False Negative

[jammyjay]

On Monday I was elated as I got a positive pregnancy result as my period only lasted for one day which isn't normal. (We've been trying for 10months now). A few days later whilst on holiday I started to bleed. After (stupidly) looking online for help I convinced myself I was either miscarrying or having an ectopic pregnancy.

So went to local surgery as a temp patient who referred me to the Gynie ward at the local hospital. They then asked for a urine sample and I was floored when they said the result was negative! I then did a blood test to check hormone levels and I was told that they were only slightly higher but not so high to suggest pregnancy! She asked me if I could come in a couple of days later to retest but I told her I was going back home. No longer in the holiday mood. So I will check with my local hospital.
I asked the doctor how this could happen and she couldn't give me a definitive answer.

Has anyone else experienced this. I am still bleeding and it feels like a period but my boobs feel sensitive not how they would feel during a period.
Too much information I know and I'm sorry but has anyone else gone through this?
Thanks in advance

Could have been a chemical pregnancy? Where an egg is fertilised but doesn't stick and so is effectively over within days.

Sorry but it sounds like you might have had a chemical pregnancy. That is a conception that implants but then miscarries very quickly. It is fairly common, and women who are not trying to conceive would not even know about it. They might just think that their period was a little late or a bit odd. The statistics are something like 20% of conceptions end very early.

It is possible that you tested with a sensitive test and got an early positive, the most sensitive tests have been shown to give a faint positive at around a hcg level of 6. With a blood test, the level at which pregnancy is officially confirmed is HCG level of over 25, anything below 5 is considered non-pregnant. So assuming that your hcg level was 6 on the first day, and normal doubling is between 48 and 72 hours in early pregnancy, then you could have only been hcg level of 24 or under 4 days later. In which case there would be a chance of a viable pregnancy still, and that you are experiencing implantation bleeding. However, I don't want to give false hope, and this scenario is unlikely.

The good news is that you were pregnant and it is often said that immediately after a miscarriage that you are more fertile. So if you have indeed had a chemical pregnancy, it would be good to try again as soon as you stop bleeding. I hope that this helps?

This has happened to me. I got 3 BFP on the day after my period was due.

I was sent to the hospital for two HCG blood tests, 48 hours apart (Because of my medical history I am closely monitored in early PG).

The HCG was not rising and so I was told it meant it was an unviable pregnancy and would end in miscarriage but I would not start to bleed for a few days until my HCG dropped lower, as this prevents the MC from starting..

A week after my period was due and I got my BFP's I started to bleed.

It was like a heavy period,for about 5 days, and my next period took 5 weeks to arrive rather than the usual 4.

Some EPU's give you an appointment to scan you after you bleed to check you have passed all the material, some say it is too early a MC to need to monitor you in this way.

Also meant to say, it is always grim but must be especially so in a strange place when you are supposed to be on holiday

Yes, it happened to my on my 2nd IVF cycle - +ve urine test at 13dpo, -ve urine test at 14dpo, blood test at my clinic at 15 dpo showed low levels of HCG, not enough for a viable pregnancy.

As far as I know, you can quite commonly get false negative urine tests (urine is too dilute, you don't wet the stick enough, etc), but the blood test is pretty definitive. The second blood test would have let the hospital confirm that the HCG wasn't rising.

I'm sorry that this has happened to you and good luck for ttc.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and information .
I have to say this is the first time I have heard of a chemical pregnancy. Has been a bit of a roller coaster week of emotions but I have to look forward.
This is a great forum and all your advice and experiences have really helped so thanks again.