Negative tests but 16 days late?

[GabbyGal]

Hi all,

I’m new here, hoping someone can reassure me maybe!

Partner and I haven’t been actively TTC, but have been planning to start TTC and I’ve been waiting for AF to arrive so that I can track ovulation days.

AF is 16 days late which is really unusual for me, I’m never this late. I did 3 tests last week, most recent at 12 days late, all 3 were negative. I have no pregnancy symptoms except very sore boobs for the past few days. I had some very light spotting at 13 & 14 days late which I assumed was AF starting but nothing since. AF is usually quite heavy and I suffer badly with cramps, but haven’t had any at all.

Is it possible to get a negative test at 12 days late and still be pregnant? Are false negatives common? I’m going to buy another test to do tomorrow morning but in the meantime I’m freaking out a bit!

That late and it's highly unlikely your period is late due to pregnancy. It's likely to be late ovulation or an anovulatory cycle - both of which are quite normal once or twice a year (birth control masks this for most people).

No need to worry. It's really common when you start ttc or are just about to ttc for this to happen!!

See your gp when your second period is missed.

Thanks, really appreciate the reply. I’m sure you’re right and I’m worrying about nothing. I didn’t think much of it until I started googling this morning and read all of these posts online by people who got negative tests and then got a positive and were x weeks/months pregnant! I’ve been doing all the stuff I shouldn’t if pregnant like drinking wine, coffee, taking anti-inflammatories, etc. so I panicked a bit!

We are in the same boat. 16 days late, getting negatives. The smells of certain foods set me off and I get really nauseous (I was at my hair dressers last weekend and someone warmed up food in the back and I got so sick from it my hair dresser had to give me a hand towel to hold over my face so I wouldn't vomit- even thinking about it now brings up the gag reflex). I had brown/pink spotting the week I was supposed to have my period, with only two separate days of red bleeding that was only visible with one wipe.

We actually did have a faint positive on an HCG strip (after the red bleeding) but since then they've all been negative. I'm still getting sick, so I don't know what's going on. My insurance kicks in on 12/1 so hopefully I'll get some blood work done soon to see what the heck is going on.

Ur body can be a right bugger when ur TTC and plays some mean old tricks!!

OP here with an update.. after 3 BFNs and one test that didn’t work yesterday, I got a BFP this morning, 19 days late. I’m in shock!!

Oh wow!! Congratulations

Thank you!!

Congratulations!

Thanks Rachie1986

@GabbyGal congratulations on your BFP! Were you tracking at all?
I’m currently 10-14 days days late (not sure as this was the one cycle I didn’t track in an attempt to “relax”...typical or what!!!) and had another BFN this morning. In the 12 years that I’ve had periods I’ve never, EVER been this late or missed a period.

I’m not as hopeful because I do reckon my body is just playing a nasty trick on me however it was quite refreshing to come on here and immediately see your post and see you had a happy ending!!
X

@Ells0204 thank you! I was tracking AF but not ovulation. I had a coil removed in July but we had to keep using contraception as I was put on medication for an underactive thyroid and only got confirmation that my thyroid function is normal in mid-October so we only stopped using contraception then and planned to start tracking properly after next AF which never arrived! So we’ve just been very lucky, it’s been a big shock because we never expected it to happen so quickly, but we’re delighted.
Wait another few days and test again, you never know. xx

Congratulations !!