False positive Preg test
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False positive Preg test
| Thu, 07-15-2004 - 1:54pm |
Any help with this issue would be deeply appreciated. I have been off the pill for 6 weeks now and not using any birth control. I expected that my cycle would be off for a while to re-adjust to a lack of hormones. My period should have started around July 6, but never came. I did feel a little on the ill side all last week so just for curiosity I took an over the counter test. It was positive!!! However, I started bleeding on Tuesday (the 13th) like my regular period. I am waiting to go to the doc on Friday but going a little stir-crazy in the meantime!!!! Is it possible to either have a false positive?? Or is it that I am PG and just bleeding anyway?
Help!!!!

I thought the same thing when I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. I was in such disbelief that I actually took about 8 of them, all positive. My doctor told me that there is really no such thing as a false positive because of the way the test works. Either HCG is there or it's not, it just depends on the level. So there can be a false negative (hcg level too low to read), but not a false positive. I expected to have a blood test to confirm, but was told it wasn't neccesary. He also told me you only have to be off the pill a month or so before trying to conceive.
As far as the bleeding, I would call your doctor and tell them that your test was positive and you are having bleeding, they may want to see you earlier. I have heard of women who have their period throughout pregnancy, I have no idea how true that is.
Good luck, and I hope this helps.
Home pregnancy tests are pretty accurate but there are some conditions that will cause them to read positive other than an active pregnancy. For what they are and why, see: http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/falsepositive.html Let us know how you're doing, ok?
hugs,
Jill