Pregnant or not ?

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You would think that taking a home pregnancy test is the easiest thing in the world, right? Two pink lines or blue lines and your pregnant, one pink line or blue, not pregnant. How much simpler could it get? Then you are at the end of your cycle anxiously waiting to test. You take the test and there is a faint line. Now what does that mean? Are your eyes playing tricks on you or are you pregnant? You start to show it to people “Is that a line or am I imagining it?” so most of us end up repeating the test several times to make sure.

The fact is that in most cases, if the manufacturer’s instructions were followed properly, a faint line is a positive pregnancy test. The line usually shows up as a result of HCG hormone (pregnancy hormone) being detected in your urine. But the fact is if you are unsure if you see a line or you want further confirmation, it is a good idea to take a second test in a day or two, that’s why so many come in packs of two, if you are still not sure go to your G.P. as they can confirm the test and tell you the hormone count, which gives an indication of how far into the pregnancy you are.

Reasons you might see a faint line

There are several reasons why you may see a faint line when you do a home pregnancy test they are as follows:

Testing too soon - This is one of the most common reasons for not getting accurate results from a home pregnacy test. As we mentioned the tests work by detecting the hormone HCG. During the first few weeks of pregnancy the HCG levels double every two to three days. A few days can make a big difference in how much HCG is detected in your urine. Testing should be done no earlier than ten days after ovulation but many women don’t know when that occurred so the best time is after you have missed your period.
Testing Kits sensitivity - Some home pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others. Some tests can detect pregnancy with HCG levels as low as 20 mIU and other tests require HCG levels of 100 mIU to detect pregnancy. A 20 mIU home pregnancy test may show a stronger line than a 100 mIU test in the first few weeks.
Expired or improperly stored pregnancy test - Seems so simple but no one ever checks, make sure to check the expiration date on your pregnancy test, as well as the storage instructions. An expired test or improperly stored pregnancy test may not work accurately.
Reading tests results after manufacturer's recommended time - A faint positive test result may occur if you read the pregnancy test after the manufacturer's recommended time. Some pregnancy tests will continue to react to urine and produce a false positive result if read after recommended time period always follow the instructions.
Diluted urine - It was once recommended to only use first morning urine for pregnancy testing. Most tests on the market today can be used any time of day. However, if you are testing early in the pregnacy, testing with the first morning’s urine may be a good idea. The reason is that early morning urine is more concentrated than urine throughout the day.
Miscalculating expected period - Another common problem with testing is miscalculating when your period is due, writing down your cycle dates can help with this.
Chemical pregnancy - A chemical pregnancy is a pregnancy that produces HCG but does not develop into normal pregnancy. It is a term used to describe a very early miscarriage.
Some medications - Certain medications such as thorazine and fertility medications that contain HCG may result in a false positive or a faint line on a home pregnancy test, contact your doctor if you are on these medications and suspect that you may be pregnant.

Remember - If you have a faint line on a pregnancy test, and you are not sure of the results, retest a couple of days later or consult your doctor for more information