Can ovarian cyst cause false negative pregnancy test

Positive pregnancy tests don’t always indicate that conception has occurred. In some instances, false positives occur completely unrelated to pregnancy. Several medical conditions can cause the production of human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG -- the hormone which usually indicates that conception has occurred.

Although very low quantities of HCG are present in some cases, the advanced technology of home pregnancy tests allows for detection of HCG at lower levels. False positives can be caused by fertility drugs, cysts, pituitary disorders and some cancers.

Infertility

Women undergoing fertility treatments, especially to stimulate ovulation, may be prescribed medications such as Pregnyl and Humegon.

These medications include a form of HCG which can remain in the body for days after treatment. Women receiving these treatments should follow their doctor’s instructions to not test too early, to avoid getting a false positive.

Choriocarcinoma

Can ovarian cyst cause false negative pregnancy test

ANA Test in Pregnancy

Choriocarcinoma is a type of cancer which occurs inside the uterus. Cancerous cells produce HCG which is detected as a pregnancy.

Symptoms of choriocarcinoma include vaginal bleeding, pain and ovarian cysts. Treatment involves chemotherapy, followed by close observation for the next three years to detect possible recurrence.

Pituitary Disorder

Disorders of the pituitary gland can cause a false positive pregnancy test. Pituitary tumors can stimulate cells in the pituitary gland to produce HCG.

Menopause can also affect the pituitary, leading to HCG production and false positive pregnancy tests. On rare occasions, the pituitary can create HCG even when no disorder or tumor is present.

Ovarian Cysts

Can ovarian cyst cause false negative pregnancy test

Medications That Cause False Positive Pregnancy Tests

Corpus luteum cysts on the ovaries can cause false positives on pregnancy tests. The corpus luteum remains on the ovary after the egg is released. With time, it disintegrates and the cycle is repeated.

If the corpus luteum fills with blood or fluid, it becomes a cyst and remains on the ovary. The corpus luteum produces HCG, and can therefore interfere with the accuracy of a pregnancy test.

Cancer

Some types of cancer including bladder and ovarian cancer may cause a false positive to occur on a pregnancy test. These cancers can create small amounts of HCG which may be detected on highly sensitive home pregnancy tests.

Can ovarian cyst cause false negative pregnancy test

Can you get pregnant with ovarian cyst? Do ovarian cysts stop you from getting pregnant?

Ovarian cysts are very common and most of them are usually harmless and don’t need any kind of treatment, however, others could cause problems if they grow larger in size.

Functional cysts such as, dermoid and cystadenomas usually do not affect the fertility of a woman or the normal functioning of the ovaries as they are normal part of a woman ovulation.

Specific cysts such as endometriomas can prevent a woman from being able to conceive and can cause infertility. Some women have a condition called polycystic ovaries where many small cysts appear on ovaries, causing irregular periods and high levels of certain hormones. It is associated with irregular ovulation, which may contribute to problems with fertility in some women.

These constitutes the part of non-functional cysts and do not go away on their own. These cysts hamper women fertility and prevent a woman from getting pregnant by causing a hormonal imbalance and restricting follicle maturation.

Women with cysts caused by endometriosis and due to polycystic ovaries syndrome are infertile and cannot conceive naturally as their ovaries are not working properly and they are most probably not ovulating either. These women who have cysts in their ovaries also suffer from an ovulation disorder which prevents the ovaries from releasing a mature egg for fertilisation by the sperm.

More: Ovarian cyst removal  and ovarian cyst surgery

Can an ovarian cyst give you a positive pregnancy test?

Having an ovarian cyst will not cause you to have a false positive on a pregnancy test. In some cases, a certain type of ovarian cyst can interfere with the results of a pregnancy test.

There are also some cases your healthcare provider may use a pregnancy test to identify a certain type of ovarian cyst.

Corpus luteum cysts can have an impact on pregnancy tests and can cause a false positive pregnancy test. The corpus luteum remains on the ovary after the egg is released. It disintegrates with time and the cycle is repeated again.

If the corpus luteum fills with blood or fluid, it becomes a cyst and remains on the ovary. It produces HCG- the hormone which is indicative of occurrence of conception, and can therefore interfere with the accuracy of a pregnancy test.

More: Ovarian Cyst: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

More: Ruptured ovarian cyst

Can an ovarian cyst stop your period?

Ovarian cysts can hamper with your normal menstrual period but are not able to stop it completely. Generally, functional cysts have no effect on your period unless they are small in size and resolves on their own.

Bigger cysts may rupture and can cause painful menstrual period.

Cysts caused due to polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis can cause painful and irregular menstrual periods.

How can an ovarian cyst during pregnancy be removed?

Depending on the condition of the cyst, your doctor may suggest different treatments, or may also suggest waiting patiently and seeing if the cyst could go away on its own.

If the cyst is small, your doctor may recommend you to get regular ultrasound examination to see if the cyst has changed its size. Ultrasound scan reveal if a pregnant woman has any cyst or not. Your doctor will usually wait half way into pregnancy as removing it at the early stages can increase the chances of miscarriage.

Sometimes, a cyst can develop on an ovarian stem and become twisted and this might lead to serious medical complication as the ovary can be damaged and in such cases, your doctor will remove the cyst through laparoscopy, irrespective of your pregnancy stage. However, a laparotomy could be essential if the cyst has grown huge during late stage of your pregnancy.

Shahid is a pharmacologist with masters in pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacology. In the past, he worked for Maxinov Healthcare Research Division and R.P Biotech. At DiseaseFix, he is a content guide and writer. He is also associated as a researcher with Integrated Resources Pvt Ltd. currently. Shahid’s areas of interests include cellular and molecular pharmacology, pre-clinical screening, and systemic and clinical Pharmacology.

Can ovarian cysts affect pregnancy tests?

Pregnancy test: A corpus luteum cyst can cause a false positive on a pregnancy test.

Can ovarian cyst affect HCG levels?

Conclusion: Mature ovarian cystic teratomas have rarely been reported to secrete HCG. They can be an infrequent source of HCG production and may lead to emergency surgery to treat a suspected extra-uterine pregnancy.

What can cause a false negative pregnancy test?

You might get a false-negative if you:.
Take the test too early. The earlier after a missed period that you take a home pregnancy test, the harder it is for the test to detect HCG . ... .
Check test results too soon. Give the test time to work. ... .
Use diluted urine..

Can early pregnancy be mistaken for ovarian cyst?

Cysts may be mistaken for an early pregnancy or twin. Detailed breeding history and thorough scanning technique is vital to avoid potentially costly mistakes.