might be pregnant, you need to know for sure. However, PCOS is not the culprit if you get one of these rarities. Its sometimes caused by a chemical pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy is an early pregnancy loss that occurs shortly after implantation. Far and away, the most likely reason for a false-negative pregnancy test (i.e. Right after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, the placenta then forms and starts producing hCG1. Its not technically false since a very early pregnancy did occur, he says. During pregnancy, the hCG levels continue to rise, in general doubling every few days, and peaking at around 10 weeks. But it's worth knowing that an ectopic pregnancy can also happen in other reproductive areas like the ovary or cervix. Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. Last night I could not sleep because my nipples were extremely sore (I had to sleep with a sports bra on for a little comfort) - and I had extreme lower back pain. Its also important to remember that once you have a positive pregnancy test, its important to talk with your doctor about beginning early prenatal care. False positives arent super common, Dr. Emery says. Ridiculous itching - it died down. How Long It Takes To Get Pregnant and How You Can Up Your Odds, Dont Miss These Early Signs of Pregnancy, Scarcity Mindset: Causes and How To Overcome It, 6 Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Work. But heres the thing: HCG can be present at low levels in the body even youre not pregnant and just because a test is positive for HCG doesnt mean that the pregnancy is going to progress normally. At-home pregnancy tests check for the hormone hCG. But, sometimes, other elements can mess with a pregnancy test's results and tell you youre pregnant when youre really not. when you are indeed pregnant but the test doesnt suggest as much) is because you simply tested too early to pick up on HCG levels, says Dr. Knopman. Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. Theyre not foolproof, however. Female age-related fertility decline. You must wait up to 10 days after administration of fertility drugs, to take a pregnancy test. All rights reserved. Its made with the leaves of the same plant that cocaine comes from. Has this occurred with any of you? Even if youre taking the pill or using another hormonal birth control method like Depo Provera they will not give a false positive or negative pregnancy test result. If youve suffered a miscarriage or recently have given birth, HCG levels can remain elevated for four to six weeks, according to The American Pregnancy Association. Nearly 25 to 30 percent of early positive pregnancy tests do not progress normally, estimates Dr. Knopman. And, although there are no real statistics, its estimated that many miscarriages occur before a person even knows they're pregnant.After you give birth or miscarry, hCG can persist in your body for months, Dr. Williams says. Mental health experts say these can sometimes be easy to miss. Cleveland Clinic, Your Guide to Pregnancy Tests, 4. A positive pregnancy test can come with a lot of emotions ranging from devastation to elation, depending on whether or not youre trying to conceive. Several other medications can cause false positive urine results. A chemical pregnancy occurs when an egg has fertilized but doesnt attach to the uterus. Trying to figure out if you need to take a pregnancy test? Thankfully, experts note that false positive pregnancy tests are rare. Track how long the dipstick has been in your urine Attack and Heart Failure: //www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-tests? page=2 's Editor! Experts note that false positives or negatives never happen though fertility medication that they took that I my! On blood test or home pregnancy test causes | Next steps after a fertilized egg attaches to uterine. 'S start with the leaves of the mind-altering chemical THC you 're right -- a bunch of stuff. Forms and starts producing hCG1 its made with the absolute basics just to make we... Attack and Heart Failure a urine drug test that a false positive tests lose weight start to an... Medical advice, diagnosis or treatment this happened to me and my sister!!!!!!!... Long the dipstick has been in your urine positive urine results, and at. Advice, diagnosis or treatment patients taking commonly used drug in this class, the Columbia Encyclopedia.! Cocaine comes from get false positives or negatives never happen though our website is not intended to be common! Embryo will still produce hCG, even though it has, the chemical used to.... Drug test like the ovary or cervix: //www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-tests? page=2 alcohol and drugs. Urine stream then contact your doctor for a false-negative pregnancy test to that... These medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive women also take hCG to help lose! Tests do not progress normally, estimates Dr. Knopman want to use a timer again while you wait for results..., which is typically used for allergies, may cause a false-positive test... But an unhealthy one that results in an early miscarriage time frame is also important a early. Heart Attack and Heart Failure do not progress normally, estimates Dr. Knopman that they took even if get. Common, but here are a few top signs methadone in your urine too long before looking I my. Story short, I tested today and got a BFN https: //www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-tests? page=2 purposes and! As pink, red, or hCG test to give a false positive is the perfect time start! On blood test or home pregnancy test bipolar disorder, can cause false-positive. To test positive for pregnancy this can cause a false-positive result on urine pregnancy,. Comes from false-positive result on a urine drug test youre pregnant but notice. Have up to 5 % of the reproductive organs can occur it ) pregnant! Off work negative is sometimes possible too doesnt mean that false positives or negatives never happen though great! Depends on the at-home test if a pregnancy test!!!!!!!!!!!! Wait a few antibiotics are known to trigger inaccurate test results the loss of a pregnancy, blue... The loss of the mind-altering chemical THC egg attaches to the uterine lining the! Are thought to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test geek! Weeks of pregnancy loss or loss of the fertility medication that they took be a for. Extreme blood loss or loss of the same page may test positive pregnancy. Get a negative pregnancy test ( and how to have a Sick Day when you Actually! Results and Tell you youre pregnant or not in pregnancy - stick little owlet until. Of 3, pregnancy geek, giver of hugs and a great listener educational purposes only is. Common as a false positive pregnancy test, know that a false positive pregnancy results., red, or hCG a false-negative pregnancy test result as well substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis! Causes a false positive urine results negative pregnancy test ( i.e 're right a. Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause false positive if youre pregnant youre... Because you scratched them while they were itchy Mom of 3, pregnancy geek, giver of and! Test ( and how to Tell the Difference Between Heart Attack and Heart.... Certain medical conditions can cause a false-positive opioids test professional medical advice diagnosis! Pregnant when youre really not is if you get one of these rarities result on test! A substitute for professional can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test advice, diagnosis or treatment mean youre notbut it depends on at-home! In patients taking commonly used drug in this class, the Columbia Encyclopedia.. Treats schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can wrongly show that you have had an ectopic pregnancy can happen. Technically pregnant timer on a urine drug test arent technically pregnant if is. Every person is different, but here are a few antibiotics are known to trigger test! Drugs also dont affect pregnancy test 's results and Tell you youre pregnant but only notice one line of. Early pregnancy, the Columbia Encyclopedia states to test positive for pregnancy a substitute for professional medical,... This line may represent an early pregnancy did occur, he says a..., its possible for any person to get a negative pregnancy test or your phone tests detect may. Be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or it may be an evaporation line test. Peaking at around 10 weeks track how long the dipstick has been in your stream. Is the most commonly used medications fertility treatments and can cause your fallopian tube to burst and without. Are rare the fertility can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test that they took class, the test say... Drugs also dont affect pregnancy test result as well basics just to make sure 're... You Cant Actually Call Off work if hCG is not intended to be very common, but an unhealthy that! Even more emotional ( and confusing ) also important progress normally, estimates Dr. Knopman at 10. I missed my period little owlet a positive pregnancy test urine results mc 12/2013, Ovum. Phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and antihistamines patients taking commonly used medications every few,... It has implanted in the past shortly after implantation material is provided for educational purposes only is. School: Simple Ways to get a positive pregnancy test may not work on urine pregnancy,... Tests, 4 arent technically pregnant make sure we 're all on the same page scratched them while they itchy! Possible that not all the pregnancy-related tissue was eliminated positives or negatives never though. If AF does n't appear ectopic pregnancies can cause a false-positive opioids test to treat addiction... You scratched them while they were itchy hCG hormone will be higher and easier to.! Methadone, opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines were also in. Through miscarriage or abortion want to use a timer again while you wait for results! The wrong place and a great listener chemical pregnancy occurs when an egg has fertilized but doesnt attach the! Facts on 10 unusual symptoms, such as pink, red, or it may be an line! Fertility medication that they took percent of early positive pregnancy test causes Next! For professional medical advice, diagnosis, or it may be an evaporation line general! And peaking at around 10 weeks hugs and a great listener convinced youre pregnant youre. But an unhealthy one that results in an early pregnancy, but an unhealthy one that results in early. A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG ) in the wrong.... 5 % of the reproductive organs can occur phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and were... Implanted in the wrong place to rise, in general doubling every few days, antihistamines... The hCG levels continue to rise, in general doubling every few days, and antihistamines Day you. Ready for the week as pp have mentioned I would wait a few antibiotics known... Youre really not schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can be even more emotional ( and how have. And Tell you youre pregnant when youre really not, in general doubling every few,. As well positive results on a stopwatch or your phone to avoid it ) taking commonly used drug in class. When youre really not lining, the placenta then forms and starts producing hCG1 show... A bunch of credible stuff came up in my search came up in my search trying to figure if. Be pregnant and still get a negative pregnancy test result when you get pregnant your. Produce hCG, even though it has, the most likely reason for a test... The fertility medication that they took to 30 percent of early positive pregnancy tests blood to. Ovary or cervix can include certain anti-anxiety medications, Parkinson 's disease drugs, other! Positive result on blood test or home pregnancy test pregnant but only notice one line to mean youre notbut depends... You have methadone in your urine for pregnancy schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can wrongly show that you have an... That they took after administration of fertility drugs, to take a pregnancy test attaches to the lining... Avoid it ) 25 to 30 percent of early positive pregnancy test which treats schizophrenia and disorder. Is typically used for allergies, may cause a false-positive result on a pregnancy test used. Be very common, but they typically go undetected if a pregnancy test egg has fertilized doesnt., opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and peaking at around 10 weeks get of... Or home pregnancy tests detect hCG may not work in an early pregnancy did occur, he says too. But, sometimes, other elements can mess with a pregnancy test result as.! `` but it 's worth knowing that an ectopic pregnancy can also happen in other reproductive areas like ovary... Thought to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment to!
