If you miss your period but aren’t pregnant, should you tell your doctor?—Anonymous patient
A:
There are many different reasons why someone might miss their period, some of which are transient and some of which are longer-lasting. Women should consult their doctor if they haven’t had their period in more than three months. Additional testing may be required to look for any underlying medical conditions that may be the source of this as well as to address the ability to become pregnant, if desired.
Last medically reviewed on June 21, 2016
Could a negative result be wrong?
When pregnant, it is possible for a home pregnancy test to come back negative. This is known as a false-negative. You might get a false-negative if you:
Take the test too early. The earlier you take a home pregnancy test, the harder it is for the test to find HCG. For the most accurate results, take a home pregnancy test after the first day of a missed period.
Check test results too soon. Set a timer to go off at the time the test directions say you should check the result. Dont check the test until that amount of time has passed.
Take the test later in the day. For the most accurate results, take the test right after you get up in the morning. Thats when your urine is the most concentrated, making HCG easier to find.
Based on the test results, consider taking the following steps:
Your home pregnancy test is positive, or youve taken a few home pregnancy tests and gotten mixed results. Make an appointment with your health care provider. You might need a blood test or ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy. The sooner a pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner prenatal care can begin.
Your home pregnancy test is negative. If your period doesnt begin, take the test again in a few days or in one week. Its especially important to do this if you took the test before or right after a missed period.
You continue to get negative test results, but your period doesnt start. Or you still think you might be pregnant. Contact your health care provider. Your provider may suggest you take a blood test to check for pregnancy, which may be more accurate than a home test. Also, some health problems may lead to missed periods. If youre not pregnant, your health care provider can help you find out whats causing missed periods.
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Negative Pregnancy Test: I Think I’m Pregnant But My Pregnancy Test Is Negative?
