Accuracy of Pregnancy Tests - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

raeanna74 · 06-06-2005, 04:41 AM

In your experience, how accurate are the inexpensive pregnancy tests at the store? What causes them to be inaccurate?

I'm panicking right now. As soon as the store opens I'm heading over to get me one, or two... Suffice it to say I stopped my pills to go on the placebo ones. I have not started my period yet 2 days in. Usually it starts by now. Then again my body has been acting wierd and I spotted for 3 out of 4 months the beginning of this year. The biggests factors that concern me are...
-My waistline has increased by 5 inches (in 3 months) while the bustline and hips are exactly what they have been for the past year.
-My breasts seem more sore than usual.
-I've been waking every morning with indigestion and heartburn. With my first daughter I never really had morning sickness - just constant heartburn and slight nausea when hungry.
-I've been feeling exceptionally emotional the past few days.

I know I can be reading into things. In one way I'm hoping that this waistline increase ISN'T weight gain because I've been putting on at least 2 lbs a week in the past month. I also do NOT want to go through another miserable pregnancy and have another c-section. I'm not going through 23 hrs of labor just to END UP with a c-section either.

As soon as the store opens today I'm heading over for a test. I'm wondering what I should be careful of when doing it and what I should look for in a good test. I know this is last minute but some of the things just sortof stood out to me last night and I spend the night dreaming of twins, c-sections, and numb hands. I woke panicking.

Meditrina · 06-06-2005, 05:19 AM

In my experience, it is best to take them first thing in the morning. and many of them are very accurate now. Some of them can be used on the day you are due for your period, some a few days later.

I hope you get the results you want. I know it is not easy, but try to stay calm. Stress can throw off your cycle as well.

raeanna74 · 06-06-2005, 08:52 AM

Well I got me two tests. Different ones. Both told me that I WASN'T pregnant. Now to figure out why such weight gain when my eating habits have not changed and my activity level is going up from what it was 2 months ago. Maybe it just takes this long to get the metabolism running to match my activities. I hope it's not hormone related but I will be starting a brand new kind of BC pill in a week that has a lower estrogen dosage. Hopefully it will at least not interfere with me loosing weight.

Meditrina · 06-06-2005, 08:56 AM

I hope you can find the cause of your weight gain and I hope it is nothing serious.

tiger4053 · 06-06-2005, 09:07 AM

I am in the similar situation, but it has been almost a month past the day i was supposed to start. But I have come to the coclusion that it is just because of the change in hormones from the birth control. I stopped taking mine. I have taken several tests and all are negative. I plan to take another home one, then when the month is past, I plan to go see a Dr. And sportswidow is right, stress can be a major factor as well as any change in your routine can effect it a little in some way or another. Try not to worry too much.

raeanna74 · 06-06-2005, 06:32 PM

Thanks girls. I panick about this easily because even before taking the pill I was so very regular that I could count on starting it every 27 days. When I first got pregnant with my daughter I KNEW by the end of the first week because I was so late and because of the other 'symptoms'. I have been having a few hormonal problems of late including MANY migranes that are caused by my hormones changing. My mother tells me she began perimenopause at 35. I am 31 and since this isn't pregnancy I'm wondering if it is something related to perimenopause. No matter what I'm hoping my new pills will help aleviate my problems at least for now until I need something more. As for stress - I tend to end up going the other way. Because of the stress of my hernia surgery and broken foot this year I ended up spotting/bleeding for 3 months out of 4. This is one big reason for the change in hormone medication. Wish me luck. Thanks again.

getwonk'd · 06-06-2005, 07:29 PM

I take Seasonale, which is the 3 month on, one week off. When it is my off week, I usually don't start my period for a couple of days. I don't know what kind of BC you take but with the new switch, maybe your body is just getting used to the new drug. As for the migranes, that can be a side effect of the hormone. I hope things turn out the way you want them to.

raeanna74 · 06-06-2005, 07:49 PM

I have been taking Seasonale (which I loved) for at least a year and a half. I JUST quit it and will be starting the new medication later this week. The new medication will be taken much the same as Seasonale but the estrogen dose is lower than previously. I am HOPING that the adjustment to the new medication won't mean these migranes or spotting like I've dealt with half the time this year.

Lead543 · 06-07-2005, 10:31 AM

All my pregnancy tests have been in the hospital because...well...my doctor hands them out like candy. Introducing new hormones into your body can cause changes. One girl I knew lost like 15 lbs, another gained a bunch, another girl went up a full cup size (damn her). When I go off the pill I find I get more headaches, mood swings (ie. Last night I was watching the Scholar and crying my little heart out haha). Different brands, different emotional/physical situations all effect how your body interacts with the pill. I wish you all the best in solving the problems you've been having.

tiger4053 · 06-09-2005, 11:03 AM

Thought I'd update ya. It was the effect of not taking BC anymore. I finally started, and it is definatly different than normal. Only had it for 2 days, now I have stopped. We will see if it starts back up and what happens in a month or two.

Hope you figure out what will work best for you raeanna. It may take a lil while to find it but it will be worth it in the end

06-06-2005, 04:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Accuracy of Pregnancy Tests In your experience, how accurate are the inexpensive pregnancy tests at the store? What causes them to be inaccurate? I'm panicking right now. As soon as the store opens I'm heading over to get me one, or two... Suffice it to say I stopped my pills to go on the placebo ones. I have not started my period yet 2 days in. Usually it starts by now. Then again my body has been acting wierd and I spotted for 3 out of 4 months the beginning of this year. The biggests factors that concern me are... -My waistline has increased by 5 inches (in 3 months) while the bustline and hips are exactly what they have been for the past year. -My breasts seem more sore than usual. -I've been waking every morning with indigestion and heartburn. With my first daughter I never really had morning sickness - just constant heartburn and slight nausea when hungry. -I've been feeling exceptionally emotional the past few days. I know I can be reading into things. In one way I'm hoping that this waistline increase ISN'T weight gain because I've been putting on at least 2 lbs a week in the past month. I also do NOT want to go through another miserable pregnancy and have another c-section. I'm not going through 23 hrs of labor just to END UP with a c-section either. As soon as the store opens today I'm heading over for a test. I'm wondering what I should be careful of when doing it and what I should look for in a good test. I know this is last minute but some of the things just sortof stood out to me last night and I spend the night dreaming of twins, c-sections, and numb hands. I woke panicking. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

06-06-2005, 05:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Meditrina Junkie Location: LI,NY	In my experience, it is best to take them first thing in the morning. and many of them are very accurate now. Some of them can be used on the day you are due for your period, some a few days later. I hope you get the results you want. I know it is not easy, but try to stay calm. Stress can throw off your cycle as well. __________________ "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras

06-06-2005, 08:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Well I got me two tests. Different ones. Both told me that I WASN'T pregnant. Now to figure out why such weight gain when my eating habits have not changed and my activity level is going up from what it was 2 months ago. Maybe it just takes this long to get the metabolism running to match my activities. I hope it's not hormone related but I will be starting a brand new kind of BC pill in a week that has a lower estrogen dosage. Hopefully it will at least not interfere with me loosing weight. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

06-06-2005, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Meditrina Junkie Location: LI,NY	I hope you can find the cause of your weight gain and I hope it is nothing serious. __________________ "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras

06-06-2005, 06:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Thanks girls. I panick about this easily because even before taking the pill I was so very regular that I could count on starting it every 27 days. When I first got pregnant with my daughter I KNEW by the end of the first week because I was so late and because of the other 'symptoms'. I have been having a few hormonal problems of late including MANY migranes that are caused by my hormones changing. My mother tells me she began perimenopause at 35. I am 31 and since this isn't pregnancy I'm wondering if it is something related to perimenopause. No matter what I'm hoping my new pills will help aleviate my problems at least for now until I need something more. As for stress - I tend to end up going the other way. Because of the stress of my hernia surgery and broken foot this year I ended up spotting/bleeding for 3 months out of 4. This is one big reason for the change in hormone medication. Wish me luck. Thanks again. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

06-06-2005, 09:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
tiger4053 Upright	I am in the similar situation, but it has been almost a month past the day i was supposed to start. But I have come to the coclusion that it is just because of the change in hormones from the birth control. I stopped taking mine. I have taken several tests and all are negative. I plan to take another home one, then when the month is past, I plan to go see a Dr. And sportswidow is right, stress can be a major factor as well as any change in your routine can effect it a little in some way or another. Try not to worry too much.

06-06-2005, 07:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
getwonk'd Tilted Location: Central Wisconsin	I take Seasonale, which is the 3 month on, one week off. When it is my off week, I usually don't start my period for a couple of days. I don't know what kind of BC you take but with the new switch, maybe your body is just getting used to the new drug. As for the migranes, that can be a side effect of the hormone. I hope things turn out the way you want them to.

06-06-2005, 07:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I have been taking Seasonale (which I loved) for at least a year and a half. I JUST quit it and will be starting the new medication later this week. The new medication will be taken much the same as Seasonale but the estrogen dose is lower than previously. I am HOPING that the adjustment to the new medication won't mean these migranes or spotting like I've dealt with half the time this year. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

06-07-2005, 10:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Lead543 Registered User Location: Calgary	All my pregnancy tests have been in the hospital because...well...my doctor hands them out like candy. Introducing new hormones into your body can cause changes. One girl I knew lost like 15 lbs, another gained a bunch, another girl went up a full cup size (damn her). When I go off the pill I find I get more headaches, mood swings (ie. Last night I was watching the Scholar and crying my little heart out haha). Different brands, different emotional/physical situations all effect how your body interacts with the pill. I wish you all the best in solving the problems you've been having.

06-09-2005, 11:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
tiger4053 Upright	Thought I'd update ya. It was the effect of not taking BC anymore. I finally started, and it is definatly different than normal. Only had it for 2 days, now I have stopped. We will see if it starts back up and what happens in a month or two. Hope you figure out what will work best for you raeanna. It may take a lil while to find it but it will be worth it in the end