Pregnancy Filter: Home Test Says Yes, Doc's Pee Test Says No
January 9, 2008 4:31 PM Subscribe
Home test says wife is pregnant, doctor's pee test says she isn't. 2 weeks late on period, "feels pregnant", what gives?
Wife and I are trying to have a baby. We were excited when she was quite later on her period, her nipples were sore, she was inexplicably tired and then the home pregnancy test came back positive. Today we went to Kaiser (HMO) and she took the pee test there - not terribly different that the home one, that came back negative. Obviously we were disappointed. Maybe, I'm just grasping at straws, but it just seemed like so many things were pointing in the pregnant direction that we wanted them to do the test again, but they said we would have to come back in two weeks. Anyone have any experience with this, or thoughts on what might be going on? Our plan now is to go back in two weeks and make an appointment with her actual gynocologist then too.
Wife and I are trying to have a baby. We were excited when she was quite later on her period, her nipples were sore, she was inexplicably tired and then the home pregnancy test came back positive. Today we went to Kaiser (HMO) and she took the pee test there - not terribly different that the home one, that came back negative. Obviously we were disappointed. Maybe, I'm just grasping at straws, but it just seemed like so many things were pointing in the pregnant direction that we wanted them to do the test again, but they said we would have to come back in two weeks. Anyone have any experience with this, or thoughts on what might be going on? Our plan now is to go back in two weeks and make an appointment with her actual gynocologist then too.
Repeat home pregnancy test x2 (or 3). Then go to the first doctor you can find and ask for a blood test for pregnancy.
Most likely one of the tests you took (home or doctors) was not accurate. Testing more will give you a better result.
posted by ruwan at 4:36 PM on January 9, 2008
Most likely one of the tests you took (home or doctors) was not accurate. Testing more will give you a better result.
posted by ruwan at 4:36 PM on January 9, 2008
peeonastick.com says the following:
"Urine-based pregnancy tests vary widely in sensitivity. Often a home-based test (HPT) is much more sensitive than the kind your doctor's office uses. (Often doctors or clinics use tests that are sensitive to 50-100 mIU/mL of hCG; most home tests detect a level of 15-50 mIU/mL of hCG. See the HPT Overview for various HPT sensitivities.)"
posted by leahwrenn at 4:37 PM on January 9, 2008
"Urine-based pregnancy tests vary widely in sensitivity. Often a home-based test (HPT) is much more sensitive than the kind your doctor's office uses. (Often doctors or clinics use tests that are sensitive to 50-100 mIU/mL of hCG; most home tests detect a level of 15-50 mIU/mL of hCG. See the HPT Overview for various HPT sensitivities.)"
posted by leahwrenn at 4:37 PM on January 9, 2008
You may have used first morning pee, they probably didn't have that. If she doesn't start her period soon, call Dr. back and ask for a blood test.
posted by 6:1 at 4:46 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by 6:1 at 4:46 PM on January 9, 2008
I think the key thhing here is not to give up hope, but to be cautious and assume she is pregnant until you find out otherwise.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:59 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by Ironmouth at 4:59 PM on January 9, 2008
Sticks are cheap - pee on them liberally. I'd just retest at home, personally.
posted by selfmedicating at 5:12 PM on January 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by selfmedicating at 5:12 PM on January 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
The only thing I'll contribute is that "feeling pregnant" does not indicate anything that early in a potential pregnancy. Since you're trying to get pregnant, perception will play a lot of funny tricks that will make you both see signs everywhere. Take the 2 weeks and take a few pregnancy tests. If they turn out positive then either find a second opinion or go back to your doctor.
posted by purephase at 5:13 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by purephase at 5:13 PM on January 9, 2008
I had a positive home test, then a negative urine test in the doctor's office. Then I had a positive blood test in the doctor's office. Then I had a baby.
Not to get your hopes up -- but yeah, go back to the doctor as soon as you can. This early on, the blood tests are the most accurate way to tell.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:34 PM on January 9, 2008
Not to get your hopes up -- but yeah, go back to the doctor as soon as you can. This early on, the blood tests are the most accurate way to tell.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:34 PM on January 9, 2008
My wife had a positive home test in September, followed by a negative test at a clinic in the mall. She ended up going to her doctor who took two blood tests 2 days apart.
The tests look for a doubling or so in a certain hormone, and ended up confirming that my wife was pregnant.
posted by drezdn at 5:38 PM on January 9, 2008
The tests look for a doubling or so in a certain hormone, and ended up confirming that my wife was pregnant.
posted by drezdn at 5:38 PM on January 9, 2008
As other posters said, test sensitivity varies widely.
That said, the hormone that's detected by home pregnancy tests, HCG, will double about every 48 hours during a healthy pregnancy. If a urine test is positive and then others fail to confirm this, it could be a sign of a chemical pregnancy. That's when an embryo takes but then fails to develop early on.
A doctor's blood test -- sometimes called a beta test -- should shed some light. Typically they'll take blood about 2 days apart, so they can see how the HCG level changes (if it's positive to begin with). In a non-pregnant person, the HCG level is less than 5 (and often zero). In my experience, the most sensitive home pregnancy test, Answer, detects a level of 25. The digital ClearBlue Easy test requires a level of 100 (I've used both to track how my HCG level has risen, before I could get a blood draw). Usually a blood test will be positive as soon as you expect your period, and it'll give you a specific number -- levels of 100 or more, 14 days after ovulation, are not uncommon, but what's really important is how the number changes over time. A friend recently had a level of 16, which indicated a chemical pregnancy. She'd had one positive urine test, but then others failed to confirm it.
I would call your gynecologist and ask for a blood test. And I am sorry you have to go through this stress and wish you a long and healthy pregnancy -- either now or very soon in the future.
posted by stonefruit at 5:39 PM on January 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
That said, the hormone that's detected by home pregnancy tests, HCG, will double about every 48 hours during a healthy pregnancy. If a urine test is positive and then others fail to confirm this, it could be a sign of a chemical pregnancy. That's when an embryo takes but then fails to develop early on.
A doctor's blood test -- sometimes called a beta test -- should shed some light. Typically they'll take blood about 2 days apart, so they can see how the HCG level changes (if it's positive to begin with). In a non-pregnant person, the HCG level is less than 5 (and often zero). In my experience, the most sensitive home pregnancy test, Answer, detects a level of 25. The digital ClearBlue Easy test requires a level of 100 (I've used both to track how my HCG level has risen, before I could get a blood draw). Usually a blood test will be positive as soon as you expect your period, and it'll give you a specific number -- levels of 100 or more, 14 days after ovulation, are not uncommon, but what's really important is how the number changes over time. A friend recently had a level of 16, which indicated a chemical pregnancy. She'd had one positive urine test, but then others failed to confirm it.
I would call your gynecologist and ask for a blood test. And I am sorry you have to go through this stress and wish you a long and healthy pregnancy -- either now or very soon in the future.
posted by stonefruit at 5:39 PM on January 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
I gotta say it's weird that the doc only did a urine test; a blood ß-HCG isn't expensive, and is really the definitive test. I'd say ask to get a blood test done, and let us know!
posted by delfuego at 6:04 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by delfuego at 6:04 PM on January 9, 2008
I turned up negative on all the urine tests for the first three months of my second pregnancy. Only the blood test was right. Also, I've often heard that the home tests are more sensitive than the doctors office one, so, yeah, I think your wife should assume she's pregnant until she hears definitively - from a blood test or her period - that she's not.
posted by mygothlaundry at 6:08 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by mygothlaundry at 6:08 PM on January 9, 2008
I had a blood test done at a private lab that was in a strip mall next to a Wal-Mart. It was $10. I didn't have insurance. I'd recommend that method, since urine tests are dicey until you've been pregnant a while.
posted by eleyna at 7:05 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by eleyna at 7:05 PM on January 9, 2008
Urine test definitely needs to be done first thing in the morning, whether it's at home or at the doctor's office.
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 8:42 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 8:42 PM on January 9, 2008
I'm surprised your doctor saw you. I called my doctor and said - I peed on a stick and it says I'm pregnant. They essentially said "that's nice for you but the doctor won't see you until you are 6 weeks along".
Keep peeing on sticks - as long as they keep coming back positive - and your wife keeps not getting her period - it's likely she is pregnant. Watch out for sudden onset of pelvic pain or bleeding that is more severe then a normal period. The one concern I'd have is that your first test picked up a tubal pregnancy which would need medical attention. Good luck!
posted by Wolfie at 9:02 PM on January 9, 2008
Keep peeing on sticks - as long as they keep coming back positive - and your wife keeps not getting her period - it's likely she is pregnant. Watch out for sudden onset of pelvic pain or bleeding that is more severe then a normal period. The one concern I'd have is that your first test picked up a tubal pregnancy which would need medical attention. Good luck!
posted by Wolfie at 9:02 PM on January 9, 2008
In my experience it is normal for doctor's offices to use the pee test instead of taking blood, unless they are suspicious and need to monitor your HCG levels, as stonefruit explained upthread. Blood tests are more expensive, you need a nurse to take the blood for a start! Keep using the pee sticks every 2 days and if they keep coming back positive, then things are probably right on track. There is the possibility of a chemical pregnancy, so you could call her gynecologist now and ask for advice about whether they can do a blood test to put your mind at rest (I'm assuming the gyno is not the doctor you already saw, you just saw a regular GP?).
posted by Joh at 11:04 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by Joh at 11:04 PM on January 9, 2008
Oh, and I hope all turns out well and you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!
posted by Joh at 11:05 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by Joh at 11:05 PM on January 9, 2008
Ask your doctor for a Quantitative blood (serum beta) test. It can detect hCG levels as low as 1 mIU/mL.
posted by bjgeiger at 3:32 AM on January 10, 2008
posted by bjgeiger at 3:32 AM on January 10, 2008
As someone mentioned, it matters a lot when you do any urine test if you're near the threshold. Morning urine is very concentrated (you haven't gone for 8 or so hours!) so detecting anything will be easier. OTOH if you drank water nervously in the waiting room you'll have very dilute urine and detecting something near threshold will be unlikely. Your doc didn't break out the more expensive test because 2 weeks late happens all the time for a variety of reasons. HCG increases enormously as pregnancy progresses, so a simple retest a few days after will help you out.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 4:50 AM on January 10, 2008
posted by a robot made out of meat at 4:50 AM on January 10, 2008
Another trick I've heard of is a visible check of the cervix. She can do this herself at home with a mirror and a disposable speculum, usually available at well stocked pharmacies. If the cervix is a darkish, almost blue-purple color (rather than the usual pink), it can be an indication of pregnancy. (Due to the womb retaining blood for the fetus, is the non-scientific way to describe it.) Blood test and pelvic exam at the Dr's should be more definitive than the urine test. IANAD...
posted by wowbobwow at 1:15 PM on January 10, 2008
posted by wowbobwow at 1:15 PM on January 10, 2008
« Older What kind of plywood should I buy fo a desktop? | You Got Your Jellyfish in my Peanut Butter Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Roger Dodger at 4:36 PM on January 9, 2008