There are various reasons you may experience a negative pregnancy test while having a missed or delayed period. This includes testing too early or experiencing high levels of stress.

Pregnancy tests have come a long way. Historically, people didn’t have a reliable method of knowing if they were pregnant without going to a doctor. It wasn’t until the first at-home pregnancy test was invented in 1976 that people could confirm that they were expecting.

But despite technological advances, there’s still a lot of mystery about the menstrual cycle.

You may have a delayed or missed period, but still have a negative pregnancy test. In those situations, you may wonder what’s going on. Are you pregnant? Is something wrong?

Here are a few reasons your period may be late, even if your pregnancy test is negative.

If you’re trying to get pregnant, there’s good news: You may still be pregnant. Sometimes, levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) early in pregnancy aren’t high enough for a home pregnancy test to detect.

Menstrual cycles can vary widely, so if you conceived later in your cycle, your hormone levels may not be high enough at the time of your missed period.

There can be as much as a 14-day difference in when ovulation occurs, meaning that you may think you are 4 weeks pregnant when you’re only 2 weeks along. Pregnancy bleeding, recent hormonal contraceptive use, or breastfeeding and chestfeeding can all interfere with accurately knowing your dates as well.

If you think you may be pregnant after a missed period but got a negative result on your pregnancy test, wait a few days. Then retest. If you continue to miss your period, be sure to talk with a doctor to rule out any complications.

It’s rare, but sometimes an ectopic pregnancy can show up as negative on a pregnancy test. However, this is very rare.

You should seek medical attention if your pregnancy test is negative and you have the following symptoms:

Several outside factors can affect your menstrual cycle. This includes:

Sudden lifestyle changes, such as intense exercise or working the overnight shift on your job, can also cause your period to be irregular.

Breastfeeding or chestfeeding can cause some irregularities in your cycle. Even after childbirth, when your period returns, it may take some time before your cycle returns to usual.

Breastfeeding or chestfeeding is also unpredictable month to month. As babies grow, their feedings may change. For example, if your baby goes through a growth spurt and suddenly increases the frequency of night feedings, it may interfere with your cycle.

Medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid problems may cause irregular cycles and missed periods. Some people may have very light periods, some may have very heavy periods, and some may skip periods altogether.

Menopause typically begins between the ages of 45 and 55. In some people, however, it can start prematurely before the age of 40. It’s different for everyone. If you have missed your period for over 90 days and are not pregnant, consider talking with a doctor about getting tested for any underlying medical conditions.

Birth control may cause irregularities in your cycle. Other types of medications may lead to a missed period, as well. For example, blood pressure drugs or allergy medications can throw off your cycle.

Why are my pregnancy tests negative but no period?

There are several reasons your pregnancy tests may be negative, but you are not getting your period. This includes having low hCG levels, testing too early, or experiencing high levels of stress.

Can you be 5 weeks pregnant and still test negative?

It is possible to be 5 weeks pregnant and still test negative. However, this is rare.

Can twins give a negative pregnancy test?

In some cases, twins can give a negative pregnancy test as they can cause changes to your hCG levels. This can also occur with triplets and quadruplets.

There may be many reasons for a negative pregnancy test after a missed period. You may have an undiagnosed medical condition, such as PCOS, or be experiencing extreme stress.

After getting a negative test result, you should wait a few days to a week before taking another test. If you test negative a second time and still haven’t had your period, plan to see your doctor immediately.

Q:

Should you let your doctor know if you miss your period and aren’t pregnant?

Anonymous patient

A:

Missing one’s period can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which are temporary and some of which are more lasting. Women who haven’t had their period for more than three months should bring this to their doctor’s attention. More in-depth evaluation may be necessary, with the goal of looking for potential underlying medical conditions that may be causing this, as well as addressing the ability to get pregnant, if desired.

Euna Chi, MDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.