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When performing a pregnancy test and looking forward to the result, many women find that the second line on the device looks too pale or barely noticeable at all. Naturally, this introduces some confusion and makes you think about whether the testing procedure was carried out correctly. Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out whether a weak line on a pregnancy test indicates, and what this situation means in general.
How does a pregnancy test work?
It is clear that a weak line on a pregnancy test can appear only on the device that assumes the issuance of the result in the form of stripes. Therefore, further we will talk about strip tests. It is these devices that are in high demand among women due to their affordable price, but rather high accuracy.
All pregnancy test strips work on the same principle. They are equipped with an indicator that indicates whether the woman is in position or not. This band captures human chorionic gonadotropin and manifests itself if this hormone is present in the woman’s urine in the right amount. It is intensively produced by the body after the embryo enters the uterine cavity and implants against its wall. After that, the level of hCG begins to double every day. With the help of hypersensitive tests, pregnancy can be detected as early as 7-10 days after conception.
If there is no hormone in the woman’s urine or there is too little of it, then one strip appears on the test. When the hCG level reaches 10-25 mIU / ml (depending on the sensitivity of the device), a second band appears on the test, which indicates pregnancy. However, sometimes it can be barely noticeable, which happens for a number of reasons.
Reasons for the appearance of a weak second line on the test
If the second line on the test is barely noticeable, then this may indicate both a false positive result (there is no pregnancy, but the test will determine it) and a false negative result (there is pregnancy, but the test does not recognize it).
Possible reasons for incorrect operation of the device are as follows:
The woman is pregnant, but she tests too early. In this case, the content of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine does not reach the level necessary for the test to fully respond.
The test itself was of poor quality. A weak line on it may appear when the device is expired, defective or stored incorrectly. A woman should be especially wary when both bands turn out to be blurry or weak. There may be spots on the test or the formation of a strip in the wrong place – all these are signs of damage to the device.
The sensitivity of the test has a low threshold. The result will be more reliable, the higher the sensitivity of the test to hCG. Modern devices are able to capture the hormone in the urine, starting from 10 mIU / ml. The most “unreliable” in this regard are the inexpensive strip tests, which have a sensitivity of 25 mIU / ml and often give a dubious result in the early diagnosis of pregnancy.
Too much or too little urine was included in the test. If the test in urine is overexposed, then this can lead to the fact that the reagent simply spreads over the strip, and it will be fuzzy. When a woman does not withstand the urine test for the prescribed time, this will ensure that the hCG hormone is not enough to completely stain the second strip.
Unstable menstrual schedule. In the event that a woman’s monthly cycle is unstable, she may conduct a study too early, which means that hCG in the urine will not be enough to get a clear result.
Late onset of pregnancy. This reason is also associated with too early research. Sometimes it happens that ovulation is somewhat late. As a result, the fertilization of the egg does not occur in the middle of the cycle, but closer to its end. Naturally, menstruation does not occur, but chorionic gonadotropin in the urine is still not enough for the test to be able to “examine” it well.
Recently had an abortion. If a woman had an abortion a few weeks ago, chorionic gonadotropin continues to circulate in her body. Gradually, its level decreases, but a sharp decline cannot occur. Therefore, a test performed 4-30 days after an abortion will produce a weak second strip, although in fact there is no pregnancy.
Taking drugs with hCG. Some medicines contain human chorionic gonadotropin, for example, infertility pills (Pregnil, Profazi, Novarel and others). Even after the end of the therapeutic course, their components may linger in the body for some time and lead to the appearance of a weak second strip on the test.
Trophoblastic diseases, such as uterine chorionepithelioma, contribute to an increase in the level of hCG in the blood and in the urine, which can provoke the appearance of a pale line on the test, despite the absence of an embryo. Sometimes such a result can be obtained with uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts or mole.
Having an ectopic pregnancy. Often it is with an ectopic pregnancy that the second band on the test appears weakly. The body produces chorionic gonadotropin, but in insufficient volume, so the device cannot give an adequate response.
Frozen pregnancy. In this case, the woman’s embryo is stored in the uterine cavity, but it has stopped its development. Accordingly, the rate of hormone production falls, which can lead to the appearance of a weak strip on the test. A woman should be alerted by such signs as pain in the lower abdomen, the appearance of spotting, lack of menstruation, fever.
Climax. Sometimes during menopause, against the background of hormonal failure, a woman’s level of chorionic gonadotropin in the blood and urine increases. This may cause the test result to be questionable.
Diseases of the kidneys. If a woman has severe impairments in the functioning of the kidneys, then this may lead to the fact that hCG in the urine will not be excreted in sufficient volumes. Therefore, the test in this case often reacts to the presence of pregnancy with a weak second band.
However, it is still recommended to conduct a control study using a new pregnancy test. It is best to do this after a few days. If the second test produces a bright and clear line, then the result can be safely considered positive. When the strip on the test is again weak or blurry, you should seek the advice of a specialist. After all, often such test results can indicate health problems.
How to get the most reliable result?
In order for the test results to be as reliable as possible, you must read the instructions for using the test and strictly follow it.
Compliance with the simple rules of the procedure will help to avoid the appearance of a pale second line on the test and unambiguously interpret the result:
It is best to carry out the testing procedure not earlier than the first day of delayed menstruation. Some doctors even advise waiting at least 5-7 days from the expected date of the onset of menstruation. The earlier pregnancy is diagnosed, the less chance that the result will be 100% reliable.
To perform the study, it is necessary to take only fresh urine. It is good if it is possible to perform the procedure in the morning, immediately after waking up. It is at this time that the concentration of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine will be maximum.
If the procedure is planned for the evening, then during the day you need to stop drinking too large volumes of liquid. Also, on the eve of the study, you should avoid taking diuretics and any other drugs that have a diuretic effect.
The time of urine exposure to the test should not be less than 5-15 seconds (according to the instructions for use).
Before carrying out the procedure, you need to take care of the cleanliness of the container for collecting urine and the external genitalia.
The result should be evaluated no earlier than after 3-5 minutes. Until this time, the second strip (if it appears) may remain weak and dim.
What to do if the second strip is pale?
When testing at home, it should be understood that only a doctor can give the most reliable result. Despite all test manufacturers claim that their systems are 100% accurate, there is always a risk of error. Therefore, if a woman sees a faint line on two tests in a row, it is imperative to contact a specialist.
Most likely, the doctor, after examination on the gynecological chair, will offer the woman the following research options:
Donating blood for hCG. It is known that after the onset of pregnancy, hCG in the blood can be detected much earlier than in the urine. Therefore, a blood test, even in the early stages of pregnancy, will provide correct data on the condition of the woman. A blood test will be 100% informative already on the first day of a missed period. By the level of hCG in the blood, one can make an assumption about how long a woman is. Blood sampling is carried out on an empty stomach in the morning.
Ultrasound. A doctor can detect a fetal egg using a transvaginal ultrasound examination on the 5th-6th day of a delay in menstruation. In a transabdominal way, that is, through the stomach, it will be possible to diagnose pregnancy from 7-8 weeks of intrauterine life of the embryo. As a rule, at such early stages, ultrasound is performed if it is suspected that the fetal egg is fixed in the wrong place, that is, an ectopic pregnancy has occurred.
Examination on a gynecological chair. By examination, the doctor can diagnose a pregnancy that occurred no earlier than 4 weeks ago. During a vaginal examination, the doctor will find a bloodshot cervix and a somewhat elongated vaginal fornix. The uterus itself will be enlarged.
In the absence of pregnancy and the presence of pathologies, the doctor, if necessary, will refer the woman for a consultation with other specialists.
So, when getting an unclear pregnancy test result, the first step for a woman should be to buy a new device and re-test. If the strip on the test is again pale, then you need to consult a gynecologist.