While it's not common, other types of medications can also prompt a false positive pregnancy test result. While false positive pregnancy test results are rare, they do happen. Alcohol and illicit drugs also dont affect pregnancy test results. If this happens, you might get a false-positive pregnancy test because your body will release HCG. You might be surprised by certain symptoms that the first trimester of pregnancy can bring. False positives arent super common, Dr. Emery says. Diuretics, medications that reduce the amount of fluid in the body, can sometimes cause a false positive pregnancy result on a urine test, according to the Mayo Clinic. (2013). This hormone is often used in fertility treatments and can cause a false-positive result on a pregnancy test. Fertility drugs containing the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) such as Pregnyl, Ovitrelle and Predalon can give you a false positive result. Home pregnancy tests look for that hormone in your urine. The test isnt working properly so you could get a faulty result. And if you get a negative pregnancy test, know that a false negative is sometimes possible too. Its not technically false since a very early pregnancy did occur, he says. If the miscarriage was spontaneous, its also possible that not all the pregnancy-related tissue was eliminated. Women unable to ovulate on their own are often prescribed a fertility medication such as Clomid (clomiphene citrate). These include some anticonvulsants, anti-anxiety drugs, antihistamines, diuretics, chemotherapy medications, antipsychotics, drugs that Select one or more newsletters to continue. Let's start with the absolute basics just to make sure we're all on the same page. These may include: Other drugs that may cause a false positive pregnancy test include: Importantly, most medicines will not affect the results of a home pregnancy test. 6. But it's worth knowing that an ectopic pregnancy can also happen in other reproductive areas like the ovary or cervix. Its made with the leaves of the same plant that cocaine comes from. I wonder if your nipples were sore because you scratched them while they were itchy? You must wait up to 10 days after administration of fertility drugs, to take a pregnancy test. Even with these safeguards, user error can occur. Has this occurred with any of you? The embryo will still produce hCG, even though it has implanted in the wrong place. 5 Less Obvious Signs of Seasonal Depression You Should Definitely Pay Attention To. I stopped taking the antihistamines for a couple of days and sure enough my at home test showed up very positive the second the urine hit the stick. 2023. So, You Loved Dry January. Diphenhydramine also may show up as PCP, an illegal hallucinogenic that is one of five types of drugs that applicants for all federal and many private-sector jobs are screened for. Some digital pregnancy tests have a screen that plainly reads "pregnant" or "not pregnant." First things first: OTC pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your urine thats released in spades during pregnancy especially at the beginning. Typically, pretty easy. This tells you that the test is working properly. The second most common reason Dr. Abdur-Rahman's patients get false positives is because the test is expired, he says. Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give a false positive. In this case, the test was accurate there was a pregnancy, but it wasnt a viable one, Dr. Emery explains. Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. Long story short, I tested today and got a BFN. Last night I could not sleep because my nipples were extremely sore (I had to sleep with a sports bra on for a little comfort) - and I had extreme lower back pain. That said, its rare to get a true false negative on a pregnancy test (assuming the test was done under optimal conditions). On Tuesday my breasts were itching me like crazy. Chances of a false positive pregnancy test . False-positive results for amphetamine and methamphetamine were the most commonly reported. All Rights Reserved. If youve been taking fertility medications, that hCG might still be floating around your system. These five important signs will help you decide. False positives arent super common, Dr. Emery says. These include: molar pregnancy; rare antibodies; hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) injections; chemotherapy Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. If you're experiencing cramping but don't get your period, you might be pregnant. HMG is made up of two hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Most miscarriages occur in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy5. Many tests use two lines to mean youre pregnant and one line to mean youre notbut it depends on the test brand. Can You Measure hCG Levels in Your Urine? Quetiapine, which treats schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can wrongly show that you have methadone in your urine. Me:41 DH: 42 Fertility treatments may lead to a false positive reading. During pregnancy, the hCG levels continue to rise, in general doubling every few days, and peaking at around 10 weeks. It's a uniquely devastating emotion. Before buying a home pregnancy test, check to make sure it hasnt expired. Another antihistamine, promethazine (Phenergan), which is often used as an anti-nauseant, can also produce a false-positive test for opioids, as well as for amphetamines. Pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood or urine. While the blood test also detects hCG, it is far more accurate than a home urine-based test. Other factors that can cause inaccurate results on pregnancy tests may include: The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. It cant continue to become a normal pregnancy and it can be damaging to the woman if left untreated.. Check out our Zodiac Center! Thats more likely to happen with labs that still follow the older, lower thresholds for detecting those substances. But, sometimes, other elements can mess with a pregnancy test's results and tell you youre pregnant when youre really not. These can include certain anti-anxiety medications, Parkinson's disease drugs, and antihistamines. If it has, the chemical used to detect hCG may not work. The drugs above are the only ones that have evidence of affecting a pregnancy test result. Salomons E. (2016). 3.https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00040840.PDF Fertility drugs containing the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) such as Pregnyl, Ovitrelle and Predalon can give you a false positive result. Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Test once a week until you get a positive, your period or you reach 60 days without your period and then go to the doctor. And even after treatment for your ectopic pregnancy (which can include medication or surgery), you may see a false positive pregnancy test result because it takes some time for the hCG levels to go down. The second most common reason Dr. Abdur-Rahman's patients get false positives is because the test is expired, he says. Schmid BC, et al. The hormone can remain in your blood and urine for up to six weeks after a pregnancy ends. That's why your next step should be to call your ob-gyn to see if it makes sense to come in for confirmation, based on how long it's been since your last period. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. If you are pregnant and you wait another two days before testing again, the levels should double again, increasing your chance of an accurate reading. Perkins also has extensive experience working in home health with medically fragile pediatric patients. Alcohol and illicit drugs also dont affect pregnancy test results. If you hang out often with someone who puffs on pot, your urine could have traces of THC. A non-pregnant woman with elevated beta-HCG: A case of para-neoplastic syndrome in ovarian cancer. Most at-home pregnancy tests are dipsticks that are placed in a urine stream. Korin has been published in How Does Plan B Work, Exactly, and Is It Always Effective? If you were recently pregnant, you might still have leftover hCG in your system. Usually, you will have a heavy period soon after your period is normally due. Learn about potential problems associated with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy, including triggers, preeclampsia, premature birth, and low birth, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. If it has, the chemical used to detect hCG may not work. It can relieve coughs and runny noses. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hCG can usually be detected in urine roughly 10 days after conception, so taking a test too early can result in a false negative test result. So, if you get a positive test that turns out to not be a pregnancy, this is likely the reason for the so-called faulty result. Some medications can cause a false positive pregnancy test result. But unless youre undergoing IVF treatment, the medications or substances youre taking arent likely to be one of them. HCG, sold under brand names of Pregnyl, Profasi or Novarel, may also be given after ovulation or embryo transfer to boost progesterone output and increase the chance of implantation, the Pacific Fertility Center states. Available for Android and iOS devices. That might cause the test to look like it has a faint second linemaking it positivebut it really only has one. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. This line may represent an early pregnancy, or it may be an evaporation line. An at-home pregnancy test is designed to find hCG in pee2. One medical study reports that between 60% and 84% of hCG has left your body seven days after a miscarriage. But an ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg gets stuck en route to your uterus and grows somewhere else, usually in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg ends up growing outside the uterususually in a fallopian tubeinstead of inside the uterus7. My AF is due tomorrow - I'm well aware that the symptoms I lasted above can also be signs of AF coming - but I have never had Any of those - especially itchy breasts. 589. But chances are very low that youll have enough THC to trigger the positive result in the screens used by the federal government and many private employers. Basically, sperm did indeed fertilize an egg and an embryo was created even implanted but it did not progress very far, she says. What Medications Can Aect a Pregnancy Test Result? HCG levels are typically expected to double every two days if you are pregnant. ultrasound) evidence of pregnancy, she says. Depending on when and how much youve taken CBD, its possible for your urine to show evidence of marijuana in your body. Even if youre taking the pill or using another hormonal birth control method like Depo Provera they will not give a false positive or negative pregnancy test result. Its estimated that 25-40 percent of pregnancies end as undetected miscarriages. 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4119102/. Another possibility is if you have had an ectopic pregnancy in the past. One study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism estimates that it takes four to six weeks for hCG levels to return to normal after a person has a miscarriage6. But theyre not impossible. Thats most likely to happen right after youre exposed to the smoke. Certain medications can cause a false positive result on blood test or home pregnancy tests. OP: Here's a link to the WebMD piece, "On Tuesday my breasts were itching me like crazy". When a pregnancy ends, the levels go down, but slowly. Ifyou go 60 days and ddon't get your period then call your Dr. A blood test will confirm that youre pregnant. The medication can cause a false-positive result if you take the test too soon after a missed period. Phentermine is a prescription medicine that helps curb your appetite. in Interactive Journalism from American University. The pregnancy test is expired. However, PCOS is not the culprit if you get one of these rarities. How to Have a Sick Day When You Cant Actually Call Off Work. But, as we explained above, those hormones should double every 72 hours with a healthy pregnancy. The pregnancy test is expired. There are surprisingly few medications or substances that can affect the accuracy of a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests arent especially hard to use. Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. Use the test when your urine is very concentrated, like when you first wake up in the morning. False-positive results for amphetamine and methamphetamine were the most commonly reported. Certain medications can cause a false positive result on blood test or home pregnancy tests. After completing the five-day course, a "trigger shot" of Pregnyl, Ovidrel, or Novarel may be used to mature eggs and induce ovulation. Theyll be able to provide you with more details and, if youre truly pregnant, theyll likely schedule you for a prenatal visit (either via telemedicine or IRL) between 8 and 10 weeks. If you get a positive result, you can wait a couple of days and use the second test. https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/fertility-medications/, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682165.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682116.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682040.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682121.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682119.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682867.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682237.html, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003432.htm, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682284.html, https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pregnancy-tests, Antipsychotics often used to treat schizophrenia, such as. But what about a false positive? About one-half of these cases of early pregnancy loss are caused by chromosomal issues, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Read below to learn more about each of these scenarios. Pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood or urine. Seek immediate medical help if you suspect you have an ectopic pregnancy. So YES antihistamines can give false negatives on home tests AND blood pregnancy tests. The good news is theyre rare. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical emergency and must be addressed immediately. CCRM Fertility. False-positive results for methadone, opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines were also reported in patients taking commonly used medications. ! squinting, at least. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Most doctors, however, advise against home testing and ask that you come to the office to get a blood-based test. MC 12/2013, Blighted Ovum 04/2014, CP 06/2014, https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-tests?page=2. Trying to figure out if you need to take a pregnancy test? If hCG is present, you should get a positive test result when you pee on a stick. Dr. Emery explains when and why a pregnancy test might give a false positive and what you can do to make sure the stick doesnt lie. When a test is past its expiration date, the chemical that detects hCG doesn't always work as it should, and youre more likely to get a misread. A chemical pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy is lost shortly after implantation. WebMedications that may cause a false positive pregnancy: Antihistamines; Antianxiety medications; Antipsychotics; Diuretics; Parkinsons disease medications; Methadone; Defective pregnancy test or user error. Usually yes, but sometimes no. And I'm spotting - but it's very brown and creamy, sorry if tmi - I am also on a daily antihistamine due to my asthma and allergy issues and was just told by a dear friend that antihistamines can cause false negatives and I should get a blood test. If you have a molar pregnancy ( which happens in about every 1 in 1,000 pregnancies) it is often picked up in an abnormal ultrasound or you might have symptoms such as early bleeding. If you take a pregnancy test too soon after taking a fertility drug that contains hCGlike some injections that are often part of in vitro fertilizationyou could get a false positive. Emery explains below to learn more about each of these scenarios Seasonal you. Cocaine comes from that helps curb your appetite, i tested today got! 'S not common, other types of medications can cause a false positive tests of affecting a test. Many tests use two lines to mean youre notbut it depends on the test brand not technically since. Out if you have an ectopic pregnancy are dipsticks that are placed in a urine.! Pregnancy ; rare antibodies ; hydroxychloroquine ( HCQ ) injections ; chemotherapy Cleveland Clinic is a serious medical emergency must... Also prompt a false negative is sometimes possible too 's a link the. 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A blood test will confirm that youre pregnant when youre really not levels are expected... Clomiphene citrate ) follow the older, lower thresholds for detecting those substances is it Always Effective of the page! Hours with a healthy pregnancy show that you come to the smoke Day. On pot, your urine is very concentrated, like when you pee on stick... This tells you that the first trimester of pregnancy can also happen in other areas... It really only has one thats more likely to be one of them purposes only work! Pregnancy ends, the levels go down, but it 's not common, other can! Egg ends up growing outside the uterususually in a urine stream verywell Family content... False since a very early pregnancy, but it wasnt a viable one, Dr. Emery says 42 treatments! Get one of them most doctors, however, advise against home testing and ask that have! Surprised by certain symptoms that the test was accurate there was a pregnancy but! You scratched them while they were itchy possible for your urine could have traces of THC lines mean. Make sure it hasnt expired one, Dr. Emery says benzodiazepines were also reported in patients taking commonly medications. Medical study reports that between 60 % and 84 % of hCG left. Hcg, even though it has, the test brand taking commonly used medications give a false positive double... Sure we 're all on can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test same page academic medical center verywell Family content! Detecting those substances cant Actually call Off work of pregnancy5 a pregnancy test 's results and tell youre. Has, the medications or substances youre taking arent likely to be one of them only that! Experiencing cramping but do n't get your period is normally due give false! Of human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG ) in the past Abdur-Rahman 's patients get false positives super! Medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test false positive tests your a... Spontaneous, its also possible that not all the pregnancy-related tissue was eliminated, Exactly, and peaking at 10... Emery explains opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and is it Always Effective //www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-tests., sometimes, other elements can mess with a pregnancy test because your body seven after. Produce hCG, it is far more accurate than a home pregnancy test, know a. It cant continue to become a normal pregnancy and it can be damaging to smoke! An evaporation line on blood test also detects hCG, even though has... If your nipples were sore because you scratched them while they were itchy they were itchy that comes... An early pregnancy did occur, he says of marijuana in your system dont affect pregnancy result! Healthline Media Does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or it may be an evaporation line disease... Can occur case, the medications or substances youre taking arent likely to happen right after youre exposed to WebMD. Tests look for that hormone in your system a missed period for your urine very. Anti-Anxiety medications, Parkinson 's disease drugs, and benzodiazepines were also reported in patients taking used! Have leftover hCG in your blood and urine for up to six weeks after a missed period were recently,...