Pregnancy Test Confusion

Updated on November 12, 2008
D.S. asks from San Francisco, CA
31 answers

Yesterday I took a First Response pregnancy test (the kind with the lines) at 15 days past ovulation and there was clearly a second line. It was very very faint, but even if you step back from it there is a second line. Today I took another one, thinking that since it's 24 hours later the second line should get darker. But it got fainter. On the test taken today the second line is so faint that if you step back or don't look in clear day light you could miss it. Does anyone know what this means?

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So What Happened?

Well I waited a day then took two tests today. One first thing in the morning and one at after coming home from work. Both were clearly negative. But now that I've seen what a negative test looks like I can see that the test I took on Friday morning was clearly positive. So apparently I had a "chemical" pregnancy or I miscarried. Or as the nurse at my OB's office said - it was a false positive. Though from all my reading on the Internet there is no such thing as a false positive. I don't know what to think. But... the nurse told me to stop the progesterone and that I'd get my period in a few days. Then - on to Clomid next month. I hope that is the right thing to do! I have read that Clomid is very successful in treating luteal phase defect.

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A.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi D.,
I had the same problem when I was pregnant with my daughter so I went back to the store and bought a test that says "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant" in the window. That way there was no mistaking the result. Good Luck!

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D.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I had a very similar experience last year. I took several tests and although the lines showed up on each test they were all very light. My doctor ordered HCG testing (blood tests) and unfortunitly she determined I had a "chemical pregnancy" and would miscarry. About a week later I did miscarry. But, with that being said I got pregnant very soon after and had a healthy baby last May. Best of luck to you!!

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S.L.

answers from Sacramento on

With both my pregnancies, the line was very faint, it actually didn't even show up until the next day. I would say that you are pregnant, it's just early. It took about a week before the line started to get more visible. Good luck!!

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D.V.

answers from San Francisco on

The time of day and how concentrated your urine is can make a difference. generally your hormone levels are highest is your first urination of the day. So if your second test was later in the day or less concentrated (lighter colored urine, generally) the hormone level may be less and the line lighter.

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G.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I took Clomid when I was 38. After the frist cycle and nto getting pregnant, the doctor (a fertility specialist) said I wasn't going to respond with Clomid and that we should start thinking about shots for IVF. I resisted his advice and insisted on another round of Clomid. It's so easy, why not? Well, sure enough, I got pregnant with twins. Had a totally normal/healthy pregnancy and now have totally healthy 4 1/2 yeare olds. I tell you all this for 2 reasons: don't always trust what doctors tell you - go with your instincts about your body. And Clomid is a totally low-risk way to boost your chances at getting pregnant, so go for it!
Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Yuba City on

I had the same problem I was preg even though everyone told me false postive I had 3 weeks like that. Just keep trying from week to week. Worse case take a blood test. Also slow the water drinking I did the same thing i diluted my urine. Good luck I hope you have a happy baby. Good luck.

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L.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi there. The line will continue to fade. Take another one and follow up with your DR, if still confused. There are also tests that will say "pregnant", just to make it easier.
You won't be a little bit pregnant. You'll either have two lines or not with the test you currently use. Sounds like you just got a bum test. Sorry - we really want clear results, don't we? Good luck!!!
PS... I used Clomid for almost two years before I found a DR that was really serious about tracking my ovulation and helping me. Love to recommend him, if you want to email me. I have this really gorgeous and wonderful person to call daughter now and I am just thrilled. Want to share her with the world.

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T.G.

answers from Sacramento on

I had problems with the tests that had lines. I finally switched to the ones that say "pregnant" or "not pregnant" in the display window. No confusion on those. :) Also, when buying the tests, check the expiration date on the box. I had bought one at Target that came up negative. I happened to look at the box & saw it was almost 3 months expired. I was actually pregnant with my daughter! Best of luck to you & hope all goes well!

T.

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J.G.

answers from Modesto on

I used the same test early, and had a very faint line as well. I thought it meant I wasn't pregnant, but I was, and later I learned any second line at all, no matter how faint, means you're pregnant. Wait a couple of days and try again.

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K.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi D.,
I went through a similar situation. I took about three tests and they were all SUPER faint. Almost non-existing... I called my doctor and requested a blood test. Turns out my cycle was COMPLETELY off and it was extremely early in the pregnancy. Sperm and egg were just saying "hi"...I'm now 14 weeks pregnant and everything is fine!

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

D.,

Any second line means your pregnant! Especially if you took another test and there was a line-even if it was faint. Maybe you drank more water or it was the time of day... Congratulations! Go to the doctor to confirm~

Molly

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S.C.

answers from Fresno on

i posted the same question about the same test first responce on Saturday the first of november. And its been confermed by a doctor that i am pregnant. It had a ver faint seccond line on both of my tests i did at home. I think your pregnant. But go to the doctor to be sure. I hpe im reight CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! I HOPE !!!!!

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C.J.

answers from Stockton on

Well first of all congrats. The way these tests work is that they test for a hormone only found in pregnancy. If you are pregnant then a line will show up. It is possible to get a false negative because you take the test early and there is not enough hormone in your system to get a line to show up. But it is impossible to get a false positive the line only shows up if you are putting off the hormone, so you are pregnant it just is so early that there is not that much hormone in your system yet. If you really want that dark line then keep testing first thing in the morning and eventually it will get darker, if you maintain the pregnancy.
again congrats,
C.

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Congrats!!!

Those tests are meant to measure a certain hormone, not a "pregnancy" So, I'de say You were temporarily high in this hormone which most likely (but not certainly) means you are pregnant.

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L.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi D.! I had the same problem as you with the Luteal Phase defect. I ovulated late and had a 7 day luteal phase. I went on clomid with estrogen and progesterone suppositories three times. I ended up realizing I had an endometrioma cyst that had to be removed. I ended up getting pregnant three months after surgery without any clomid. I had to take the progesterone suppositories for 11 weeks because I had borderline low progesterone and early pregnancy bleeding. I gave birth to a healthy baby girl! Anyway, it sounds like you are definitely pregnant. Even the faintest line indicates a positive result and it sounds like you have had two. The only way to make sure is to call your doctor and have a blood test. I am very happy for you! Good luck!

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi D.,

The same thing happened with my pregnancy test (and it WAS positive.) A line is a line, no matter how faint it is, and the variances of light and dark just depends on the test stick itself. Hope you're pregnant! :) I got pregnant at 40 and had my baby girl at 41.

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J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Are you taking the test in the morning? HCG levels are highest in the morning, more concentrated urine. It may mean that you are really early pregnant and/or that you levels are going down so maybe miscarriaging. If you are really confused two blood hcg level taken 2 days apart will show you if the levels are rising. They should double if the pregnancy is viable. Good luck.

A.H.

answers from Sacramento on

I found out I was pregnant at 2 and half weeks. It was the same way. The line was so very faint I almost missed it. When I asked my doctor he told me that no matter how light the line you are pregnant. The lighter means it's earlier in your pregnancy.

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S.G.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi D.,
I suggest you find a hypnotherapist who either specializes in or is familiar with hypnosis for fertility. Research shows that any fertility treatment (or no additional fertility treatment for that matter) is enhanced by the use of hypnosis.
All my best, S.

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S.M.

answers from Fresno on

When I took my pregnancy test with both my kids the second line was so faint that I could barely see it, I waited a few days and took it again and the second line was much darker. My OB/GYN told me even a faint second line means pregnancy I had just taken the test so early in the pregnancy. Also make sure and take the test first thing in the morning, that is what I did and still got that faint line but about 4 days later when I took it again the line was darker (even though my dr said a second line means pregnant even if its faint I still wanted to do it again for my sanity). Congratulations on your pregnancy!!

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M.O.

answers from Sacramento on

Congrats! You are pregnant. Any line, faint or not, is a positive...The tests are usually false negatives if they are going to be wrong. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to get started with your pre-natal care. Again, congrats!

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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

HI D.,

It means you're pregnant, but that it's just in the really early stages of pregnancy. I became pregnant with my second is August, adn I had the EXACT same experience. Wait about a week to two weeks after your missed period, and the lines will be as dark as ever. You have to wait until the pregnancy hormone is high enough in order for the at home tests to give you a really obvious result. So, Congrats!!!

M.

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C.L.

answers from Fresno on

Any line means your pregnant. If you take a test later in the day or after drinking a bunch of water then it will make the line fainter. I am now close to 5 months pregnant and I had the same type of results with different pregnancy tests. My doctor's office tested me and said I wasn't pregnant even when I was confirmed 2 days later with a blood test. Since you are testing so soon the results are harder to tell. Buy the test that says Pregnant or Not Pregnant-then it will be obvious.

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E.B.

answers from San Francisco on

D.,
I see you got lots of replies but I just though I would share with you something my doctor told me when I got pregnant, I took one test and it came up positive and another the next day and it came up negative so at my appointment my she told me that it is very unlikely that I would get a false positive. In other words the test could say your not pregnant when you are, but it wouldn't likely say you are when your not! Hopefully that helps ease your mind!
E.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

We used the same pregnancy test and found the 2nd line to be very faint. We waited a week and when I still didn't get my period I called the doctor. I was pregnant so I'll cross my fingers that you have the same result.

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J.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi D. -

Definitely talk to your doctor -- these strips are measuring the presence of HCg which increases day by day. If you are very early in the pregnancy (less than a few weeks) the results are a little dicey -- check out this website for some good info, and most importantly -- GOOD LUCK! I had my second child at 43 (perfectly healthy), so don't give up! :)

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pregnancy-tests.cfm#a

J.

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E.N.

answers from San Francisco on

I used that same test when I was pregnant the first time and the second line was also faint. At this point if it's still unclear, I would buy a different kind. This time around (I'm 36 weeks prego now) I bought the kind that says pregnant/not pregnant. Good luck!

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J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi D.,

Call your OB to get their test immediately. They'll test you for pregnancy, and if you are but hormones are low, they can check and help adjust them to help you towards a healthy pregnancy. I had to do that with both my successful pregnancies, after I miscarried my first one at 11 weeks due to what they think were hormone issues. They'll know what to do. Hope that helps!

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K.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Any second line, no matter how faint, is a positive! Congratulations! I took about 10 pregnancy tests during the first few weeks (just to be sure - kinda neurotic) and sometimes I got lighter colored lines. I'm now 24 weeks pregnant. Get the test that says the words - "pregnant" or "not pregnant." It'll put your mind at ease.

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M.K.

answers from Fresno on

Hello D.,
I'm 39, almost 40 and I can really relate to fertility concerns. I've had 3 miscarriages, fortunately I do have a 23 month old toddler that is my blessing. The first time I got pregnant I had your same experience. The test showed a line then the line began to fade. I miscarried at 5.5 weeks. It was so mild that if I weren't so darned determined to get pregnant I would have never differentiated it from a period. I'm not saying that you are not pregnant but you may be experiencing an early miscarriage (or not). Pregnancy tests determine the level of HCG (pregnancy hormone) we are producing and when we first get pregnant it continues to double and triple exponentially every 24 to 48 hours. So the line should be just as dark or even darker each day. When we miscarry are bodies send the single to our ovary to stop producing this hormone because the pregnancy was not viable. Miscarriage is so incredibly common, approximately 1 in 4 or more pregnancies. My OB/GYN indicates that out of every 20 pregancies he see each month a minimum of 5 to 6 miscarry. I'm sorry to shed this perspective on your situation, but it is important for you to know that if you do miscarry that you are not alone, it's nothing that you have done and you can still become pregnant. I've tried Clomid and my advice would be to skip it and go straight to injectibles or IVF. I wish success in your dream to have a child.

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E.G.

answers from San Francisco on

A friend of mine had a similar problem. She took one in the morning that said she was pregnant. Then took one again the next evening that said she was not. As it turns out she was pregnant and the reason for the confusion is because the pregnancy hormone is the strongest in the morning. You might try again in the morning when you first get up and see what happens. Good Luck!

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