Pregnant but Negative Urine Preg?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hi all! I'm an ER nurse, and had a pt last noc who swore up and down "there's no way I can be pregnant....my period is 4 days late, but I took a test (urine) this morning and it was negative" The doc wanted to do a serum beta, and lo and behold PREGNANT! Thought I would come to the source and see if any of you guys know how common this is. I've had a couple in the last 6 months (one was a urine preg we did 2 days previous, pt came back and we did a beta).

Anyone know what the percentage is of women who don't show positive on urine HCGs?

Specializes in critical care.

When a female takes birth control pill it causes her pituatary gland to think she is pregnant.

....

While you are on the pill women tend to gain weight as if they were pregnant and thier breast may get larger as well. Makes you wonder: if you are on the pill for a long period of time, your body thinks you are pregnant all the time, this can't be good for you??

My information is based on my anatomy and physiology course I am currently in so if there are any clarifications please post. Thanks! Hopefully I will get into the Nursing Program June of 2007!!!!!! :nuke:

Learned this in my bio prereq and am posting here instead of studying for my final tomorrow :doh:

Another way to look at it is, the pill makes the body think "Oh, I MIGHT be pregnant" which is the normal response after ovulation. When ovulation occurs, a corpus luteum is produced which secretes progesterone, inhibiting the hormones that cause oocyte maturation while at the same time maintaining the uterine lining in case of conception. If pregnancy doesn't occur, the corpus luteum dies around 14 days later and the lack of progesterone allows menstruation to begin and allows the hypothalamus and pituitary to start making the hormones that cause ovulation. So what a pill does, basically, is imitate the function of the corpus luteum.

I think what my point is, is that I don't think its too bad for you because its imitating a portion of the cycle that a woman's body spends about half its time in anyway.

Now those pills that keep you from having a period every month- Seasonale- those I'm not too sure about. :confused: I admit, I have used my NuvaRing to postpone my period by a week when it was scheduled to come at an inconvenient time, but I'm not sure I would want to not have one on a regular basis. It just seems like such a cleansing process... I know that when I postpone my period for just a week (possible TMI coming up...), the stuff that results is not pretty!!

I'm so off-topic now.. oops!!:p

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Surgery, Med-Surg, Pediatrics.

Both pregancies I had negative tests. I had low progesterone and had to take suppliments. I don't know if this had anything to do with this but I was WEEKS late!

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
Both pregancies I had negative tests. I had low progesterone and had to take suppliments. I don't know if this had anything to do with this but I was WEEKS late!

Weeks late giving birth?

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I have been searching the internet for answers to my situation but finally decided who better to ask. I have had 5 positive hpt's... 3 were with the double lines and the 2nd line was always very faint, and 2 were digital which very clearly read "pregnant". I got my blood drawn and my hcg level is only 6. LMP was first or second week in Nov. I can't really remember because it is always irregular. I'll be getting another one drawn on Monday but what does it seem like is happening? I stopped taking birth control in September. This is my first pregnancy... if that's even what it is.

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

shapeofmyheart, we cannot give any sort of medical advice on this site per terms of service.

This would best be discussed with your physician who know you and the details of your situation

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I have been searching the internet for answers to my situation but finally decided who better to ask. I have had 5 positive hpt's... 3 were with the double lines and the 2nd line was always very faint, and 2 were digital which very clearly read "pregnant". I got my blood drawn and my hcg level is only 6. LMP was first or second week in Nov. I can't really remember because it is always irregular. I'll be getting another one drawn on Monday but what does it seem like is happening? I stopped taking birth control in September. This is my first pregnancy... if that's even what it is.

WOW sorry for this. This is definately something to follow up with your doctor as soon as you can. As said before me, We are not allowed to exchange medical advice of any sort on allnurses.com.

Good luck and I hope everything is ok for you. DO follow up with a professional health care provider and soon.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I have been searching the internet for answers to my situation but finally decided who better to ask. I have had 5 positive hpt's... 3 were with the double lines and the 2nd line was always very faint, and 2 were digital which very clearly read "pregnant". I got my blood drawn and my hcg level is only 6. LMP was first or second week in Nov. I can't really remember because it is always irregular. I'll be getting another one drawn on Monday but what does it seem like is happening? I stopped taking birth control in September. This is my first pregnancy... if that's even what it is.

Let us know the result of your second beta hCG. I tried to send you a PM but your box is full....

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Let us know the result of your second beta hCG. I tried to send you a PM but your box is full....

I just saw that and deleted a bunch. Thanks.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I just saw that and deleted a bunch. Thanks.

Ok, I'm sending you a PM...

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