However, while a false positive pregnancy test result is uncommon, it can happen, for a variety of reasons. Learn more about the causes of false positive pregnancy tests.
What Is a False Positive?
A false positive on a pregnancy test means that the test result says you are pregnant but you actually aren’t. In most cases, this means the test detected the hormone hCG in your urine when there really was no hCG in your urine. However, sometimes, there may be hCG in your urine even if you are not (or are no longer) pregnant with a viable embryo. The newer, more sensitive early pregnancy tests can detect lower amounts of hCG in the urine, making them more sensitive, and in rare cases, they can indicate pregnancy when one does not actually exist. Though there are reasons why you may have a false positive.
Causes
There are a variety of reasons that a home pregnancy test may have a false positive result. For a false positive to be shown on your pregnancy test, you either have hCG in your body for some other medical reason or the test was not working correctly. Call your doctor or midwife for advice on what to do if you get a positive result but then discover that you’re not pregnant. They may wish to do blood work to see if hCG is found in your blood or do other testing to rule out any other health issues.
Test Error
While rare, the home pregnancy test you are using could be faulty. Some reasons include if the test was not stored properly and was damaged by heat or water. Or there could be a defect due to a manufacturing issue, but again, this is rare. More likely, although still uncommon, the error could be due to taking the test incorrectly. For example, you could have waited too long to read the results or you could be misinterpreting the test strips, which sometimes have faint lines, called evaporation lines, that can show up for negative results. True positive results will show up as bright lines.
Early Pregnancy Loss
Another possibility is that you had a correct positive result, in that hCG was found, but that the hCG levels are falling. This is not technically a false positive in the sense that it did detect hCG, but it is false in the sense that you may not have a viable pregnancy. This lower hCG may be a sign of a miscarriage or chemical pregnancy, which is when an embryo doesn’t implant or grow. You may also still have hCG in your body after a recent abortion.
Ectopic Pregnancy
You can get a positive pregnancy test result with an ectopic pregnancy, which is also known as a tubal pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is when an embryo implants outside of the uterus. Unfortunately, these pregnancies are not viable and treatment is required to remove the embryo to protect the health of the pregnant person—and their fertility. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include dizziness, vaginal bleeding, fainting, rectal pressure, and/or abdominal, pelvic, or shoulder pain, If you experience any of these symptoms along with a positive pregnancy result, contact your doctor.
Some Medical Conditions
There are a variety of medical issues that may cause a false positive result. For example, a positive pregnancy test can sometimes indicate a molar pregnancy, a type of non-cancerous tumor that’s also called also known as a hydatidiform mole. Other possibilities include having a urinary tract infection, certain types of ovarian cancer, and kidney disease.
Certain Medications
Some medications may create a false positive pregnancy test result as well. These include some anticonvulsants, anti-anxiety drugs, antihistamines, diuretics, chemotherapy medications, antipsychotics, drugs that treat Parkinson’s disease, and methadone.
Pregnancy Confirmation Visit
If you get a positive pregnancy test, it’s always a good idea to follow up with your doctor. Most doctor’s offices use urine tests to test for pregnancy that are very similar to what you use at home. Though they may not look the same, the technology is essentially the same. If they think that there is an issue with the urine test you used at home, they may opt to try a urine test in the office, or they may go straight to a blood pregnancy test. This would usually then be repeated to tell what the exact hCG numbers were and whether it was going up or down in the two tests. This can give you a better idea of if you had a false positive or if it was a fluke from the test itself.
What Happens If You Have a False Positive Test Result?
If you have had a false positive on a pregnancy test, that means you are not pregnant. If another medical condition caused your false positive result, you may need treatment. If not, you may decide to try to get pregnant. Or you may even find out later in this cycle that you are pregnant, but just weren’t pregnant enough at the time of the original test. “I had a slight positive pregnancy test and went to the doctor,” says Clare. “I was really surprised when they said I wasn’t pregnant. I felt a bit foolish. Turns out two weeks later, I really was pregnant. One urine test was right, the other wrong.” However, for many people, it may take several cycles to become pregnant. If you have been trying for a year (or for six months if you’re 35 or over), consult with your OB/GYN to have your fertility evaluated, if needed.
A Word From Verywell
While unlikely, getting a false positive pregnancy test result is possible. If you’re trying to conceive, it can be very upsetting and confusing to think you’re pregnant only to discover that you’re actually not. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your fertility and the best way for you to get pregnant and test the next time you suspect you might have conceived.
