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can pregnancy tests be false negative?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/2/2008 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Is it possible that a urine pregnancy test can be wrong?

I'm 3 weeks late for my period. I'm 30 and I've NEVER NEVER missed a period. I usually have more periods the sicker I am.

I had 2 different urine pregnancy tests that both said negative. Could they be wrong? What else could be going on with me?

I'm on imuran, heart medication, b12 shots, iron, other vitamins.

 

Posted 3/2/2008 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
Roni, are you underweight? When a woman gets below 10-12% body fat, they stop menstruating. Could this be a possibility?
Posted 3/2/2008 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
it is extremely rare that a pregnancy test is wrong. it detects the hcg in your urine which would be present if you were pregnant. you can always request your dr. do a blood test. my husband is an ob/gyn. and we never see urine tests be inaccurate. good luck!!
Posted 3/2/2008 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
I would talk with your doc.
Posted 3/2/2008 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I am probably a little underweight or at the very bottom of my ideal weight. It's always been this way though (except when I was pregnant and for a short while after my surgery).

I just don't know how concerned I should be that after all these years I missed a period when nothing seems different. With the meds we take that can increase our risks for other diseases, I feel like I don't wanna take chances.

So... how many missed periods before I ask for an ultra sound?
Posted 3/2/2008 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Roni,

I would definetly talk to your doctor but when I first developed RA I stopped menstrating for 8 months-my body just didn't have enough energy to be sick and menstrate-I told my doctor about it and she said it was the least of her concerns the body will do that sometimes if you are sick. Once they started me on RA meds I started menstrating again.
Sj
Posted 3/3/2008 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I have never missed a period in my life (except during my two pregnancies) except for a few years ago.  I was on imuran and remicade at the time.  I took a couple pregnancy tests both negative, and finally called my ob/gyn to see if I should start my next pack of pills or not.  They had me do a blood test just to make sure I wasn't pregnant.  I wasn't....they couldn't give me an explanation as to why it happened....they just said that that can happen.  It has never happened since.   

Posted 3/3/2008 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Its good to know its not just me. I have a little anxiety about this just cause it's never happened before. So glad for this site.
Posted 3/3/2008 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
2 of my friends had false negative pregnancy tests.  One took 3 over the counter tests and were all negative.  She happened to have blood drawn at a physical one day and learned she was THREE MONTHS pregnant.  Another friend took a home test when she was 2 weeks late and got a negative and took it again a week later and it was positive!!! Sometimes it takes up to a month for the hormone to show up in your urine.  If you google it you can find out how many weeks late you have to be for a blood test to be effective.  Are you hoping to be pregnant or hoping your not?  If you are not, I know how you feel... I had all the symptoms a few months back and had a negative test (thank goodness) and wasnt satisfied until I got my next period.  I have never been so happy to see my period lol.
Posted 3/3/2008 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
I know it was back in the dark ages, but 30 years ago I thought I was pregnant. Doc did an internal and discovered a mass that we would eventually realize was crohn's. Anyway my test was negative and plans were set in motion to have an internal exam under anasthetic to find out what the mass was. I was still unconvinced and prior to the exam asked to have another test just to be sure. (really, really wanted this baby). Bingo, this time it was positive.

Still, chronic illness can really mess up our hormones etc. Go to your doc and get a lab test -- or have an internal done. By now the uterus should be enlarging and the cervix changing. Any competent doc should be able to tell.
Posted 3/3/2008 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
It would be highly unlikely since they read HCG and if you have to have that if you are pregnant. Have you contacted your OB's office?
Posted 3/7/2008 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently missing a period however I know I am not pregnant I had 3 periods from jan-February. I have lost lots of weight post op but I had gotton 1 period after the weight loss...I am on the pill and typically start the tuesday after the reminder pills begin. It is not uncommon for me to occasionally miss a periods and my husband is still afraid to "break me" as far as my surgical sutures under my skin etc and he has been that way for over a yr since I have had 4 surgeries since Feb 12, 07. I would contact your gyn and GI if you are that concerned.
Posted 3/7/2008 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
You know, my OB told me that you did not have to have a complete cycle to count, all you need is a spot of blood and you are good to go. I know it happened to me alot. But I would ask your OB just to be on the safe side.
Posted 7/11/2009 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
I have heard of urine tests being wrong. I'm up in the air about the same thing right now. I haven't had consistent periods since diagnosed in 2004 so it makes it even more difficult. But pregnancy is the only thing that has made me feel the way I do right now. It's been almost 2 months since my last period, but that's not a sign for me to go by. I've taken 3 urine tests that have all been negative but the only time I've ever felt this run down and no appetite was when I was pregnant with my daughter. I'm toying with the idea of going to get a blood test just in case. The only other change I've had is they upped my Imuran the same time to 250 from 200, has anyone had any side effects from upping their dosage. I've been upped by 50 mg sporadically over the last 5 years still trying to reach a theraputic level, does it make you feel different when you finally get in the range?
Posted 7/11/2009 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
When I was trying to get pregnant with my second daughter I would have times when I would go 40 - 50 days with out my period. Take the home test and it would be negative and then in a few days have a heavy period. After I finally got pregnant, I asked about it and was told that I probably was pregnant all those times and had miscarriages. But since my periods were never really regular so I may have been "less" pregnant than I thought and so I had less of the hormone.
Posted 7/11/2009 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Do you guys realize this post was started over a year ago?
Posted 7/30/2011 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Roni,
this message is for you. I know it was in 2008, but whatever happened with the pregnancy tests you took?

I am currently on Imuran and prednisone and am wondering if I may be pregnant. I am wondering if these drugs can cause a false negative?
Posted 7/30/2011 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
ROTFL. Wow, what a long time ago. I can't remember exactly what happened back then, but I know my periods were seriously messed up and I ended up pregnant right around that time...had a healthy baby. :-)

I stayed on pred, added pentasa, and stopped imuran, but lots of women stay on imuran and seem to do okay. There is a new study about this issue at Sick Kids in Toronto.

Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto also has tonnes of info about the effects of meds on unborn/born babies. They have a hotline program called Motherisk, http://www.motherisk.org. You can find the number online and a database for meds during pregnancy/breastfeeding too.

Don't worry, CD women have healthy babies all the time, even on really strong meds. Go see your doc and get a blood test if you want a faster answer.

Let us know when you find out. Best wishes!
Posted 7/30/2011 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your wealth of info!
Posted 7/30/2011 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
youll know in about 8 months.....
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