False Positive :(

[mamabear08]

Hi, I'm new here... but have been TTC. Yesterday I got a positive HPT, faint- but visibly positive within the 3 min time frame of taking the test.  At the time of testing I thought I was at 9 DPO, although I did not chart this month or use OPK's so I'm not really sure. Just going off some spotting I had on the 27th. At first I thought that could be implantation spotting, but I did a little research and was convinced that it was probably related to ovulation. Anyways here's the positive test:

Then I tested again this morning with FMU twice, expecting it to get a little darker... but both were negative. So I went and had a blood test done, and result was <5 hcg level... basically a negative. Today is day 44 of my 7th PP cycle. Most of my cycles have been 32-34 days, with the exception of one long one two months ago (which I attributed to extra stress in my life at the time). So I'm not really sure what's going on. I thought it was impossible to get a false positive. But I guess not. I'm very confused/sad/depressed over this and I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing before? And was hoping someone here might  have some words of wisdom.

-Sarah

[Jaimee]

Welcome to MDC!! 

It's most likely that you had a chemical pregnancy.  Often these show up as a single positive HPT followed by negatives.  Just as hCG takes longer to get into the urine than the blood, it also takes longer to get out of the urine so you will test positive longer an an HPT than on a blood test. With a chemical pregnancy bleeding can be either "on time" or a bit later than usual.  So bleeding may be just around the corner.  Alternatively and much less likely, it was a defective test giving you a false positive and your bleeding is delayed by very delayed O or by a corpus luteum cyst (which are benign and usually resolve on their own in a couple weeks). 

Here is more on "false positives" scenarios: http://www.peeonastick.com/falsepos.html

[mamabear08]

thanks, I have a hard time believing it was truly a false pos, because I don't believe they exist either. Unless it was really a faulty test in order to have that 2nd light pink line I know the test has to be picking up some amt of HCG, but then today's blood test said less than 5, so whatever was being detected obviously isn't anymore. So at day 44 of cycle (and possibly being only 10 DPO) with neg blood test, do you think it's safe to rule out pregnancy all together for this cycle? Or if I still don't get my period in a week should I try to test again? I'm still having quite a bit of clear slippery CF, not a lot like you would see around ovulation... but usually it gets sticky and dries up before I get my period. The only time I've noticed I keep seeing it for extended period of time was with both my previous pregnancies. I really just wish I could get my solid no (my period!) so I could try again for next month. Super depressing to not know what's going on with my cycle, and frusterated with myself for not charting and using OPK's this month... because it would be really helpful to know when I ovulated.

[Chloe'sMama]

Sorry you are going through this MamaBear.  I had a chemical pregnancy last month where I had 4 positive tests, followed by negative and when I went to the doc (2 days later), my blood test was a zero.  I started my period 2 days after that.  It is hard because the excitement and planning starts when you see those two lines.... It is a loss and you should see it as such (whether it was a chemical or just a faulty test).

I am sitting here at CD 30 and still have not ovulated and now I am feeling so anxious and depressed.  Again I am sorry and make sure to take care of yourself.

[Jaimee]

It's possible you're experiencing extended patches of fertile CF b/c of the chemical pregnancy, but it's also not uncommon to get a day or two of what looks like EW just prior to AF.  It is likely that you can rule out pregnancy at this point, but not 100%.  While I would guess that you'll bleed in a few days it is still possible that the test was indeed faulty and you're still early in your LP or haven't even O'd yet.   You could be Oing right now with the fertile CF you're experiencing.  I might DTD a couple times over the next few times just so you do not miss it if this is what is happening.  You could also bust out your thermometer and see what kind of temps you're getting.  If you're used to charting, then after a few days you should be able to recognize if your temps are in your pre-O or LP range.   You could even take an OPK and see what you get... though I don't put much stock in those, but if you get a positive it could be further evidence that you're Oing soon instead of expecting AF.