A false positive pregnancy test result is rare, but it can happen. This may occur if you experience a chemical pregnancy or lose the pregnancy shortly after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Stay with Saed News to learn more about this topic.
We want to answer an important and critical question: Can a pregnancy test be wrong? Yes, it is possible. A positive pregnancy test does not always mean that pregnancy has occurred. Several factors can affect the test result and lead to a false positive or false negative outcome. A false positive pregnancy test can happen for several reasons:
A chemical pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg (embryo) fails to implant or develop in the early stages for various reasons. Early pregnancy loss in this case is not due to any action taken by the individual but may result from issues within the uterus, such as:
Fibroids
Scar tissue (from previous surgeries or conditions)
Congenital uterine abnormalities causing an irregularly shaped uterus
Low levels of specific hormones, such as progesterone, which reduce the chances of implantation and embryo growth
It is also important to note that some causes of chemical pregnancy remain unknown.
The hCG hormone level increases in women who are in or near menopause. This can affect pregnancy test results, leading to a false positive. When menopause begins, the production of estrogen and progesterone stops, while pituitary hCG levels increase.
Sometimes, a fertilized egg implants outside the main uterine cavity, leading to an ectopic pregnancy. This usually happens when the fertilized egg gets stuck in the fallopian tube while moving toward the uterus. This condition, also called a tubal pregnancy, cannot continue and is a medical emergency that can severely affect health. Severe bleeding and loss of reproductive organs are among the risks of an ectopic pregnancy. The condition may occur due to:
Scar tissue or inflammation in the fallopian tube
Abnormal shape of the fallopian tube
History of uterine infections
Ectopic pregnancies can also occur in the cervix, ovaries, or abdominal cavity.
Many women develop ovarian cysts, but can an ovarian cyst cause a false positive pregnancy test? Yes, especially corpus luteum cysts or luteinized cysts, which can interfere with pregnancy test accuracy. Some ovarian cysts can negatively affect fertility, including:
Cysts caused by endometriosis
Cysts from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Follicular cysts or corpus luteum cysts
Certain types of ovarian cysts may prevent pregnancy.
After a miscarriage—whether spontaneous or induced—a pregnancy test can still be positive. During pregnancy, hCG levels rise and double every few days, peaking around the 10th week. When a miscarriage occurs, hCG levels gradually decrease but can remain detectable in blood and urine for up to six weeks after pregnancy ends.
Some fertility medications containing synthetic hCG can cause false positive pregnancy test results. These drugs help follicles release mature eggs, which may lead to misleading pregnancy test readings, especially if the test is taken too soon.
Medications that may affect pregnancy test results include:
Anxiety medications like diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax)
Antipsychotic drugs like clozapine or chlorpromazine
Seizure medications such as phenobarbital and other barbiturates
Parkinson’s disease medications like bromocriptine (Parlodel)
Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix, Diuscreen)
Antihistamines like promethazine
Methadone (Dolophine)
Some health issues can cause false positive pregnancy test results. While rare, they are still possible, including:
Urinary tract infections
Kidney disease, which can cause blood or white blood cells in urine
More serious conditions like ovarian cancer
Pituitary gland disorders (very rare)
Most at-home pregnancy test kits are fairly accurate, but errors can occur. For example, the test may be expired or used too early, leading to false positive or false negative results.
Sometimes, an evaporation line is mistaken for a positive pregnancy test result. In many at-home tests, two lines indicate pregnancy, while one line means no pregnancy. Evaporation lines can appear after urine completely dries on the test strip. These lines are sometimes mistaken for a positive result but do not necessarily indicate pregnancy.
