FRER can give false +, especially for women close to and over 40!

[MarineWife]

Here's what I just read on the side of the box. (probably not a direct quote) Because the test detects such low levels of hcg it is possible to get a + even if you aren't pg. This is more likely for women who are close to and over 40. That's me, y'all. Could actually not be pg? I've gotten several bfps on my ICs, too, but they are at least as sensitive if not more than FRER. The lines are getting darker so I guess that means more likely +?

Here's my chart. I didn't get a + FRER until cd24, either 8 or 10dpo. I had gotten a few + on some ICs before then, which why I got the FRER to confirm. I think I might have to get a digital.

[jennabella]

This is the first time I've heard this, so I'm not sure. I would think it unlikely you would get so many + in a row and with a number of negatives beforehand if it was just due to something about your age. Your chart looks good, but of course it will definitely be better if you continue to have high temps past your usual luteal phase (I think TCoYF says 18 post peak temps confirm pregnancy). But I see that you've had losses so I would assume your OB would be willing to do a blood test to confirm pregnancy and that's really the only way to know for sure this early, I think. So if you really feel worried, you could talk to your doctor.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

[MarineWife]

Yeah, that's the first time I've ever heard of that, too. I was looking for the stats on the box about how many women get a + 6 days before is late. The statement about false + is below that on the side of the box.

My temps don't really mean anything even if they do stay up for 18 days because I'm using progesterone cream. I have an appointment with a midwife on Wednesday who will hopefully give me a referral to the maternal/fetal specialist here. I was going to ask her to order a beta hcg anyway.

[MaerynPearl]

Id say that with the fact that you are getting bfps on more than one brand AND they are getting darker, you are indeed pregnant!

If you are willing to, she could probably do the old Chadwicks Sign check too (looking at your cervix to see if its changed)... though this early its quite possible to not have that change yet.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

If you are willing to, she could probably do the old Chadwicks Sign check too (looking at your cervix to see if its changed)... though this early its quite possible to not have that change yet.

What's that? I've never heard of it. I'm due for a pap. It's been at least 2 years. Maybe she could check if/when she does that? If she doesn't do paps, I probably wouldn't have her check my cervix. I hate internals!

I forgot to say that I learned somewhere else that the disclaimer is because it can pick up 7 mIU of hcg (maybe less) but the line would not get darker. So, I think I'm ok for now.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

If all the + where on FRER then I would be worried but if you are getting + on different brands then I would consider that +.

The sign is the cervix turns blue when pg it is a good indication of pg.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

If all the + where on FRER then I would be worried but if you are getting + on different brands then I would consider that +.

The sign is the cervix turns blue when pg it is a good indication of pg.

Well, the other + were with ICs that say they can detect a pg as early as 6dpo so they are at least as sensitive as FRER. I assume that means they have just as much chance of giving those false +. I'm going to try another test tomorrow that's not an early test. I could be 15dpo now so I should get a bfp on any test.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

Well, the other + were with ICs that say they can detect a pg as early as 6dpo so they are at least as sensitive as FRER. I assume that means they have just as much chance of giving those false +. I'm going to try another test tomorrow that's not an early test. I could be 15dpo now so I should get a bfp on any test.

get a first response gold (digital)

it makes you all warm and fuzzy to see the YES+

[finnegansmom]

Um I'm not sure about that over 40, false positive risk unless they meant someone post-menopause who probably won't be testing with FRERs anyways...

HCG levels of post-menopausal women may be higher than those of women of childbearing age. According to the American Pregnancy Association, post-menopausal women may have quantitative hCG levels of up to 9.5 mIU/mL, whereas non-pregnant women of childbearing age may have levels less than five mIU/mL.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

get a first response gold (digital)

it makes you all warm and fuzzy to see the YES+

I was thinking of getting a digital tomorrow but then I'd want to take it right away. Do you think it would come up + with afternoon pee if isn't late?

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

I was thinking of getting a digital tomorrow but then I'd want to take it right away. Do you think it would come up + with afternoon pee if isn't late?

with how dark your top BFP is on your chart page? heck. yes.

http://canyouseealine.com/hpts/5182.jpg

that was mine (at 15dpo, but nonetheless, my FRER was very faint and I had only just gotten a super faint first one at 13dpo!)

http://canyouseealine.com/hpts/5152.jpg was my 13dpo test

so yeah, Id say a FRGold would be YES+ no doubt!

[MarineWife]

Mae ~ Those are from 13 and 15dpo?! Those are so faint! Ok, I'm definitely going to get a digi tomorrow, maybe not a FR, though. I never liked them but got lured in by the promise on the front of the box and the fact that the box of 3 was on sale. (I'll probably pick up a couple other hpts, too.)

finnegansmom ~ Well, shoot! If they are referring to women in menopause, I wish they'd put that on the box.

I have always said that I don't believe in false +. I have always said they are either evap lines that are being misread or chem pgs. This has changed my perspective a little. I would definitely call a 2nd line from elevated hcg after menopause a false +.

[karmab]

yeah, it's not the over 40 thang as much as it is the menopausal or peri-menopausal issue or having more hcg, more than 5. if you have normal cycles are aren't having perimenopausal symptoms, i wouldnt give that another thought.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by karmab

yeah, it's not the over 40 thang as much as it is the menopausal or peri-menopausal issue or having more hcg, more than 5. if you have normal cycles are aren't having perimenopausal symptoms, i wouldnt give that another thought.

Thanks. In a few other places people are saying it may refer to chemical pgs, which is not what I want to hear. I've had too many of those as it is.

[karmab]

you had negative tests before positives- the thing with older ladies, that is a constant thing, so you would have had positives from the first time you tested. and it looks like you had a + at, do you think that was really 9 dpo- it's hard to say by temps but by cp, that would make sense. congrats!! it's always scary in the beginning. i hope you have a h+h 9 mths!!!

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by karmab

you had negative tests before positives- the thing with older ladies, that is a constant thing, so you would have had positives from the first time you tested.

Well, here's the thing. I started testing at what was 5dpo based on a cd13 O because I think it's very possible I Oed then based on CF and subsequent temp hike but I just don't have enough earlier temps to confirm it. I was seeing very, very faint, almost not there so that I thought they were evap lines from that very first test. I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me because I've looked at so many hpts over the years I know where the line is supposed to be. I didn't consider the line real until that first + I have on my chart because it was finally pink and I didn't have to turn it this way and that in the light to see it. That's when I got the FRER to confirm it. Now I'm thinking maybe using a FRER to confirm a bfp on an IC that is so sensitive it can detect a pg as early as 6dpo was a bad idea. I'm going to try a digi today and maybe some late hpts. If I'm 13-16dpo, those should be + by now.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by karmab

yeah, it's not the over 40 thang as much as it is the menopausal or peri-menopausal issue or having more hcg, more than 5. if you have normal cycles are aren't having perimenopausal symptoms, i wouldnt give that another thought.

Oh, this is a much more plausible theory.

Originally Posted by MarineWife

Thanks. In a few other places people are saying it may refer to chemical pgs, which is not what I want to hear. I've had too many of those as it is.

[karmab]

oh i gotcha. well, they do say the darkness of any line is not a super great way to judge hcg levels. and a lot of people believe the ic's are more sensitive than the frers, too. and your pics look like they are definitely getting darker- more than a level of 5-10 which would maybe just barely register. and you might have had evaps on your first tests, but you've got a very nice dark line on your last test! and your chart looks much more likely that you o'd around cd13 than where the ch's are based on cm and cp (and temps too, i think.) that would make you 9 dpo with the first official positive, right?

can you just call up your doc and get a beta? then you wont have to worry. but really, if i were you, i would not be worrying. if it does turn out to be a chemical, no amount of worrying now will change that, so you might as well rejoice! you got lucky on the first try- celebrate!

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by karmab

your chart looks much more likely that you o'd around cd13 than where the ch's are based on cm and cp (and temps too, i think.) that would make you 9 dpo with the first official positive, right?

can you just call up your doc and get a beta? then you wont have to worry. but really, if i were you, i would not be worrying. if it does turn out to be a chemical, no amount of worrying now will change that, so you might as well rejoice! you got lucky on the first try- celebrate!

Yeah, I do think that I most likely Oed on cd13, 14 at the latest. I've got an appointment with a midwife on Wednesday to get a referral to a fetal/maternal specialist. I don't have a regular doc to call to get a beta. I don't like any of the docs around here so I avoid them. You're right, too, that I shouldn't stress over it being a chem since there's nothing I can do about that. I just got freaked out at first that it might be an actual false + rather than a real pg, whether or sticky or chem.

Here's my digital from today and an Answer Early thrown in for good measure. Apparently, they don't make any non-blue dye not early hpts anymore.

CBE digital and Answer Early

[karmab]

good luck at your appt. can your midwife order your beta? you know, you can order it yourself too if you want. this is one online lab: http://gads.prepaidlab.com/index.php...ts-Coupon.html
but there others too if that one doesnt have a participating lab near you- but they have an awful lot of labs! otherwise, google online medical lab tests and others will pop up too. they send the results to you and you dont need a doctor's order. i think it's like $40 for a beta. you would want the quant (the beta number,) not the qualitative (which is hcg present- yes or no.)