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What Causes Missing Period And Pregnancy Symptoms Inspite Of Negative Pregnancy Test?

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Posted on Wed, 26 Mar 2014
Question: My last period ended maybe around the 20th if XXXXXXX I didn't have one in feb for the past few weeks I've felt sick to my stomach and the past few days I've had really bad cramps like I'm fixing to start but I don't. I've taken the home pregnancy tests and they were negative. I have 2 children already never had this problem I found out with both of them when I was about 8 wks. Could I still be pregnant or what's going on?
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Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer: There are many possibilities. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic, I understand that you had missed your period for about 7 weeks now and home pregnancy tests were negative. You have also said that earlier pregnancies were detected late at about 8 weeks. So the chances of pregnancy cannot be entirely ruled out in this case. A urine pregnancy test done using the first morning sample of urine will give better results. Also it will help to know if your periods are regular or not. Irregular periods indicate a delayed ovulation and hence pregnancy tests will come positive later than usual. Please check to see if this is your case. A missed abortion [ pregnancy occurred but the baby is not alive now] will give rise to pain and negative pregnancy test. Other causes of similar symptoms are ovarian cysts that lead to hormonal imbalances and irregular periods with abdominal pain. Fibroids may also produce pain but missed periods are rare. Endometriosis is a condition where menstruation occurs inside the abdomen. It causes pain but again missed periods are rare. Another common cause of delayed periods is stress and hormonal imbalances. The best way to know the cause is to have a vaginal examination by a gynecologist and an ultrasound to look for any of the possible causes. If it is negative a hormonal profile to look for levels of FSH, LH, TSH and prolactin will help. Hope I was able to answer your query. Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have and I will be happy to answer. Thanks and have a good day. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Follow up: Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (17 minutes later)
So if my periods are irregular it could take longer for a test to show a postive result?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Yes. Detailed Answer: Hi and welcome, Yes that is absolutely correct. Normally in a 28 days cycle ovulation occurs on day 14 and periods come after another 14 days. Every woman does not have a 28 day cycle. The day of ovulation is variable, but once ovulation has occurred, if there is no pregnancy, periods come after a fixed 14 days. A urine test comes positive 21-24 days after ovulation. That means that in 28 days cycle it will come positive 1 week after the missed period [ 14 days from ovulation until period and 7 additional days to make it 21]. Pregnancy occurs on the day of ovulation. If a female ovulated on day 21, instead of day 14, means that she conceived one week later than what her last menstrual period would tell. For example if there are two women whose last menstrual period was 1st January: First ovulated on 14 January and got pregnant. She will miss her period around 1st February, urine test will come positive after 21 days of ovulation that is around 5th of February. Second woman ovulated on 21, she misses her period around 1st February but test will come positive 21 days after ovulation that is around 13 of February. Also on ultrasound it will show a smaller pregnancy by 1 week as she will expect she is 6 weeks pregnant on 13th while actually she is 5 weeks only. I hope that I was able to explain the things. If you suspect pregnancy try the test around the same time you detected earlier pregnancies using the first morning sample of urine as it is the most concentrated and less likely to give negative results. Also check the expiry date of the kit and try using a kit of different company. A blood test for pregnancy will give positive results about 10 days earlier than the urine test. Hope I was able to answer your queries. I am always here for more answers. feel free to ask. Take care and have a good day. Dr Madhuri
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Dr. Madhuri N Bagde

OBGYN

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1390 Questions

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What Causes Missing Period And Pregnancy Symptoms Inspite Of Negative Pregnancy Test?

Brief Answer: There are many possibilities. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic, I understand that you had missed your period for about 7 weeks now and home pregnancy tests were negative. You have also said that earlier pregnancies were detected late at about 8 weeks. So the chances of pregnancy cannot be entirely ruled out in this case. A urine pregnancy test done using the first morning sample of urine will give better results. Also it will help to know if your periods are regular or not. Irregular periods indicate a delayed ovulation and hence pregnancy tests will come positive later than usual. Please check to see if this is your case. A missed abortion [ pregnancy occurred but the baby is not alive now] will give rise to pain and negative pregnancy test. Other causes of similar symptoms are ovarian cysts that lead to hormonal imbalances and irregular periods with abdominal pain. Fibroids may also produce pain but missed periods are rare. Endometriosis is a condition where menstruation occurs inside the abdomen. It causes pain but again missed periods are rare. Another common cause of delayed periods is stress and hormonal imbalances. The best way to know the cause is to have a vaginal examination by a gynecologist and an ultrasound to look for any of the possible causes. If it is negative a hormonal profile to look for levels of FSH, LH, TSH and prolactin will help. Hope I was able to answer your query. Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have and I will be happy to answer. Thanks and have a good day. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist