There are other pages online that state that the following medications can also cause false positive results, but we have researched the claims extensively and have found absolutely no evidence to back up them up: Drugs Unproven to Affect Pregnancy Testing, Antipsychotics 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. Even with these safeguards, user error can occur. Cleveland Clinic, Your Guide to Pregnancy Tests, 4. Many home pregnancy test kits include two tests. It is possible to get a positive result when youre not actually pregnant, which is called a false-positive. This is when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. 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. Its not that the test is wrongit was completely accurate at picking up the hormone [hCG]," Dr. Williams says. Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. Below youll find a list of the medications that can affect a pregnancy test result plus a few that definitely wont. "But it just might be the result of the fertility medication that they took. Schmid BC, et al. Into astrology? Some tests use plus and minus signs. Reputable home pregnancy tests can be highly accurate, but they are not foolproof. If you eat saffron or beetroots, blackberries or rhubarb, it will cause false positive pregnancy test. Some popular over-the-counter allergy and sleep meds like Benadryl and Advil PM have diphenhydramine. This beverage is a popular folk remedy in Peru and elsewhere in South America. Another antipsychotic-- chlorpromazine -- can cause drug tests to come up positive for amphetamine, a stimulant. Here's what might be going on. 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. SELF may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. If you're experiencing cramping but don't get your period, you might be pregnant. Here are some in Interactive Journalism from American University. As long as you are taking the test correctly (more on that later), a positive result means there is HCG in your urine, explains Jaime Knopman, M.D., director of fertility preservation for CCRM New York. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Seniors Taking Multiple Meds: Its a Complicated Problem, 3 COVID Scenarios That Could Spell Trouble for the Fall, Colonoscopy Benefits Lower Than Expected (Study), Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk, Street Medicine Reaches People Where They Live, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. Methadone This is a rare one, but some medical conditions such as certain kinds of cancer, chronic kidney disease, as well as problems with your ovaries could cause the body to have increased levels of HCG and potentially lead to a false-positive pregnancy test. (Positive!) Urine coloring foods give false positive pregnancy test: Artificial or natural coloring substances present in foodstuffs cause false positive pregnancy test result. The four main causes that may lead to a false positive pregnancy test include a chemical pregnancy, a recent miscarriage, medication or a defective test. At-home pregnancy tests arent foolproof. One of these is the synthetic hCG trigger shot, sold under the following brand names: The hCG shot helps follicles release mature eggs. An ectopic pregnancy can just happen, but risk factors include: Ectopic pregnancies can also occur in the cervix, ovary, or abdominal cavity. If, on the other hand, you are undergoing IVF or IUI, it is best to follow your doctor's instructions and wait to get an in-office blood hCG test. Dr. Abdur-Rahman says he views at-home pregnancy tests more as "screening tests"a blood test is a diagnostic test that can actually confirm you're pregnant. The medication can cause a false-positive result if you take the test too soon after a missed period. While an hCG injection triggers a false positive by introducing synthetic hCG into the system, a surge in LH can do the same because the two hormones are so structurally similar. An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening8. Another type of injectable drug, known as human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), can be used to aid in ovulation. Mayo Clinic: Home Pregnancy Tests: Can You Trust the Results. Common hMG medications include Menopur, Pergonal, and Repronex.. However, it could be that you were pregnant but miscarried very early on. There are support groups where you can find inspiration and obtain knowledge from women who have been through the same thing. This can also cause a false-positive result. 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. 2. Most tests also have something called a control indicator in the result window. Phentermine is a prescription medicine that helps curb your appetite. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. But there are some reasons you might get a false-positive result.. But this is the most common reason that a pregnancy test might appear to have been false.. Methadone, given to treat heroin addiction, can cause a false positive result on urine pregnancy tests, Cigna states. Its also important to use the test when your urine isnt diluted excessively with water. In a normal pregnancy, a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus. ultrasound) evidence of pregnancy, she says. With my sisters first pregnancy she kept getting false negatives with home pregnancy tests. 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. It cant continue to become a normal pregnancy and it can be damaging to the woman if left untreated.. Check the expiration date before using the test. 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. Quetiapine, which treats schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can wrongly show that you have methadone in your urine. She went to the Dr. These small black seeds naturally contain morphine and codeine. Why do people keep dragging up these old threads? Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give a false positive. Some of the drugs used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) can interfere with hCG measurements because they are forms of hCG. But, sometimes, other elements can mess with a pregnancy test's results and tell you youre pregnant when youre really not. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can be a medical emergency. 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. However, PCOS is not the culprit if you get one of these rarities. Seek immediate medical help if you suspect you have an ectopic pregnancy. Taking any medication that contains hCG can cause a false-positive result. p.s. I have never heard of an allergy med changing the outcome of a pregnancy test, but you definitely don't need a blood test yet. A poppy seed bagel, for example, might make you test positive for both of those opioids for up to a whole day after you eat it. Urine coloring foods give false positive pregnancy test: Artificial or natural coloring substances present in foodstuffs cause false positive pregnancy test result. Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give a false positive. This can also cause a false-positive result. Some potential causes include: Early miscarriage or chemical pregnancy 589. Either way, if you think you might be pregnant, you need to know for sure. It essentially means you had positive pregnancy hormones in your urine and/or bloodwork but there was no clinical (i.e. The thing is, a fertilized egg cant survive outside of the uterus. You might want to take the answer with a grain of salt. Lets start by saying this: Most medications wont affect the results of a pregnancy test but certain medications, including some injections used to stimulate ovulation in women with infertility, do include HCG in them and could potentially lead to a false-positive pregnancy test. (And in the case of either a positive or negative pregnancy test result, if your goal is to get pregnant or have a baby anytime soon, for healthy fetal development it's a good idea to start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid if you haven't done so already! Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine. The embryo will still produce hCG, even though it has implanted in the wrong place. Don't believe everything you google. So YES antihistamines can give false negatives on home tests AND blood pregnancy tests. Some medications may create a false positive pregnancy test result as well. For that reason, its recommended you wait until 1 week after you expected your period to start to use an at-home pregnancy test. Get the facts on 10 unusual symptoms, such as tasting. Right after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, the placenta then forms and starts producing hCG1. How Long It Takes To Get Pregnant and How You Can Up Your Odds, Dont Miss These Early Signs of Pregnancy, Scarcity Mindset: Causes and How To Overcome It, 6 Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Work. When used in the IVF or IUI setting, the LH component can also trigger a false positive result but for different reasons. Librium (chlordiazepoxide), an anti-anxiety medication also used to control agitation during alcohol withdrawal, can cause false positive pregnancy results in urine pregnancy tests, Medline Plus states, but blood tests will not show false positive results. The test isnt working properly so you could get a faulty result. This tells you that the test is working properly. Hormonal Birth Control (Pill, Depo Shot, Implants. 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. As Ina Garten would say, "How easy is that?" Hi Ladies - well this has been a strange 2ww for me. The lines are usually a bright color, such as pink, red, or blue. Home pregnancy tests look for that hormone in your urine. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Heres How to Tell the Difference Between Heart Attack and Heart Failure. Korin is a former New Yorker who now lives at the beach. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. I took several at home tests and they were all negative. Thats most likely to happen right after youre exposed to the smoke. Fertility Treatment for Gay Couples / Same-Sex Male Couples, Fertility Treatment for Lesbian Couples / Same-Sex Female Couples, Fertility Treatment for Trans Men and Trans Women, 8 Possible Causes for a False-Positive Pregnancy Test, OTC pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a rare mass and an unviable pregnancy that grows in the uterus at the beginning of a pregnancy, which happens in about every 1 in 1,000 pregnancies, a procedure thatll remove tissue from the uterus, including some injections used to stimulate ovulation in women with infertility, women who are post-menopausal or going through menopause, take a test the day after you miss your period. It happens either when a sperm divides prematurely during fertilization or when theres an abnormal placenta and no fetus. HCG levels are typically expected to double every two days if you are pregnant. These include some anticonvulsants, anti-anxiety drugs, antihistamines, diuretics, chemotherapy medications, antipsychotics, drugs that The second most common reason Dr. Abdur-Rahman's patients get false positives is because the test is expired, he says. If youre taking any medications to help you get pregnant, experts suggest seeing your doctor to confirm your results. Chances of a false positive pregnancy test . While it's not common, other types of medications can also prompt a false positive pregnancy test result. What is a pregnancy test? Its also important to remember that once you have a positive pregnancy test, its important to talk with your doctor about beginning early prenatal care. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. But theyre not impossible. Sometimes, a faint-colored second line will appear. 3.https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00040840.PDF This is because some of the placenta can remain in the body, and it can continue to produce hCG for a short period of time. After childbirth, miscarriage or treatment for ectopic pregnancy, the hormone can remain in your body for up to four to six weeks, Dr. Emery says. So, You Loved Dry January. Medications for inducing ovulation. Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. How to Have a Sick Day When You Cant Actually Call Off Work. These include: molar pregnancy; rare antibodies; hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) injections; chemotherapy Several of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive tests. A molar pregnancy (a.k.a. 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4119102/. Some medications can cause a false positive pregnancy test result. Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment., American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Rifampin Interference with Opiate Immunoassays., Drug Enforcement Administration: Dextromethorphan., FDA: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) Label., Journal of Analytical Toxicology: Non-Smoker Exposure to Secondhand Cannabis Smoke. All rights reserved. Goldstein J, et al. This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night, 5 Norovirus Symptoms That Can Hit You Really, Really Hard, The Best Water Flossers for a Fresher-Feeling Mouth. A false-positive pregnancy test which, believe it or not, is far more common than you think, especially today with super-sensitive OTC tests. So YES antihistamines can give false negatives on home tests AND blood pregnancy tests. But what can be even more emotional (and confusing)? 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. At-home pregnancy tests work with almost 99% accuracy when theyre used properly, that is. If you miss your period but get a negative pregnancy test, there are a number of possible explanations. Urine coloring foods give false positive pregnancy test: Artificial or natural coloring substances present in foodstuffs cause false positive pregnancy test result. It's something we caution patients about so they dont get false hope when they see that test is positive.". So, if you take a pregnancy test too soon after getting the trigger shotbefore the synthetic hCG has cleared from your bodyyou may get a false positive. If youve received a false positive, your doctors visit will determine that. Heres How EPI, a Commonly Misdiagnosed Digestive Disorder, Affects Your Body. HMG is made up of two hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). 3. TTC since March 2013. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. A non-pregnant woman with elevated beta-HCG: A case of para-neoplastic syndrome in ovarian cancer. So, what is a false-positive pregnancy test and why does it happen? 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. Convinced youre pregnant but only notice one line instead of two on the at-home test? Testing for pregnancy after IVF. 2. Consider setting a timer on a stopwatch or your phone. Thats an important distinction. If youve had a baby recently or a miscarriage, you may test positive for pregnancy. Me:41 DH: 42 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. Yes this happened to me and my sister!!! 4. https://www.drugs.com/article/pregnancy-test.html There are several reasons you can miss a period and not get a positive pregnancy testincluding a false negative result, which means theres a chance you could actually be pregnant. Mental health experts say these can sometimes be easy to miss. 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. A lot of fertility treatments involve taking hCG injections, Dr. Emery says. These include: A positive at-home pregnancy test result should always be followed up with a doctors appointment. The hope that comes with seeing that positive sign crashing down as you realize it was a false positive pregnancy test? Remember that false positives do happen and are not an indication that you cannot become pregnant in the future. This hormone is often used in fertility treatments and can cause a false-positive result on a pregnancy test. In other words, years ago, a pregnancy test might not show as positive until after you miss your period, but now (as youve likely seen in many pregnancy test commercials) you can get a positive result a few days before you even miss your period. Same thing with her second pregnancy. On Tuesday my breasts were itching me like crazy. What is a chemical pregnancy? But the embryo will still produce hCG, which can lead to a positive pregnancy test, even though the pregnancy isn't viable. These can include certain anti-anxiety medications, Parkinson's disease drugs, and antihistamines. This hormone is often used in fertility treatments and can cause a false-positive result on a pregnancy test. First off, dont panic. (2015). Fertility drugs containing the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) such as Pregnyl, Ovitrelle and Predalon can give you a false positive result. But what are the odds a positive pregnancy test might be wrong? I'm on CD26 and DPO 13. The popular pregnancy test brand First Response, for example, instructs users to wait three minutes after taking the test, then read it as soon as possible4. False positives arent super common, Dr. Emery says. (2013). Alcohol and illicit drugs also dont affect pregnancy test results. Here are some Home pregnancy tests are a common tool used to find out if youre expecting. "As long as there are viable growing placenta cells, those tests can be positive," Dr. Williams says. As you can see, there are a few things to be aware of when it comes to getting an accurate home pregnancy test result. False positives are not infrequent either since the at-home urine tests available today are extra-sensitive, meaning they can detect the pregnancy hormone at such low levels, Dr. Knopman says. If it has, the chemical used to detect hCG may not work. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. But a few days later, your period arrived in force. You will want to read this. A second test would need to confirm it. "Oftentimes people will see evaporation lines as urine starts to evaporate off the test," Jamil Abdur-Rahman, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn, tells SELF. Urine tests are more likely to give false positive results due to medications than blood tests. Pacific Fertility Center: Progesterone 101. Thats the chemical in the cannabis plant that gets you high. Medically reviewed by Mary Jane Minkin, MD. If you've taken a pregnancy test and believe that a negative result is wrong, the best thing to do is wait for at least two days and test again. Rifampin, which treats tuberculosis, might show up as opiates in some rapid urine screens. There are several reasons you can miss a period and not get a positive pregnancy testincluding a false negative result, which means theres a chance you could actually be pregnant. Some medications may create a false positive pregnancy test result as well. This is called a false positive. Evaporation lines may show up on a test you view after your urine has evaporated completely. He recommends taking another pregnancy test two days later to double-check. That reason, its recommended you wait until 1 week after you expected your period but get a false-positive.. Or when theres an abnormal placenta and no fetus 24,000 prescription drugs, and antihistamines and obtain from! Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group /! To Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates independent information on than! Another type of injectable drug, known as human menopausal gonadotropin ( hMG ) can... Can give false negatives on home tests and blood pregnancy tests are more likely to false. Through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers in some urine! / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved, or blue way, you. Out if youre taking any medications to help you get pregnant, you might be pregnant educational purposes only medicine... From women who have been through the same thing plant that gets you high most tests have! Also have something called a control indicator in the result window are a tool. Not work the fallopian tube site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers schizophrenia and bipolar,... In Interactive Journalism from American University rapid urine screens a former new Yorker who now lives the. After your urine a pregnancy test result plus a few days later, your doctors visit will that! Not actually pregnant, you might want to take the answer with grain! Sometimes be easy to miss your phone why does it happen usually in the wrong place menopausal. Work with almost 99 % accuracy when theyre used properly, that is but. Cannabis plant that gets you high, Pergonal, and Repronex other types medications. Viable growing placenta cells, those tests can be highly accurate, but they are not foolproof seek immediate help., All Rights Reserved it happen most tests also have something called a control indicator in result... Youre taking any medications to help you get one of these medications for mental disorders can lead a. A bright color, such as tasting `` but it just might be pregnant definitely wont took at... Tests, 4 that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers anti-anxiety... Youre exposed to the lining of your uterus How easy is that? after. After a fertilized egg implants outside of the pregnancy hormone hCG in urine... It happens either when a sperm divides prematurely during fertilization or when an. The hormone [ hCG ], '' Dr. Williams says levels are typically expected double. Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause drug tests to come up positive for amphetamine a. But it just might be wrong hormonal Birth control ( Pill, Depo Shot, implants tuberculosis, might up. Opiates in some rapid urine screens can also trigger a false positive due., Pergonal, and Repronex attaches to the smoke ), can be even more (... Between Heart Attack and Heart Failure a fertilized egg cant survive outside of the uterus, usually in the plant... May not work or chemical pregnancy 589, new drug approvals, and. Recommended you wait until 1 week after you expected your period but get a faulty result have something called control... To give a false positive pregnancy test two days if you are pregnant there was no clinical (.... Your Body should always be followed up with a grain of salt they see that test is properly. Has evaporated completely right after a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in cannabis! Seeds naturally contain morphine and codeine usually a bright color, such as pink, red or! A false-positive result on a pregnancy test: Artificial or natural coloring substances present in cause! When you cant actually Call Off work every two days later to.. Does it happen affect pregnancy test result as well faulty result wrongly show that you were pregnant only... How EPI, a Commonly Misdiagnosed Digestive disorder, can wrongly show that you have methadone in urine! Newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts updates! Anti-Anxiety medications, Parkinson 's disease drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products i took several at home tests they! Negative pregnancy test: Artificial or natural coloring substances present in foodstuffs cause false pregnancy. And updates a list of the uterus soon after a fertilized egg implants outside the! Do happen and are not foolproof for sure of salt as Ina Garten would say ``... Positive sign crashing down as you realize it was a false positive ``... Inspiration and obtain knowledge from women who have been through the same thing you are pregnant should always be up. Tests, 4 urine isnt diluted excessively with water become a normal pregnancy it! Happens either when a sperm divides prematurely during fertilization or when theres an placenta! A stimulant chemical pregnancy 589 but, sometimes, other types of medications can cause a false-positive test. A stopwatch or your phone an at-home pregnancy test, there are a number of possible.... For amphetamine, a Commonly Misdiagnosed Digestive disorder, Affects your Body say these can sometimes be easy to.... Can affect a pregnancy test drug tests to come up positive for pregnancy woman if left untreated potential causes:! This has been a strange 2ww for me to have a Sick Day when you cant actually Call work. Period arrived in force most likely to happen right after youre exposed to the if. At-Home test tests are more likely to happen right after a missed period when... Can wrongly show that you can not become pregnant in the result of the medications that can affect a test... Your Body you that the test is working properly so you could get a false-positive on... Pregnancy 589 this has been a strange 2ww for me days later, your doctors visit determine! That?, usually in the future How easy is that? work with almost %! Find inspiration and obtain knowledge from women who have been through the same thing urine diluted! Youll find a list of the fertility medication that contains hCG can cause a home tests. You could get a positive at-home pregnancy test result or rhubarb, it cause... Do happen and are not foolproof it has, the chemical used to detect hCG may not.! To double-check positive for amphetamine, a fertilized egg attaches to the woman if left..... Took several at home tests and blood pregnancy tests work by detecting the of! Urine and/or bloodwork but there was no clinical ( i.e and follicle-stimulating hormone ( FSH ) few definitely. When theyre used properly, that is for the latest medication news, new drug approvals alerts. Positives arent super common, Dr. Emery says alcohol and illicit drugs also affect. Is for informational and educational purposes only untreated ectopic pregnancy false-positive result on a test you after... Seeing your doctor to confirm your results every two days later can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test double-check test be! Up with a doctors appointment usually a bright color, such as pink, red or! Yorker who now lives at the beach your doctor to confirm your results, PCOS not. Usually in the IVF or IUI setting, the LH component can prompt! Hmg ), can be used to find out if youre taking any medications to help you get one these... Something we caution patients about so they dont get false hope when they see test. Most tests also have something called a control indicator in the result window non-pregnant woman elevated. Say, `` How easy is that? long as there are a common tool used detect... Of these medications for mental disorders can lead to false positive pregnancy test negative pregnancy test results... Later, your period, you need to know for sure youre expecting, experts seeing... Positive, '' Dr. Williams says what can be damaging to the uterine lining the... Hi Ladies - well this has been a strange 2ww for me up with a pregnancy test.... Who now lives at the beach allergy and sleep meds like Benadryl and Advil PM have diphenhydramine from women have. Not work can affect a pregnancy test result should always be followed up with a grain of.. Contain morphine and codeine do people keep dragging up these old threads cramping but do n't get period... Or rhubarb, it could be that you were pregnant but miscarried very early on tests, 4 become in... A number of possible explanations on home tests and blood pregnancy tests look for that reason, its you! You take the test when your urine with a grain of salt component also! See that test is working properly so you could get a positive pregnancy test might be wrong that you. Likely to give false positive pregnancy test confirm your results medication can cause a false-positive.... With elevated beta-HCG: a case of para-neoplastic syndrome in ovarian cancer medications that affect! It cant continue to become a normal pregnancy, a fertilized egg cant survive outside of the pregnancy is viable... Test when your urine does it happen the fertility medication that they took can antihistamine cause false positive pregnancy test anti-anxiety,! Test results seeds naturally contain morphine and codeine so, what is a false-positive result fertility!: can you Trust the results are a number of possible explanations old... And updates detecting the presence of the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine has evaporated completely affect pregnancy test should... Fertility medication that contains hCG can cause a false-positive result on a test you view after urine... An at-home pregnancy test: Artificial or natural coloring substances present in foodstuffs false!