Can antibiotics cause false negative pregnancy test

In this article, Dr. Gleaton shares how pregnancy tests work, what medications could affect pregnancy test results, and when to talk to your doctor.

By OBGYN and fertility expert Dr. Kenosha Gleaton

Taking a pregnancy test can be a nerve-wracking experience, and you want to be confident when reading the results. We’ve already covered the most common questions in our guide to peeing on a stick (POAS), but now it’s time to cover what medications could affect your pregnancy test results. 

How medications affect pregnancy test results

To recap, pregnancy tests work by detecting the pregnancy hormone, hCG, in urine. If the pregnancy test detects a certain level of hCG, it will show a positive result. hCG is made when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, usually around 10 days after conception, and increases every day in early pregnancy. 

If you’re taking a medication that contains or affects hCG production, it’s possible that you could receive a false pregnancy test result. This means you could receive a positive test without actually being pregnant, or (more rarely) a negative test when you are pregnant. 

What medications may affect pregnancy test results

Most medicines, including over-the-counter and prescription, should not affect the results of a home pregnancy test. But medicines that have the pregnancy hormone hCG in them may give a false positive test result. This includes some medicines given for infertility treatments—often called the “trigger shot” and sold under the brand names Novarel, Ovidrel, Pregnyl, and Profasi.

What to do if you suspect medication is affecting pregnancy test results

If you suspect your medication may be affecting your pregnancy test results, you should consult with your doctor. Your doctor can run a blood test and perform a transvaginal ultrasound to give you a definite answer on whether or not you’re pregnant. 

If you’re on medications for fertility treatments, it’s important you don’t interfere with your medication routine without supervision from your doctor.

Can antibiotics cause false negative pregnancy test

When to call your doctor

If you believe you’ve been getting multiple false positives or false negatives, you should see your doctor. This is especially important if you are participating in fertility treatments or are showing symptoms of pregnancy, but receiving negative test results. 

Some false pregnancy test results could be a result of a hormone imbalance, including PCOS, a chemical or ectopic pregnancy, evaporation lines, and more. Make sure you’re following your test instructions correctly to avoid any user error. We made sure our early-result pregnancy tests are simple and easy to use with jargon-free instructions to get the clear answer you need.
 

Follow instructions and know when to seek advice

It’s important to follow directions exactly when taking pregnancy tests, otherwise you could end up with a false positive or false negative result. If you’re following the instructions correctly and you’re still concerned that your results are incorrect, you should consult your doctor. Many fertility medications and occasionally some OTC or prescription drugs could cause a false pregnancy test result, but a blood test and transvaginal ultrasound will help rule this out. 

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  • October 11, 2017

Can antibiotics cause false negative pregnancy test

The simple answer…yes.

If you take medicine with the pregnancy hormone hCG as an active ingredient, you may get a false-positive test result. A false positive is when a test says you are pregnant when you are not. Some examples of medicines with hCG include certain medicines for infertility. If you are taking medicine to help you get pregnant, you may want to see your doctor for a pregnancy test.

Most medicines should not affect the results of a home pregnancy test. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medicines such as birth control and antibiotics. Also, alcohol and illegal drugs do not affect pregnancy test results.

Should you have concerns you are pregnant, please schedule an appointment to come into Prestonwood Pregnancy Centerfor your free pregnancy test and to talk through any possible concerns with a nurse that you may have that might affect the results.

What medications can cause a false positive pregnancy test?

Anti-Anxiety Medication and Tranquilizers: These types of medications can push the levels of HCG hormones up, which can give you a false test result. This is usually more common with prescription anti-anxiety medications, such as azapirones, benzodiazepines, and hydroxyzine.

Is it possible to get a false negative pregnancy test?

Kate Smith answered this You Feel Pregnant, So Why Did You Get A Negative Pregnancy Test Result? Loading... Guest over a year ago Loading... genvieve1059 over a year ago Yes it is quite possible to get false negative pregnancy test if you are using certain medications.

Can birth control cause a negative pregnancy test?

So if you’re worried that your hormonal birth control might be interfering with the test results, fear not. Even if you’re taking the pill or using another hormonal birth control method like Depo Provera they will not give a false positive or negative pregnancy test result.

What can cause a false negative on a urine test?

There are a few things that can cause a false negative reading, namely the improper use of the test, testing too early, using an expired test, or diluting the urine by drinking too much wate r in advance. There are also a few medications that can interfere with the result.

What medicines can cause a false negative pregnancy test?

Medications that could affect your test include benzodiazepines, phenothiazine, promethazine and others. Urine contaminated with blood or protein can also trigger a false positive. A laboratory-quality test may be your best option for accurate results.

How common is false negative pregnancy test?

Home pregnancy tests are usually accurate, but researchers estimate that up to 5% of tests give a false negative — meaning the test says you aren't pregnant when you actually are. There are a few reasons why you might get a false negative. You might be taking the test too early or after drinking too much water.

What can throw off a pregnancy test?

Read on to learn more about false positives on home pregnancy tests..
Chemical pregnancy. It's possible to have a positive pregnancy test even if you aren't technically pregnant. ... .
Ectopic pregnancy. ... .
Recent miscarriage or abortion. ... .
User error. ... .
Evaporation lines. ... .
Medications. ... .
Certain medical conditions..

Why am I pregnant but my test is negative?

Is it possible to be pregnant and get a negative pregnancy test result? Yes, it is possible. Getting a negative result doesn't mean you're not pregnant, it may just mean your hCG levels are not high enough for the test to detect the hormone in your urine.