How often do you get false negative pregnancy tests

Q: Can I be 5 weeks pregnant and still test negative?

Yes, it is possible. Getting a negative result doesnt mean youre not pregnant, it may just mean your hCG levels are not high enough for the test to detect the hormone in your urine.

Q: Can you get multiple false negative pregnancy tests?

One explanation for a false negative pregnancy test is whats called the hook effect. Its not common but sometimes this effect leads to urine and blood tests giving the wrong result. This error might happen even after youve had one positive pregnancy test and test again a couple days later.

Q: Can you be 6 weeks pregnant and test negative?

For example, its possible you could take an at-home pregnancy test a week before your missed period and for it to return a negative result, despite you actually being pregnant. This is because the level of hCG, or the pregnancy hormone, in your urine is simply too low to detect.

If you have missed a period and recently had unprotected sex, you may be pregnant. Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period.

When you can do a pregnancy test

You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.

Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period.

You can do a pregnancy test on a sample of urine collected at any time of the day. It doesn't have to be in the morning.

Where you can get a pregnancy test

You can buy pregnancy testing kits from pharmacists and some supermarkets. They can give a quick result and you can do the test in private.

The following places provide free pregnancy tests:

sexual health services
some young people's services – call the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 for details
Brook centres for under-25s – find your nearest Brook centre

You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP.

How does a pregnancy test work?

All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation.

Most pregnancy tests come in a box that contains 1 or 2 long sticks. You pee on the stick and the result appears on the stick after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so always check the instructions.

Pregnancy test results

Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly.

A positive test result is almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable.

The result may not be reliable if you:

do not follow the instructions properly
take the test too early

Some medicines can also affect the results.

If you get a negative result and still think you're pregnant, wait a few days and try again. Speak to your GP if you get a negative result after a second test but your period has not arrived.

Continuing with the pregnancy

If you're pregnant and want to continue with the pregnancy, contact your GP or a midwife to start your antenatal care. You can use the pregnancy due date calculator to work out when your baby is due.

If you're not sure you want to be pregnant

If you're not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:

continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
having an abortion
continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted

As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information – from the age of 13 – from the following:

sexual health services
the MSI Reproductive Choices website
the British Pregnancy Advisory service website
the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory service website

All these services – including community contraceptive clinics – are confidential. If you're 13 or older, the staff won't tell your parents. They'll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won't force you.

If you're under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.

Video: Is the pregnancy test accurate?

In this video, a midwife explains when you can take a pregnancy test and how to do it properly.

Media last reviewed: 5 February 2020
Media review due: 5 February 2023

Home pregnancy tests are very accurate if done according to the package instructions and if completed at the right time, i.e. the first day after the period is due and onwards after that. However, to confirm a result, the best thing to do is to repeat the test three to five days after the first test.

Even though urine tests are usually accurate, there are other unexplainable changes to your menstrual cycle that can cause concerns and doubts with the result, like when your test is negative, but your period is still late.

The best way to confirm a suspected pregnancy is with a blood test that confirms the presence of bHCG hormones in the blood. However, below are some reasons why a home pregnancy test can show a negative result when you are, in fact, pregnant:

1. Completing a test too early

This is one of the most common reasons for a false negative test. Many women will complete a pregnancy test as soon as they feel symptoms of early pregnancy, like sore breasts or changes to vaginal discharge.

However, the best way to guarantee a correct result is to wait for your period to be late, and then to do the test a few days later. This allows the body enough time to produce sufficient HCG hormones to be detected in a urine test. Read more about how to correctly complete a home pregnancy test.

2. Irregular cycles

When your menstrual cycle is irregular, negative pregnancy tests are actually more likely to occur. This is because, just like above, the urine test is completed too early, before a period is actually late, resulting in a negative test.

If you cycles are usually irregular, you should only complete a test two to three weeks after your predicted period. You should track your period symptoms to have a better understanding of when your period is due to start.

3. Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition. It occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. In these cases, the body takes longer to produce HCG hormone, and the result can appear negative even if fertilization has occurred.

This type of pregnancy is a medical emergency that should be terminated as soon as possible, as it can cause serious damage to the woman’s reproductive system. A few signs that can indicate a possible ectopic pregnancy are intense abdominal pain, vomiting, vaginal bleeding, or feeling of abdominal heaviness. If you have these symptoms, proceed immediately to the hospital to confirm diagnosis and initiate treatment.

4. Breastfeeding

When a woman is breastfeeding, the body takes longer to return to its initial pre-pregnancy state. Therefore, it is possible for a woman’s cycle to be irregular initially, even though she used to have a regular cycle before.

This may result in a false negative, as an expected period is not actually delayed yet, leading to an early pregnancy test.

5. Expired or mishandled test

This may be the rarest cause, however it is possible that a pregnancy test has expired and no longer functioning properly. When a test is not used vy its valid date, the presence of HCG may not be detected, resulting a negative test.

It is very important to check the expiration date on the package before using it. Additionally, if pregnancy tests are not stored properly, even though they are within the expiry date, they may not give an accurate result. For those reasons, if you suspect that the test is not reporting the correct result, you should complete another one.

What can cause a delayed period

If your period is delayed and a pregnancy test confirms a negative result, you are advised to repeat the test in a few days. If the second test is still negative even when your period is still late, likelihood of pregnancy is low. There are many factors that can influence your cycle and cause a delayed period when you are not pregnant.

Some causes of a delayed period are:

Excess stress and anxiety;
Practicing intense physical exercise for a long time;
Thyroid problems;
Very restrictive diets.

Learn about what else can cause a late period.

If your period is late and multiple home pregnancy tests confirm a negative result, you should consult your doctor to identify whether there is another factor influencing the delay. They may be able to indicate appropriate treatment based on the diagnosis.

How common is a false negative pregnancy test?

The variant hook effect is most likely to occur after 8-14 weeks of the pregnancy, but also as early as 6 weeks of the pregnancy. One study showed 1 in 300 (0.34%: 40/11,760) false negative pregnancy tests. Keep in mind that a negative result more often than not means that you are not pregnant.

What does it mean when a pregnancy test comes back negative?

False Negative Pregnancy Test A false negative pregnancy test is when you are pregnant but the test comes up negative. The most common reason for a false negative is that you took the test too early. 1 Even if your period is late according to your typical cycle, you might have ovulated later in the month.

What should I do if I keep getting false negative pregnancy test?

However, if you suspect you’re pregnant and are still getting false-negative pregnancy test results, then go to your doctor. They can determine for certain whether you’re pregnant or if you’ve missed your period for some other reason.

What are the chances of a negative pregnancy test 21 days?

The percentage of negative pregnancy test results from women who were pregnant at 21 days past ovulation: 8.3%. 9. It usually takes 10 days after conception for a fertilized egg to be implanted into the uterus. 10.

Can I be 5 weeks pregnant and still test negative?

Yes, it is possible. Getting a negative result doesn't mean you're not pregnant, it may just mean your hCG levels are not high enough for the test to detect the hormone in your urine.

Can you get multiple false negative pregnancy tests?

One explanation for a false negative pregnancy test is what's called the hook effect. It's not common but sometimes this effect leads to urine and blood tests giving the wrong result. This error might happen even after you've had one positive pregnancy test and test again a couple days later.

Can you be 6 weeks pregnant and test negative?

For example, it's possible you could take an at-home pregnancy test a week before your missed period and for it to return a negative result, despite you actually being pregnant. This is because the level of hCG, or the pregnancy hormone, in your urine is simply too low to detect.

false negative pregnancy tests