False negative pregnancy test?!

sk3965 · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:58 am Post subject: False negative pregnancy test?!

Hi,
I'm concerned:
About 3 weeks ago I woke up with very sore, swollen breasts. A week later I got my period, but an abnormal one. Whereas I usually have a heavy period that lasts for 7-8 days, this was very light (like one-panty-liner-a day light!), and I didn't have the usual cramps. It lasted for 5 days. Once that was over I started feeling sick often, and for the past few days I have been feeling very tired. I have also had some weird feelings in my abdomen.
I did a pregnancy test at the GPs but it came out negative. However I've read stories of negative tests well into pregnancy.
Was wondering if any of you had similar experiences or any advice for me?
My doc is being very unhelpful Confused

OffDutyNurse · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

If the test that the GP done was a urine spec sent to the hospital...it will be a true reading. hCG is the pregnancy hormone that is detected only once a fertilised egg is implanted into the uterine wall, and starts to produce the hCG. A negative reading is hCG under 5, but if hCG is being produced, it doubles every 48 hours, therefore rising into the thousands within several days, hence a positive pregnancy test.

It is, however, more common to get a false negative on a shop-bought pregnancy test, that a false positive. If the GP used a pregnancy test in the surgery, they will be no more accurate than the shop-bought pregnancy tests. If you are still convinced you are pregnant, wait another few days, and test again. But I would say that if you have had any kind of bleed and a negative pregnancy test, you probably aren't this time! HTH, and I really hope you get the result you want soon xxxx

sk3965 · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

Dear OffDutyNurse,

Thanks for your reply. It was a urine test same as the home pregnancy tests.
I was thinking along the same lines that with the bleeding and the negative test I probably wasn't. I am, however, under a lot of pressure from my boyfriend to find out ASAP as he wants me to have an abortion. Not something I'm entirely comfortable with...
Anyhow I'll wait and see what happens when my next period is due.
Thanks again! X