You must have heard about the symptoms that mark early pregnancy, such as morning sickness, breast changes, and fatigue. However, it is possible to get a positive pregnancy test without any symptoms. If this happens to you, take a second test or consult a doctor. In addition, you may need to undergo blood and urine tests to confirm whether you are pregnant or not. In this post, we explain some of the possible reasons behind a positive pregnancy test with no symptoms and when to see a doctor. We also address some frequently asked questions, such as whether it is possible to be pregnant and not test positive.
Positive Pregnancy Test But No Symptoms: Why Does It Happen?
Pregnancy tests check your urine or blood for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone. Your body is likely to produce this hormone about six days after fertilization (1), and the hormone levels may double every two to three days (2). If the test result shows positive, but the symptoms do not occur, the following could be the possible reasons.
Chemical pregnancy : It is a miscarriage that occurs before you know you are pregnant. A low level of hCG could be present in the blood or urine and may give a positive result (6).
Fertility medications, anti-anxiety medications, anticonvulsants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and diuretics may also cause false positives if you take the test immediately after taking the course of medicine (7).
Taking the test when your urine is diluted or letting the test kit sit too long may also lead to a false-positive result. Read the kit directions and take the test accordingly. Also, check for its expiry, since it may also affect the test results (7) (8).
When To See A Doctor?
If you have got a positive test result, follow up with your doctor. They may conduct blood tests (serum beta HCG) and urine tests to confirm your pregnancy. These may be followed by an ultrasound to (a transvaginal scan can detect pregnancy as early as five weeks) check for the gestational sac and determine if the pregnancy is normal.
