Took 2 pregnancy test both had faint lines

While taking a home pregnancy test is quite simple, sometimes the result can cause confusion. One typical situation is when a person gets a faint positive line. Even if the line is faint, it is likely that pregnancy has occurred.

Home pregnancy tests are a fairly accurate way to detect a pregnancy. Some tests are sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy up to 1 day after a missed period in some people.

In this article, you can find answers to some of the common questions about faint positive lines on home pregnancy tests.

There is a good chance that pregnancy did occur if a faint positive line appears on a home test.

Every pregnancy and pregnancy test is different. Some people have a noticeable dark line when they take a pregnancy test, while others notice more of a faint positive line. This is particularly true in early pregnancy when hormones levels are much lower.

Pregnancy tests measure levels of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. The body produces more hCG after a fertilized egg implants in the wall of the womb.

Some medicines contain hCG as an active ingredient, and so taking these can potentially lead to a false positive test result.

Another possibility is a chemical pregnancy or very early miscarriage that occurs in the first 13 weeks after conception.

After a pregnancy loss, it takes some time for hCG levels to return to previous levels. Pregnancy tests measure hCG levels, and so taking a pregnancy test during this time will still give a positive result.

Only a doctor can work out whether a faint positive result is due to early pregnancy, medication, or a chemical pregnancy.

But, if a person gets a faint positive test result while they are bleeding, or they have a period, it may indicate a chemical pregnancy.

If a person suspects that they may be having a miscarriage or has questions about a faint positive pregnancy test, they should contact a doctor for advice.

An evaporation line is a type of false positive result that can occur with a pregnancy test.

If someone has left a pregnancy test for longer than advised, the urine on the stick begins to evaporate, which can cause the line to blur or look distorted.

In some cases, evaporation can make a single line resemble two different lines, giving a false “positive” result.

When taking a pregnancy test, it is essential that people read the instructions carefully. The instructions usually advise reading the results within a specific time after taking the test.

Learn more about evaporation lines here.

Once fertilization of an egg has occurred, and it implants into the uterine wall, the body begins to produce hCG. Home pregnancy tests detect the amount of this hormone that is present in the urine.

Immediately after conception, the hCG levels are quite low. In a healthy pregnancy, the levels of the hormone should double every 2 to 3 days.

While the line might be faint at the very beginning of pregnancy, as time goes on and the pregnancy advances, the line that the test produces should get darker and more apparent.

Share on PinterestA person should contact a doctor after a second positive test.

A person who gets a faint positive home pregnancy test result should wait a few days and then repeat the test. If the test is positive a second time, they should call their doctor and schedule an appointment.

If the test is negative and the individual has had a period, it is likely that they had an early miscarriage or chemical pregnancy.

Early miscarriages are common and do not usually impact a person’s ability to become pregnant later on.

A person should always call their doctor with questions about a faint positive pregnancy test or if they are concerned about a possible miscarriage. A urine or blood test can always be done at the doctor’s office as well.

If someone is currently taking medication that contains hCG as an active ingredient, it may be best if they have a pregnancy test in the doctor’s office instead of using a home test.

Sometimes, people can experience some vaginal bleeding after having a faint positive pregnancy test.

If the bleeding is light or similar to a period, they should call their doctor. If the bleeding is very heavy, for example, more than a pad or tampon in an hour, they should go to the emergency room immediately for a doctor to do an evaluation.

A faint positive home pregnancy test result can mean several different things. It often means that a person is pregnant, but there are several other outcomes.

Anyone with a faint positive result should wait a few days and retake the test. As always, it is best to call the doctor with any questions or concerns.

Took 2 pregnancy test both had faint lines

by Polly Logan-Banks |

Took 2 pregnancy test both had faint lines
Medically reviewed by Babatunde Gbolade, Consultant gynaecologist and fertility control specialist | November 2019 |

It's possible. Some home pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect tiny amounts of pregnancy hormones in your system, even before you have missed a period.

To get a positive result, you need to be making a detectable level of a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The more sensitive a pregnancy test is, the earlier it will show a positive result. It'll depend on how much hCG your body is producing too, as every woman's response to pregnancy is individual.

If your home test shows only a faint positive, it may not be sensitive enough to give you a clear answer. Check the side of the box to find out what your test's sensitivity is. For example, a test with a sensitivity of 10mIU/ml (milli-International Units per millilitre) will tell if you're pregnant sooner than a test with a sensitivity of 25mIU/ml.

You may get a faint positive because you're not as far along with the pregnancy as you expected. Sperm can live inside your body for up to seven days, waiting for an egg to be released. So depending on when you ovulate, you could get pregnant up to a week after having sex. Alternatively, your fertilised egg may not have implanted in your womb as quickly as expected.

Another possible explanation is what's known as an "evaporation line". This is a faint line that can appear as urine evaporates from the test, and it means you're not pregnant. The instructions that come with the test will tell you how long to wait before checking the results. If the faint line appeared a few minutes after this time, it's possible that it's just an evaporation line.

If you get a faint positive, you could try again using a digital pregnancy test. These are easier to interpret than a faint line, as they state whether or not you are pregnant. However, if you're testing early on, their accuracy still depends on the sensitivity of the test.

Alternatively, you could try taking another test in three days' time. If you are pregnant, and your body is making the normal amount of hCG, the test should be clearly positive by the time your period is due.

These early days while you wait to find out whether or not you are expecting can be an emotional rollercoaster. Unfortunately, it is possible to have a faint positive, only to get a negative when you retest a few days later.

If this happens to you, it may be that you have had a very early miscarriage. Sadly, miscarriages are very common, with a quarter of pregnancies thought to be affected. Learn more about early miscarriage.

One of the downsides of having such sensitive pregnancy tests is that, for some women, they may raise false hopes. When tests were not as highly sensitive to hormonal changes, very early miscarriages would simply go unnoticed. However hard it is, it may be sensible to wait until the day your period is due before testing. That way, you can be more sure of the results.

Still not sure what your faint line means? Get a second opinion (or two, or three…) by posting a photo of the test in our Line Eyes community group. Or learn more about pregnancy tests:

  • Check out these 16 things you never knew about pregnancy tests.
  • Discover seven things to remember when taking a test.
  • Find out more about the best time to test.

Took 2 pregnancy test both had faint lines

Polly Logan-Banks is an experienced editor with a keen interest in producing evidence-based content. Polly is passionate about ensuring that every child gets the best start in life.

How long should I wait to take another pregnancy test after a faint line?

Follow the Pregnancy Test's Instructions Most pregnancy tests include instructions that encourage you to wait at least one week between a negative test and taking another pregnancy test. This is to allow time for your body to build up enough hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to be detected in your urine.

Can a faint line be negative?

A very faint line may also occur if the urine is too diluted to detect hCG. Drinking a large amount of fluid can dilute the urine and skew the results. If a faint line becomes a negative test result the second time around, it could be the result of a very early miscarriage in the first few days and weeks of pregnancy.

Can a pregnancy test shows 2 lines but one is faint?

If no hCG is detected in your urine, only the control line will appear pink colored. If hCG is present in the urine, both the test line and control line will appear pink. Two pink lines indicate a positive result, even if one line is fainter than the other.