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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Test lines not getting very dark

13 replies

emsantana99 · 27/08/2025 14:09

So abit of background on my cycles - technically I’d be 5 weeks today, my last period was on the 22nd of July but I have very irregular cycles as I have PCOS, it’s usually around 30-35 days long. So I think I ovulated on the 10th August, so today I’d be 17 dpo.. im
still getting 1-2 on a clear blue digital ( which I know you add two weeks to, so 3-4) but this is making me so anxious I feel like I should be getting 2-3 by now. These are my tests from my 3rd pee of the day.

Any comments welcome. Be it good or bad. I had my bloods taken today so will get the results back on HCG levels in a couple of days. Thank you!

Test lines not getting very dark
OP posts:
ShouldHaveCouldHaveWouldHaveDone · 27/08/2025 14:22

Congratulations! 🎉
I’ve seen on threads that not everyone gets a 2-3 weeks on a digital, yet have a perfectly healthy pregnancy. Try not to worry -easier said than done I know!

curliegirlie · 27/08/2025 15:07

1-2 weeks at 17dpo is absolutely normal. The 2-3 week reading is triggered by HCG level of 153miu. HCG doubles every 48 hours, so take the day you got your BFP as your baseline of 10miu and work out when you should expect to hit 153miu. For me it was 18dpo…

Original poster
emsantana99 · 27/08/2025 15:44

ShouldHaveCouldHaveWouldHaveDone · 27/08/2025 14:22

Congratulations! 🎉
I’ve seen on threads that not everyone gets a 2-3 weeks on a digital, yet have a perfectly healthy pregnancy. Try not to worry -easier said than done I know!

Thank you, it’s just so hard I really thought my control lines would be darker by now! ☹️

OP posts:
Original poster
emsantana99 · 27/08/2025 15:46

curliegirlie · 27/08/2025 15:07

1-2 weeks at 17dpo is absolutely normal. The 2-3 week reading is triggered by HCG level of 153miu. HCG doubles every 48 hours, so take the day you got your BFP as your baseline of 10miu and work out when you should expect to hit 153miu. For me it was 18dpo…

thank you for your response, even though my last period was on the 22nd of July?

OP posts:
curliegirlie · 27/08/2025 16:27

Date of last period is irrelevant. It’s all about when you ovulate, which can vary considerably. In the 3 years of my most recent TTC journey, my ovulation day varied between CD8 (one very weird cycle!) and CD20. Most cycles it was CD15 or 16. The cycle I got pregnant it was CD17.

Original poster
emsantana99 · 27/08/2025 16:45

curliegirlie · 27/08/2025 16:27

Date of last period is irrelevant. It’s all about when you ovulate, which can vary considerably. In the 3 years of my most recent TTC journey, my ovulation day varied between CD8 (one very weird cycle!) and CD20. Most cycles it was CD15 or 16. The cycle I got pregnant it was CD17.

Okah thank you - I’m just super nervous as it took years to conceive my first. This time around on metformin it all happened very quickly. Do these tests look okay to you for 17dpo not FMU?

OP posts:
bumbling · 27/08/2025 22:29

Are you seeing progression every two days? My tests didn't get dark until 20DPO and I didn't get a line as dark as the control line until 23DPO. My 17DPO test is below I'm currently 7 weeks and 5 days and hoping everything works out. Fingers crossed it works out for you too.

Test lines not getting very dark
Poster2233 · 28/08/2025 06:35

Get a different test. I loved these with my first but this time round they caused me a lot of worry! They were so light for how far along I was. The boots own brand (standard not ultra early) showed me much clearer and darker lines. I have since found lots of other threads about the quality of E@H tests not being as good as they used to.
Also your longer cycles automatically put you less pregnant than you think. Not sure if you tracked your ovulation or not but longer cycles tend to ovulate later so that could be a factor too.

curliegirlie · 28/08/2025 08:44

emsantana99 · 27/08/2025 16:45

Okah thank you - I’m just super nervous as it took years to conceive my first. This time around on metformin it all happened very quickly. Do these tests look okay to you for 17dpo not FMU?

Show quote history

I reckon so. Strip tests always take longer to darken than those in cases.

Original poster
emsantana99 · 28/08/2025 09:16

bumbling · 27/08/2025 22:29

Are you seeing progression every two days? My tests didn't get dark until 20DPO and I didn't get a line as dark as the control line until 23DPO. My 17DPO test is below I'm currently 7 weeks and 5 days and hoping everything works out. Fingers crossed it works out for you too.

Edited

if im honest i cant really tell because im testing at all times every day and its really starting to stress me out so ive put the pregnancy tests down. I had a HCG blood test yesterday but they’re not offering one 48h later as I have a scan on Wednesday and there wouldn’t be any point. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

OP posts:
Original poster
emsantana99 · 28/08/2025 09:20

Poster2233 · 28/08/2025 06:35

Get a different test. I loved these with my first but this time round they caused me a lot of worry! They were so light for how far along I was. The boots own brand (standard not ultra early) showed me much clearer and darker lines. I have since found lots of other threads about the quality of E@H tests not being as good as they used to.
Also your longer cycles automatically put you less pregnant than you think. Not sure if you tracked your ovulation or not but longer cycles tend to ovulate later so that could be a factor too.

Edited

Thanks for your response, with my daughter, I did 3
pregnancy tests, 2 cheapies & a clear blue and left it at that, didn’t track line progression, wasn’t constantly stressed, idk what’s happened to me this time around!! According to my last period the dr’s put me at 5+1 but my cycles are so irregular I wish they hadn’t told me that as all my apps tracking my pregnancy as estimating me at 4+3. Obviously I won’t know until a dating scan but I’m just praying all is well. I seem to also have darker lines at night than I do in the mornings!! I don’t think that my easy at home tests strips are that accurate either because I can dip 2 tests in the same sample and they both come out with different darkness. After reading other threads I can see alot of people didn’t get their lines as dark as the control line to 20/21 dpo ish and I’m only 18 so I’m trying to not give up hope. Will update once I have my scan :)

OP posts:
Original poster
emsantana99 · 28/08/2025 11:26

curliegirlie · 27/08/2025 15:07

1-2 weeks at 17dpo is absolutely normal. The 2-3 week reading is triggered by HCG level of 153miu. HCG doubles every 48 hours, so take the day you got your BFP as your baseline of 10miu and work out when you should expect to hit 153miu. For me it was 18dpo…

I got my blood test results back. At 17dpo my HCG levels was 171 which they indicated as 4-5 weeks pregnant so technically im right on track. Didn’t get my first positive until the 22nd, day before was stark negative so technically it is doubling perfectly if I go by your advise and start the baseline as 10:)

OP posts:
BabyBorn · 28/08/2025 15:46

That’s amazing @emsantana99Congratulations! X

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