False Positive Pregnancy Test: Causes

Pregnancy tests have really come a long way in the past few years. Not only are they able to detect pregnancy earlier on but they have also become more reliable. While this is the case for most who take a home pregnancy test, there are situations where a false positive may occur. Although it is not common, it does occasionally happen. Here is a look at some common causes for a false positive on a home pregnancy test.

One common reason for a false positive on home pregnancy test is when the urine used to take the test has been contaminated. This can happen due to there being the presence of soap or if one is dipping a pregnancy test into cup to test their urine and there is a presence of dish detergent. This can cause the pregnancy test to come up positive. It is important to be sure that when taking the test you use a fresh plastic cup or preferably just take a test where you urinate directly on the stick.

Another reason why one may experience a false positive on a home pregnancy test is if they have certain types of stomach tumors. These tumors can actually cause the body to produce a small amount of HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin the hormone that is present in a woman's body when she is pregnant. In addition to making a small amount of this HCG it can also cause nausea which some women will mistake for morning sickness and cause the stomach to bloat which can make a woman think she is pregnant.

A chemical pregnancy can also cause a woman to experience a false positive on a home pregnancy test. Although most women are not aware of it, most of them miscarry a pregnancy very early on several times in their lifetime. Because home pregnancy tests have become so sensitive now they are detecting these pregnancies therefore they are causing false positives where the women will eventually go on to have a regular period.

Lastly, some women will actually mistake an evaporation line as a positive on a home pregnancy test. These lines can pop up leaving many women questioning whether or not they are actually pregnant or not. If at all in question, one should try another test of a different brand to see what sort of result it yields.

Sources Cited: http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/falsepositive.html