Accuracy of Pregnancy Tests? Posted: 12-18-04 23:43pm
Hello, i've just found this board because
as you can well guess, I am wondering if I
may be pregnant. I'm 22 years old and
usually have very regular periods. I
never have late periods, if anything, I
usually get them early. However, now, my
period is at least 4 days late. I took a
pregnancy test a day before my expected
period and one 3 days after my period
should've started and they both came back
negative. We used the first response
test. I started a new job nearly three
months ago which is very stressful for me.
Also, my last period which was october
12-17 was lighter than usual, but I do
have thyroid problems and contributed it
to that. I've been hearing that people
can still be pregnant despite getting a
negative test result. Is this true?
Should I still consider that I may be
pregnant. I'm not on any birth control,
but my husband and I are always very
careful and use protection. Just
wondering what you all think. We don't
have any medical insurance yet as it won't
kick in until the beginning of january at
the earliest. Should I wait that long to
see a dr or do you think I even need to go
see one? I'm not sure what to do and
could really use any advice you have to
offer. Thank you so much!
Nicole
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LCCCPT
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Tennessee
Doctor Advice Posted: 12-19-04 00:28am
I have also heard of false negatives,
however I just went to see my doctor
because I got off birth control and
haven't had a period in 3 months. I have
taken 4 tests all which were negative.
When we spoke I asked him if he thought I
needed a blood test and he said no that
the tests were very accurate as long as
you give it enough time after your missed
period. I have also heard to take them
first thing in the morning to be the most
accurate. Good luck!
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JN_Doll
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: USA
Posted: 12-19-04 09:24am
Well, it's been 2 months since I had a
regular period. Last month, I had a
period, but it never got heavy like it
usually does. It usually starts off
really like, but then gets heavier. Since
that happened, i've taken three pregnancy
tests total, and their all negative. My
sister knows someone who has taken up to
five (over a month span) after her missed
period, they all came back negative, and
yet the bloodwork showed she was pregnant.
I guess maybe I should bite the bullet
and go get a bloodtest done. Does anyone
know what that may cost if you don't have
insurance? My husband figures it's
probably best to assume I am pregnant
despite the negative results because that
way we can brace ourselves for a baby, and
if it does indeed turn out to be postive
with bloodwork, it won't be such a shock
and won't be so scary, and if it's
negative, we can be happy about that too.
If you guys have any thoughts or advice at
all, i'd be more than happy to hear it!
Thanks for your replies!
Nicole
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Nikki n Rudy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posted: 12-19-04 09:41am
Mine were always positive. Both times,
with both babies. My blood tests were
even positive.
Ive heard of the false negative. Good
luck.
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JN_Doll
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: USA
Posted: 12-19-04 12:59pm
Do you think it would pointless then to
try a home pregnacy test one more time?
I know I should probably just go to the
dr, but I don't really like dr's too much
and as i've said before, we don't have
insurance coverage yet.
I have had thyroid troubles for the past 3
years, but this last week they've been
getting worse, probably from all the
worrying i've been doing, but don't know
if that could be a sign of pregnancy
because of the any new hormones showing
up. Also, this morning, i've been having
short dizzy spells which sometimes
accompany my thyroid feeling worse.
However, my husband said they he felt a
little dizzy off and on this morning as
well so maybe we have a little flu bug or
something. Also, maybe it's just all
psychosymatic because I fear I may be
pregnant. Any thoughts or tips? I'm
scared to tell my family yet because I
can't tell them for certain i'm pregnant
because the tests so far have been
negative so this puts extra worry on me as
well. I wish I had more people to talk
to beside my husband and I having to deal
with this alone.
I appreciate all the replies and advice
you've all given me! Thanks!
Nicole
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:::bubblegum:::
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 83
Posted: 12-19-04 16:17pm
Hey, you could try another hpt, but I
think you would benift more from a blood
test. I think this because your proberly
at the stage that no matter what your
still going to have that nagging doubt in
your mind saying ' you could be pregnant'.
So I would suggest getting a bloodtest
yep. And good luck whatever the final
answer may be!
Your not alone! We are here! My
suggestion is got to your nearest planned
parenthood to get the test done for your
sanity. The price you pay is determined
by your salary. What state ae you in?
Goodluck sweety
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JN_Doll
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: USA
Posted: 12-19-04 17:46pm
We live in florida. Thank you for the
suggestion and for all of your guys
support! It means a lot. Thank you very
much! We'll let you know what our plans
our when we have a better idea of where we
should go with this thing.
Nicole
Last edited by JN_Doll on 12-19-04 21:13pm; edited 1 time in total
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JN_Doll
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: USA
Posted: 12-19-04 21:11pm
Well, we're going to try a different brand
of hpt just to see if that makes any
difference. I have been so stressed with
work and everything that I really can't be
getting myself even more stressed out by
this. So, we're going to try taking
another test tomorrow morning with the
first morning urine (which we haven't done
yet) and we'll take it from there. Due to
the fact that I have thyroid troubles,
stress really reeks havoc on my thyroid
and I need to try and get that under
control. Also, being a christian, i'm
going to try better to trust god's will
and not worry so much because it's really
not doing me any good at all. Plus, my
husband has been so wonderful and
supportive with this and there are people
out there who don't have someone so loving
to stand behind them like that so I am
really so thankful and blessed by that.
I'm just going to assume for now that i'm
not pregnant and since I don't drink,
smoke, or take any type of drugs, i'm sure
it'll be fine unless we get a postive test
in the morning and then we'll decide where
to go from there. I think the key thing
for me now is to not get myself stressed
over not knowing. Since my period wasn't
quite normal last month and is absent this
month with a negative hpt result thus far,
I would think for the most part it is safe
to assume i'm not pregnant. Then, when I
get my insurance coverage in a month or
so, i'll go get checked out for my thyroid
and everything else since my husband and I
both planned on getting a real good check
up then. Of course, with my thyroid
troubles which can cause me to be quite
worrisome and nervous, I may not feel so
optomistic tomorrow. Anyway, I just
wanted to let you all know what is
happening with us. We greatly appreciate
your support. It has been a huge help to
us. Thank you! We'll keep you posted on
any further news! Thank you again!
I think leaving it up to god is the best
thing you can do! Goodluck and let us
know!
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JN_Doll
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: USA
Posted: 12-19-04 22:32pm
Me again! Well, we decided to try one
tonight since it's been about two days
since we took the last one and we've read
that the hormone doubles every 2-3 days or
so, but still negative. This is a
different brand of test so I can't see why
I should be pregnant if we keep getting
negative results. It should definitely
show up by now, and these test are 99%
accurate so odds are i'm not pregnant,
right? Granted, there is still a chance,
but until my insurance kicks in, i'm going
to try and hold out going to the Dr. As
you can tell, i'm not always good at
waiting so, I may change my mind again and
end up going just to be 100% certain, but
in my heart, I don't think we could be
pregnant because we are alway so careful
to use protection especially since i'm not
on any type of birth control pill. We've
made it over a year without getting
pregnant. I know things can always
happen no matter how careful you are, but
i'd like to believe the hpt isn't lying
since this is the 4th one we've taken
since my period was first off last month
and now absent this month. About 14
months ago, I left the country and only
home I new to move down to florida to be
married to the love of my life. I wasn't
able to work until september when I got my
current job. It's been so stressful for
me learning this job because i'm a
perfectionist and worry too much about
what others think of me, and having to be
away from my husband is so difficult on
me. Plus, we've had extra stress with
christmas and me not being able to go to
canada to spend some time with my family.
I'm getting somewhat homesick, and there
just seems to be so much going on in my
life right now that I think I may have
stressed myself out too much. I'm trying
to stay upbeat and positive for now, and
for those of you who are christians, i'd
appreciate a few prayers to help me stay
strong and to be able to cope with
whatever comes our way. I appreciate
your help. I've really needed some
people to talk to about this because it's
difficult having my husband and I have to
go through this alone. It felt like
we've been having to keep a huge secret
from anyone, and let's face it, in times
of stress, you need people to lean on.
So, thank you for listening and for your
replies and advice. Does anyone know
what else could be the cause of an absent
period besides pregnancy? Just want to
have as much information as possible even
though I should really not think about it
at all for my sanity's sake!
thank you again for your help and advice!
Anything else you can tell me, would be a
huge help! Thank you!
I did another test this morning, and still
negative. I was in a book store today
after work and was flipping through a book
about thyroid function. I know my thyroid
isn't working properly and hasn't for
several years. In fact, it has been a
little worse lately, probably due to the
stress. Anyway, one of the pages I
happened to open it up to said something
about both hypo and hyperthyroidism
causing the lack of a period and how it
can mess around with the regularity and
flow of your cycle. So, i'm sure this
isn't helping me out either. So, I think
my plans for right now are to definitely
go to a dr to get my thyroid levels check
as soon as my health insurance kicks in
and get on some approapriate meds to
control it. At that time, i'll be getting
a full medical check up and if there's
anything else wrong, hopefully they'll
catch it. Thank you all for your support!
It means a lot!
Well I hope you get the treatment you need
and we are still here is you need us
again! Goodluck hun!
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JN_Doll
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 10 Location: USA
Posted: 12-21-04 18:58pm
Hello, everyone!
Well, I can not say with 100% certainty
yet, but I think I am just about to get my
period which means it was just from
stress. I have been feeling really
emotional today which is how I get right
before it, and tonight there were the
beginning signs of it starting up
tomorrow. What a relief and a god send!
My husband and I do want to have children,
but we'd still like to wait a little while
longer. It's been a rough week, but now I
can rest a little easier. Again, I just
want to thank everyone becuase I couldn't
have gotten through this without all of
you! You were such a big help to me!
I'll let you know if anything else changes
and I hope you all have a very merry
christmas!!!
