Causes of a Negative Pregnancy Test with No Period

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It becomes worrisome when a woman misses her period, yet the pregnancy test result is not positive. There is a lot of mystery about a woman’s menstrual cycle devoid of technological advancement explanation. It is not unexpected for a woman who has a delayed or missed period, but still has a negative pregnancy test. Here are a few reasons the period may be late or delayed, even if the pregnancy test is negative.

Low hormone levels

The levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) early in pregnancy are not yet high enough for a home pregnancy test to detect.

One study found that home pregnancy tests only have to be capable of detecting hCG levels above 25 mIU/mil to achieve the commonly advertised 99 percent accuracy rate. Another study calculated that in order to detect 95 percent of pregnancies, a test would have to be able to detect levels as low as12.4 mIU/ml. But not all home pregnancy tests were consistently sensitive enough to do so.

A woman’s cycle varies widely, so if you happened to conceive later in your cycle, your hormone levels may not be high enough. Pregnancy bleeding, recent hormonal contraceptive use, or breast-feeding can all interfere with a woman accurately knowing her dates.

There can be as much as 13 days difference to when ovulation occurs, meaning that you may think you are 4 weeks pregnant when you are only two weeks along.

When you think you may be pregnant and missed a period, but the pregnancy test is negative, you have to wait a few days and redo the test. If the result is still negative while you also miss your period, consult your doctor to rule out any complications.

Ectopic pregnancy

A rare medical codition, but sometimes an ectopic pregnancy can occur and register as a negative pregnancy test. This happens in less than 3 percent of ectopic pregnancies. Prompt medical attention is needed if the pregnancy test is negative and you are experiencing these symptoms:

Severe pain low in your abdomen or on one side

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Bleeding or spotting

Nausea and vomiting

Environmental factors

Several environmental factors that can wreak havoc on your menstrual cycle include:

Stress can delay your period.

Malnutrition can affect it, the cycle can fluctuate if you are not eating enough food or are drinking too much caffeine.

Sudden lifestyle changes, like working on overnight shift or intense exercise, can also cause the period to be irregular.

Breast-feeding

Breast-feeding can cause some irregularities in the cycle. Even after your period returns after child birth, it may take some time before your cycle goes back to normal.

Breast-feeding is also unpredictable month by month. As babies grow, their feedings may change. For example, if your baby is going through a growth spurt and suddenly increases the frequency of night feedings, it may interfere with your cycle.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid problems do cause women to experience irregular cycles and also miss their periods. Some women may have very light periods, some may have very heavy periods, and some may skip periods all together.

Menopause for women typically begins around age 50. In some women however, it can start prematurely, under the age of 40. This varies in women, but if you have missed your period for over 3 months and are not pregnant, see your doctor about getting tested for any underlying medical conditions. 

Medications

Birth control may cause irregularities in your cycle. But there are also other types of medications that may lead to a missed period. For example, blood pressure or allergy medications can throw off your cycle.

Way Forward

Missing one’s period can be caused by several factors which could be temporary and permanent. Women who have missed their periods for more than three months should seek prompt medical attention for an in-depth evaluation of the underlying medical conditions that may be causing this, as well as getting treated to become pregnant.

 

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