Negative and false-negative pregnancy tests: Everything you need to know

Taking a pregnancy test can be undeniably anxiety inducing, whether you’re trying for a baby or not. And while receiving a negative pregnancy test result when you are trying for a baby can be difficult, it’s helpful to keep in mind that not everyone will get pregnant as soon as they start trying to conceive. In fact, recent research suggests the following average timelines for couples under 35, which might be reassuring to know:

• 45% of couples will conceive following three cycles of unprotected sex.
• 65% of couples will conceive following six cycles of unprotected sex.
• 85% of couples will conceive within their first year of having regular unprotected sex.

So if you’re disappointed by a negative pregnancy test, don’t lose hope — try to focus on the potential for conceiving during your next cycle, instead.

You may, however, get a negative result and still think you might be pregnant. Perhaps your period hasn’t arrived, or you think you might be experiencing early pregnancy symptoms. In this scenario, it can be tricky to know what to do and what information to trust (especially if you’ve turned to Dr. Google for advice — we’ve all been there!). 

To help explain the science behind both negative and false-negative pregnancy tests, and the best time to do another test if you’re doubting your previous result, we spoke to Dr. Nazaneen Homaifar, obstetrician and gynecologist, Inova Health System, Washington, DC, US. Read on for everything you need to know.

How home pregnancy tests work

Those little home pregnancy tests are pretty clever. They work by checking for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which your body only starts to make when you’re pregnant. The volume of hCG in your body (specifically, in your blood and urine) increases rapidly during early pregnancy, doubling every 48 hours between the fourth and sixth week of your pregnancy. If you want to know more, you can track your probable hCG levels at home using our hCG calculator.

Most home pregnancy tests are urine tests. These involve holding a testing stick in your stream of pee or dipping it in a urine sample you’ve collected to test for the presence of hCG. You usually have to wait at least two minutes for the result — which can sometimes feel like the longest 120 seconds of your life. The result will usually show up as one or two lines, a plus or minus sign, or words such as “pregnant” or “not pregnant,” so be sure to read the instructions carefully so you know what to expect. And remember: never use a test that has gone past its expiry date.

How accurate are home pregnancy tests?

If you follow the instructions on your home pregnancy test correctly, then most of them claim to be around 99% effective. However, this might not always be the case, and timing is key to getting the most accurate results — as we’ll discover later on in this article.

Should you repeat a test if you get a negative result? 

Getting a negative pregnancy test result when you’re trying for a baby can be extremely disappointing. It’s natural to feel disheartened, but remember that getting pregnant can take some time, so try not to lose hope if it doesn’t work out from month to month. If you have a feeling you might be pregnant and want to test again to be absolutely sure, then that’s completely normal. However, as hard as it can be to wait, you’ll likely get a more accurate result if you don’t take another test too soon. 

“If pregnancy is suspected despite a negative test, the test should be repeated in one week,” says Dr. Nazaneen Homaifar. You could also speak to your doctor, who might recommend that you have a blood test to determine whether you’re pregnant. These are more sensitive to pregnancy than urine tests, as they can detect lower levels of hCG, meaning they’re quicker to provide an accurate result. 

Why you might have a late or missed period if you have a negative pregnancy test 

Not getting your period but still receiving a negative pregnancy test can be confusing and frustrating when you’re trying for a baby. It’s natural to wonder whether your late or missed period could be a sign to stay hopeful. But while it’s possible that your pregnancy test was a false negative, meaning that it showed a negative result even though you are actually pregnant, it may also be showing an accurate result. In this case, there are other reasons why you might have a late period and a negative pregnancy test that are good to be aware of. 

As Dr. Homaifar explains, the following can also cause menstrual irregularities:

• Stress 
• Rapid fluctuations in body weight (either loss or gain)
• Eating disorders 
• Certain medications

Medical conditions: “There are also some medical conditions that can cause irregularities in ovulation, which can manifest as a late or missed period, including polycystic ovary syndrome, pituitary tumors, issues with the thyroid or even adrenal glands,” explains Dr. Homaifar. 

These factors and conditions might sound scary, but remember that there are many different reasons for a late or missed period. In fact, it’s perfectly normal to experience variations and fluctuations in your cycle throughout your lifetime, so a late period isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, be sure to reach out to your doctor. They can check you over and run some tests and hopefully give you the reassurance that you need. 

Could it be spotting instead of a period?

Things can become even more confusing if you think you’re experiencing spotting — which can be an early sign of pregnancy — rather than your period. 

Spotting is generally described as light bleeding, meaning you don’t need to use a pad or tampon while you have it. It’s usually light brown or pink and not accompanied by cramping or blood clots. But how can you tell the difference between that and your regular period? “Sometimes it’s really hard,” says Dr. Homaifar. “For most people, their first full day of a menstrual cycle has a steady flow (whether light, moderate, or heavy) rather than spotting.” You’ll hopefully be able to judge whether the bleeding you’re experiencing is lighter than your normal period, but always reach out to your doctor if you’re unsure or concerned.

Could a negative pregnancy test result be wrong? 

You may be wondering whether it’s possible to get a negative pregnancy test even when you are actually pregnant. The short answer is yes, there are circumstances when a negative result could be wrong.  

Causes of false-negative pregnancy tests 

So why exactly would a pregnancy test give a false-negative result? Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons.

Incorrect use

If you don’t use the pregnancy test correctly (for example, by checking the results too soon), it may not be accurate. “Incorrect use of any test can result in errors in results,” adds Dr. Homaifar. To prevent this from happening, always read and follow the test instructions carefully. You could also set a timer to stop you from looking at the results too early, as tempting as this may be!

Faulty test

In some instances, the home pregnancy test itself might be faulty. “If a test is expired or faulty, the assay [testing mechanism] that allows it to detect the correct pregnancy hormone markers may not work properly,” explains Dr. Homaifar. You could try taking another pregnancy test to see if you get a different result. 

Testing too early

Timing is everything when it comes to taking a home pregnancy test. For the most accurate results, take your test the day after a missed period. “If you test too early, your urine pregnancy hormone level may be too low to detect on the home kit, and it may show up as negative,” explains Dr. Homaifar. If you’re unsure whether it’s time to take a test, our handy pregnancy test calculator can help.

Miscalculated menstrual cycle

Of course, in order to take a test after the first day of a missed period, you need to be pretty familiar with the length of your menstrual cycle. But this can be easy to miscalculate, especially if you’re one of the 14% to 25% of women whose menstrual cycles are irregular. “If your ovulation varies by a few days because your cycle varies in length, it can throw off when the hCG is first detected in the urine,” explains Dr. Homaifar. This means a pregnancy test might come back negative, even if you are pregnant at this time. 

Dr. Homaifar explains that this is because a pregnancy test won’t show up as positive until after implantation has taken place. And if you have miscalculated the length of your menstrual cycle, it could be tricky to work out when implantation has occurred. Implantation is when a fertilized egg burrows into the wall of your uterus, ready to start developing into a baby. Once implantation has occurred, the body starts creating the hCG the test is looking for. “HCG is secreted into the maternal circulation after implantation, which may occur as early as six days after ovulation but typically occurs eight to ten days after ovulation,” says Dr. Homaifar.

Of course, it can be difficult to know when implantation is likely to have occurred if you don’t know when you’ve ovulated. The solution? You can use our handy ovulation calculator to work out when you might have ovulated in your cycle, and take it from there!

Diluted hCG levels

Especially in the first few days after implantation, when your body’s levels of hCG are low and still rising, the amount of water in your urine can impact the result of your pregnancy test. “If urine is diluted, there might not be enough pregnancy hormone in it to be detected,” explains Dr. Homaifar. 

If you think you’re ready to take a test, you’re likely to get the most accurate results when you wake up. “Try testing first thing in the morning when urine is concentrated, or avoid drinking large amounts of water before testing,” says Dr. Homaifar. If you can’t test first thing in the morning, or you don’t want to wait until the next day to take a test (the impatience is real!), then experts recommend waiting until it’s been at least three hours since your last pee, if possible. 

Too much hCG in the urine 

Confusingly, when levels of hCG are too high, they can also interfere with pregnancy test results. This is why, interestingly, being pregnant with twins can sometimes cause a false-negative pregnancy test. Let’s find out why. Having twins, triplets, or more can cause the body to produce higher levels of hCG. This could be the reason why some women might find themselves three months pregnant with a negative pregnancy test (yes, really!). 

“Very high concentrations of hCG can cause a ‘hook effect,’” says Dr. Homaifar. This essentially means that the test can become saturated with hCG, leading to an inaccurate negative result.

How does it feel to get a false-negative pregnancy test?

So what’s it like to experience a false-negative pregnancy test? Amy Buckler-Smith, 33, from London, had been trying for a baby for around three months when she got a negative pregnancy test right before going on holiday. “You can’t help but worry,” says Amy. 

Amy tried to stay positive and focused on having a good trip to Dubai with her friends. But when she got home around 10 days later, she felt unusually tired and nauseous. “I felt a little bit woozy and sick but thought I couldn’t be pregnant,” says Amy, who is a pregnancy and postnatal personal trainer and the founder of No Sweat Mama. “I came across a pregnancy test while cleaning and thought, I should just do it.”

The test came back positive. Amy was delighted but added that “It was a very big shock.” She still doesn’t know why her first test was a false negative but wonders if she checked the results too soon. “According to my dates, the test should have shown positive,” she says. 

Amy did another test later that day to double-check, which was also positive. Then, “the symptoms came on thick and fast,” so there was no room for doubt. “I think the most important thing in pregnancy is listening to your body,” says Amy. “Whether it’s exercising or drinking water, eating enough, or taking a pregnancy test, just listen to your body. And make sure you know the symptoms of pregnancy!” 

When to see a doctor

It’s important to know when to see a doctor if you have a late period and a negative pregnancy test. “If you’re having pregnancy symptoms but have had two negative test results (tested a week apart), then you should go see a doctor,” advises Dr. Homaifar. “Early pregnancy symptoms also mimic premenstrual symptoms at times. [Your doctor] can talk to you about your symptoms, determine if you need to do a blood test or imaging, and rule out other potential reasons why you might be experiencing them.” 

Negative and false-negative pregnancy tests: The takeaway

It can be really disheartening to get a negative pregnancy test result followed by your period, but try not to give up hope. Keep in mind the fact that 85% of couples under 35 will conceive within a year of having regular, unprotected sex, and try to focus on trying to conceive in your next cycle. 

If you’ve got a negative pregnancy test but no period, you should ideally wait for one week before taking another test, as hard as this can be. While there are a number of reasons why this might happen, it is possible to get a negative pregnancy test but be pregnant. Like Amy, you may have accidentally taken the test incorrectly or miscalculated your cycle. Don’t forget you can use an app like Flo to help you keep track of your periods and hopefully limit the possibility of this happening.

Above all, remember to listen to your body and be mindful of pregnancy symptoms. If in doubt — especially if you’ve got two negative results one week apart — then always reach out to your doctor for advice.