Confused Pregnancy Test Results? Possible Explanations & What to Do

If you have taken two pregnancy tests from different brands, and one came back positive and the other came back negative, it is possible you could still be pregnant.

Here are some reasons why you might get a false negative result on a pregnancy test:

You tested too early. Pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine or blood. hCG is produced by the placenta after implantation, so if you test too early before the placenta has developed enough, there may not be enough hCG in your urine or blood to be detected by the test.

You didn't follow the test instructions correctly. Make sure you read and carefully follow the instructions that come with your pregnancy test. Each test is different, so it is important to follow the instructions specific to your test to ensure an accurate result.

You had a miscarriage. If you were pregnant but had a miscarriage very early on, the levels of hCG in your urine or blood may not have been high enough to be detected by the pregnancy test.

You are taking certain medications. Some medications can interfere with the results of pregnancy tests, causing false negative results. These medications include certain diuretics and antihistamines.

You have an underlying medical condition. Certain medical conditions can also cause false negative results on pregnancy tests. These conditions include thyroid problems and kidney disease.

If you have taken a pregnancy test and gotten a negative result, but you are still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, or you think you might be pregnant, it is a good idea to take another pregnancy test in a few days or see your doctor for a blood test to confirm your pregnancy status.