Do IUDs cause false-negs in home pregnancy tests?

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I think I may be pregnant. I have never been pregnant before, but I have some suspicions. I've taken two Clear Blue tests, both negative. I've had the Mirena IUD for 2 years. I haven't had a period in some time, but that's not unusual. I really haven't been keeping track.

Has anyone had the experience of a surprise pregnancy. Please share.

If I am I have to shape up fast.

Go to your doctor, they can do a highly accurate blood pregnancy test. I do not know about IUD's pregnancy rate, or symptoms, or false negatives. These are questions for an Ob/G.

BTW, why do you think you might be pregnant?

Swollen and tender breasts
mood swings (a little worse than usual, mixed with mania)
no period for several months
craving strange food/disgust at some foods
swollen feet (which I never get)
but, mostly I look quite pregnant. I jumped sizes really quickly and only in my waist. From a 12 to a 15/16 in less than three months. But only in my waist, the rest of me is the same.
so I don't know
I would go to the clinic, but it's the holiday weekend. I'm a little worried because if I am the IUD will be an impediment to delivery, but removing it could cause miscarriage.

Then go to the clinic when it opens, the doctors should be able to discuss your options better.

So I called the Pregnancy Clinic and they said I'd need a blood test which they don't do, so best to just call my family doctor. Took me a while to get through to the desk, but I told the intake girl my symptoms and such, so she'll talk to the doctor and get back to me. If I am pregnant it's best to leave the iud in I think, taking it out could cause a miscarriage. I don't know. It could be false pregnancy symptoms, but I'd like to know either way as I'm am feeling particularly unpleasant. Everything smells bad, I feel sick and crampy and I feel this pressure/weight in my lower back and I am tired all the time.

No periods for several months doesn't really mean much. I have PCOD and can go for MONTHS without any sign of one. However, the other symptoms make me quite suspicious, especially the fatigue, and the PICA / revulsion at certain foods, especially if these were foods that you previously liked ? I know that every woman is different, but with my pregnancies, I felt horribly nauseous at the smell / sight of coffee and chocolate (both of which I am otherwise addicted to). BTW, do you have any nausea at all ?

How soon after missing your periods did you take a pregnancy test ? Most in-home tests can be unreliable at least until Week 6. If you got a negative test two times, past the 6 week mark, then best to get a blood test.

That aside, I know that there is no fail-proof birth control, but I always thought that the IUD came pretty close. Supposedly, I thought wrong !

Good luck, and, hopefully, congratulations as well (assuming that you want the baby).

Last edited by HisMom on 06 Aug 2014, 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Oh yes, waves of nausea out of nowhere sometimes. And a cramping tightness. And with smells, it's like I'm hyper sensitive and physically react to them.


If I am pregnant I would probably be four months along. I wasn't paying much attention because with the iud my periods had been spotty at best.



Oh I do. I wouldn't have expected that I would, but I feel kind of protective. Thanks!

Yep, that was me ! The sight and smell of coffee and chocolates made me physically sick and I actually threw up a couple of times, I think. But I also began to crave - of all things - ASH and sidewalk chalk. Oh, those were the days.



I would be very careful with assuming how far along I am, especially since your cycle was iffy on the IUD. I say this because you are probably the first person that I have heard who got a false pregnancy test way past 6 weeks ! Also, how is your appetite ? You probably are pregnant but not as far along as you might think you are, and may be miscalculating your LMP. The doctor's office would be able to estimate the gestational age of your fetus via an ultrasound.

Go to their office ASAP and get a blood test done. How soon can you see the doctor ?

I ate a small jar of pickled herring. It was delicious.



Well I googled false pregnancy with merina and there have been some cases. But that's the internet, so who knows. At what point in the pregnancy do you start to feel like the first victim in Alien? It just feels like there's something going on in there. lol



Well, I called today and the intake person said she would talk to the doctor and get back to me. That's not unsual as it's a small practice, but I really like my doctor. I expect to hear back tomorrow.

I felt like "something's going on in there" around Week 16 with my first born. But it was a very difficult pregnancy (for a lot of reasons), so I was on bed rest from Week 11. So that may have affected it.

With my son, I could have sworn that I felt him around Week 5. Just felt like air bubbles floating around... it was a very easy pregnancy, though.

Last edited by HisMom on 06 Aug 2014, 11:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Well, I guess I'll find out one way or the other, The prospect of being a parent has changed my outlook on life and myself. I've been nesting and taking better care of myself. Funny because it's not the way I thought I would react.

Ah, maternal instincts kicking in, eh ?

Did you go to the doctor today ? What's up ?

Yes, but she didn't examine me. The receptionist gave me a form to get bloodwork done. Didn't even see my doctor. The lab guy told me it could take up to a week to get the results back. My mother insists I'm not pregnant (but she also insists that if I am I should get an abortion, which is not going to happen.) I told her I was concerned that if the iud is removed it will cause a miscarriage and she just laughed and said "let's hope." The father vacillates between complete disinterest and telling me I am too messed up to be a parent. Honestly, I feel like taking off into the wilderness. There doesn't seem to be much good about civilization right now.

Hey Ann,

You have to prove the naysayers wrong. I bet you'd be a great parent!

Well, it is none of your mother's business, so she needs to shut up and butt the he** out. She sounds like a toxic person that you don't want in your life right now (avoid stress during pregnancy at all costs -- prenatal stress has been implicated in a whole host of challenges in the child, including LFA).

As for the "father", did you mean your father or the baby's father ? If it is the former, too bad, so sad, but it isn't his business anymore than it is your mother's, and he had better hold his tongue if he wants to be in his grandchild's life.

If it is the baby's father, well, if he thought you were a misfit, why did he opt to procreate with you ? Or take the chance with you ? However, TBH, I would cut him some slack for now, and see if he gets more interested as your pregnancy is confirmed and carries to term. Some men simply seem to get overwhelmed at the idea of becoming a father. Although my pregnancies were both planned, my husband went more than just slightly crazy when they were confirmed. I chalked it up to fear of the unknown and fear of new responsibilities. Ironically, though, that "crazy guy" is NOW a much better parent than I am -- infinitely patient with the kids and ever ready to do "fun" things with them, so you just never know how the guy will EVENTUALLY don the mantle of parenthood.

Give him a chance, although I would tell him to knock it off with pulling you done several pegs by casting aspersions on YOUR ability to parent. He procreated with you, so now he works with you, not against you. IF he does, unfortunately, take off and you never hear from him again, well, it is his loss, not yours or your child's that he CHOOSES to be a loser and an absent father. But, hopefully, he hangs around and takes fatherhood seriously.

Do you have ANYONE supportive around you ? Siblings ? Friends ? Cousins ? Uncles or aunts or grandparents ? Anyone at all ?

Hang in there !

Yes, she has always been a toxic person. Especially in times of stress.



True. Early days yet. I saw him tonight and we talked a bit more. He is concerned about my past self-abusive behaviour. Which I wish he'd just said in the first place because I can totally understand that. It concerns me too - my volatile behaviour and lack of judgement. Quite scary really.



He won't take off I don't think. I haven't been able to get rid of him thus far. lol We've lived together three times over the past 8 years, broken up and gotten back together so many times I can't count. One capacity or another he'll be around.


I have a friend of 10 years. I've told her.


Thanks!

There's a slight chance I might hear back from my doctor tomorrow. But if not then next week.