While it is common for women to get false negative pregnancy tests, many are unsure if it is possible to get a false positive. It is important to note that it is possible to get a false positive pregnancy test. That said, it is extremely rare to get a false positive pregnancy test. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a positive pregnancy test is a good indication that you are pregnant. Here are some of the factors which can contribute to an inaccurate positive result, however.
Fertility Drugs May Cause False Positive Pregnancy Tests
Home pregnancy tests work by testing the urine for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), which is a hormone associated with pregnancy. That said, it is important to keep in mind that fertility drugs and injections can contain hCG. There is a possibility that they may interfere with the results of a home pregnancy test. It is recommended for you to wait until drugs and injections are out of your system. Note that the popular fertility drug Clomid will not interfere with pregnancy test results.
Chemical Pregnancies Lead to False Positive Pregnancy Tests
Chemical pregnancies can cause you to have a positive pregnancy test result, when in reality you are not pregnant. According to BabyHopes.com, chemical pregnancies are early miscarriages. In fact, they are so early that you may never have time to visit the doctor before you will experience a miscarriage. In a sense, this is not a false pregnancy test because you were pregnant at the time you took the test, but ended before a doctor can confirm the results.
Inaccurate Reading of the Pregnancy Test Can Cause False Results
Some pregnancy tests develop evaporation lines, which may appear as a positive test result. It can be ideal to consider a digital pregnancy test. While these tests are slightly pricier, they read as either “pregnant” or “not pregnant.” This can help prevent any confusion from occurring when you read the results of a home pregnancy test.
Though it is possible to get a false positive pregnancy test, it is rare. Remember that some women do not experience the symptoms which are commonly associated with early pregnancy, such as morning sickness and breast tenderness. Even if you have no signs of pregnancy, it could still be possible. Any time that you get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, the best thing that you can do is visit the doctor to determine whether or not you are really pregnant.
Sources:
American Pregnancy Association, “Taking a Pregnancy Test.”
BabyHopes.com, “How Common is a False Positive Pregnancy Test and What Causes It?”
