- 1. The test was done too early
- 2. The women's cycle is irregular
- 3. It is an ectopic pregnancy
- 4. The woman is breastfeeding
- 5. The pregnancy test is out of date
- What can cause menstruation delay
The result of the pharmacy pregnancy test is generally quite reliable, as long as it is done according to the instructions on the package and at the right time, that is, from the 1st day of menstrual delay. However, to confirm the result, it is always best to repeat the test 3 to 5 days after the first result.
Although the tests are quite reliable, there are often still unexplained changes in the woman's menstrual cycle, which can cause several doubts, especially when the pregnancy test is negative, but menstruation still does not appear.
So, we put together some causes that can lead to a false negative, which happens when the woman is in fact pregnant, but the test is negative. It is important to remember that the best way to confirm a suspected pregnancy is to go to the gynecologist to have a blood test and measure the levels of the bHCG hormone. Learn more about this test and how it is done.
1. The test was done too early
This is the main reason for a false negative and it happens when the woman suspects that she is pregnant and therefore feels some symptoms that she believes are the first signs of pregnancy, feeling the need to get tested as soon as possible.
However, the best way to guarantee the result is to wait for the delay of menstruation, and even do the test a few days after that delay, so that the body has time to produce enough bHCG hormone to be eliminated in the urine and detected by the test. pharmacy. Better understand how the pharmacy pregnancy test works.
2. The women's cycle is irregular
When a woman's menstrual cycle is irregular, there is also a high chance that the pregnancy test will be negative. This is because the test was probably done before the menstrual delay and the woman is just a period longer than normal.
Thus, the best way to ensure that the result is true, in the case of a woman with an irregular cycle, is to take the test just 2 to 3 weeks after the supposed day of the fall of menstruation. See how the irregular cycle works.
3. It is an ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is a relatively rare situation, in which the egg after being fertilized is implanted in a location other than the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. In these cases, the body takes longer to produce the hormone bHCG and, therefore, the result can be negative even if fertilization has occurred.
This type of pregnancy is a medical emergency that must be stopped as soon as possible, as it can cause serious damage to the woman's reproductive system. Some signs that may indicate a possible ectopic pregnancy include severe pain in the belly, nausea, vaginal bleeding or a feeling of heaviness near the vagina, for example. If the woman has these signs, she should go to the hospital quickly to confirm the diagnosis and start terminating the pregnancy. Here's how to identify a possible ectopic pregnancy.
4. The woman is breastfeeding
When a woman is breastfeeding, the body slowly regulates itself over time, especially in the production of hormones. Thus, it is possible that the woman has a very irregular cycle initially, even though she has always had a regular cycle before.
For this reason, some women may find themselves pregnant when menstruation is delayed. Thus, it is possible that the pregnancy test may be negative, because menstruation is only delayed. Understand if it is possible to get pregnant by breastfeeding.
5. The pregnancy test is out of date
Although it is a rarer cause, it is possible that the pregnancy test was sold out of date. When this happens, the reagent used to identify the presence of the bHCG hormone may be working incorrectly, giving a false negative result.
Therefore, it is very important to check the expiry date on the test package before use. In addition, some tests may have been poorly stored and, even if they are on time, may malfunction. For these reasons, whenever there is a suspicion that the test is not giving a correct result, you should buy another one at the pharmacy and repeat the test.
What can cause menstruation delay
When the test was done correctly, in the right period and the test has already been repeated, but the result is still negative and menstruation still does not appear, it is likely that, in fact, you are not pregnant. This is because there are many other factors that can cause delayed menstruation, other than pregnancy.
Some causes include:
- Excessive stress and anxiety; Practicing intense physical exercise for a long time; Thyroid problems; Very restrictive diets.
Thus, if menstruation is delayed and there is no positive pregnancy test, it is best to consult the gynecologist to identify if there is any other cause that may be causing this delay, initiating the appropriate treatment.
Check out the 12 main causes of delayed menstruation and what to do.
