Negative but No Period

Hi A.,

I'm in the diagnostics industry, so I can give you a pretty good idea of how these types of tests work.

Pregnancy tests are looking for hCG (human chorionic gonadatropin), which begins to rise early in pregnancy and can be found in the highest concentration (greatest amount of hormone/mL of liquid) in the urine first thing in the morning. The tests work by using an antibody directed towards hCG that is bound to a chemical that, in the case of home tests, generates or changes color if hCG is present. There are actually a number of variants of this hormone, and some tests can "see" the variants better than others, depending on how the antibodies are constructed.

I don't know what test you took, but take a careful look at the package insert. It should give you information on the expected range of the assay (the lowest to the highest concentration of hCG the test can detect), its sensitivity (how well the test detects positive results -- should be at least 98%) and its specificity (how well the test does NOT detect false positive results -- should also be at least 98%).

According to the American Pregancy Associations, "an hCG level of less than 5mIU/mL is considered negative for pregnancy, and anything above 25mIU/mL is considered positive for pregnancy." So, if the the test you're using cannot detect at least 25mIU/mL (milli-International Units/milliliter), it will not be able to detect pregancy at the earliest possible moment, and you will have to repeat the test in a few days to give your hCG levels a chance to rise high enough to be seen by the test. The level of hCG doubles every 2 - 3 days in 85% of pregancies (85 out of 100 women) and levels can stay low in some women throughout pregnancy. So, for example, if you're currently at 10 mIU/mL and the test cannot give a positive result until you're at 30 mIU/mL, you will need to wait at least 6 more days before you have the potential of seeing a positive result. But, if you're in that ~7% of women whose hCG level rises more quickly, you might see this rise in 4 or 5 days, and if you're in that ~7% of women whose hCG level rises more slowly, you might not see this rise for another 8 to 10 days.

BTW, blood tests are more accurate, that is they are more sensitive and specific. They also tend to have greater ranges and can give a positive result earlier than a urine test, especially an at-home test.

So the overall message here is, if you don't get your period, repeat the test in 5 to 10 days. If you haven't gotten a positive result in 30 days and you still haven't gotten your period, go see a doctor. I hope this helps.

BTW, hCG also rises to pregancy levels w/uterine cancer. Since you're not getting a positive result, that is at least one thing that you don't have to worry about.

Good luck! BTW, a 4 - 5 yr span between babies can have some additional benefits -- you don't have to pay for 2 college educations at the same time! ;)

R.

Very shortly after my second child was conceived, I KNEW I was pregnant (I felt a change in my body that I recognized from my first pregnancy that had "ended" only a few months earlier), but I could not get those over-the-counter pregnancy tests to give me a positive until I was almost 2 weeks late for my period. I guess my body doesn't produce the hormone very fast so it took a while, but I was pregnant. You can try to look for a more sensitive pregnancy test, or wait a few more days and try again. Or maybe you'll have a really late period by then. It's hard being in this "limbo" stage, but you should know one way or another soon!

Hi A. -
I used to have 3.5 week cycles too - and then the month before I got pregnant, I had this super long cycle - after 38 days I took a pregnancy test and it was negative! I could not believe it - and I was crushed, because I was 38 and had been wanting a baby. My period came a day or so later. So the next month when my cycle was super long again, I did not bother with the test again for a while, but then I was pregnant! I now have a beautiful 15 month old daughter - so who knows, maybe your body is just gearing up for the pregnancy... Good luck and all the best to you :-)

hi A., periods can be delayed or missed for many reasons, it has happened to me due to stress, change in diet, and starting and stoping an exercise program. Thank God i am now 51 and don't have to worry about that any more. J.

I took 3-4 tests before it was positive and even the first positive one was VERY faint. I would wait another week and test again if still no period. Your instinct/intuition should tell you something. I just knew I was pregnant and I was right. Congratulations either way, good luck!!!

30 is about right I have had several friends and myself who for no apparent reason around 29 or 30 went through a few months of late periods. Not pregnant, no more stress than usual, nothing out of the ordinary it just happened and then after about 6 months for me it straightened out and now it's back to normal. Sometimes it just happens.

I had 3 false negatives with my first child. I didn't test positive with a take home test until I was over 6 weeks along. It's possible. Call your gyno and get a blood test done

Hi A.,

As some of the other responders have said, there are reasons for a late period. However, when I was pregnant with my baby, the first test came out negative. A few days later, I still "felt" as if I may be pregnant and took another test. It was positive:) I don't know if this helps at all, but you will know soon, one way or another. Good luck to you:)

You may want to wait and test again in a week or so. Those tests can detect early, but maybe not enough time has gone by. I tested about a week after my missed period and it was negative and then I tested again a week later and sure enough... That is how we have our wonderful daughter now. I was only preggo two weeks when I tested the first time, I just knew something was going on. : ) Good luck and God bless!

Are you working - sometimes when you work in offices women have a tendency to all have thier cycle at the same time. That could be the issue. As a woman gets older the body changes too. My cycle changes with every job, and with every different event in my life.

Hi A.!

My name is L.. I was on the Depo Shot (birth control) and when my boyfriend and I split up I let it go.(I only had to get the shot every three months) During the time I was on it I would only spot every great while (I was on it for three years), and even now that I'm not on it anymore(since Dec 07')my period has not been normal. So my only guess would be to ask if you have ever been on BC and if so that could be why...

Good Luck!
L. B

My period is usually right on schedule, but occasionally I've noticed it late, and it usually was because there was more than usual stress in my life at the time, so for me, extra stress seems to delay my period.

Is there anyone "new" in your work area? It could be hormonal, we had a new co-worker in our office who I was training. Apparently she was the "dominant" female, which came as a shock to me, because it's usually me that the office "cycles" around. I had to "wait" until she started, I was 2 week late. I took test after test all negitive, I even went to the OB/Gyn and had a blood test done... still negitive, until she started and then me and the light bulb came on.

Good luck.

L.

I had 2 negative test before my first child. One of which was in the doctors office!! Go figure. I didn't get a positive pee test until I was almost 8 weeks!!! I agree that your period could be delayed for many reasons but if you want to be sure have your OB/GYN order a blood test to be sure!

It may be too early to detect the pregnancy hormones with an at-home kit. That's what happened with me (I was sure I was pregnant, I just had this feeling, same thing with my first pregnancy). My at-home test came back negative, but then I waited a week and went to the doctor adn took one, and it was positive. At that point I was only one week late for my period. I'm now 15 weeks pregnant with our second child, and our son is just 8 months old. We're planning on having our hands full for sure. :)

you possibly have a hormone imbalance and that might explain why you are cycling short. A saliva test for hormone can help and so can using a natural progesterone cream.
daily early temperature readings can help to see if you are ovulating. hope this helps.

if you've recently lost weight, that may be the reason- or stress. see your doctor if when you take another test and it's negative.