Whenever a sexually-active woman of reproductive age misses a period, pregnancy is going to be first and foremost on her mind — especially if, like the woman who posted this question, you've been trying to conceive for a while. Getting a negative pregnancy test can be very confusing under these circumstances, so it's no wonder the person was worried.
SteadyHealth members quickly weighed in, some thinking that pregnancy could still be possible:
A friend who just gave birth three weeks ago, said that she tested negative until she was 9 weeks pregnant. Anyone hear of that possibility?
And others sharing that their similar experiences turned out to be a miscarriage:
I found out eventually that I was actually pregnant, and the spotting was a miscarriage. :-(
What, besides pregnancy, could cause a missed period but light vaginal spotting?
What do the experts say?
Missed period: Causes
A suddenly missed period is quite the event for women who typically have very regular, predictable, menstrual cycles. It becomes even more puzzling if you suspect you're pregnant and take a test, but it comes back negative. These cases may be explained by various different things, including:
- Pregnancy — You're indeed pregnant, but may have tested too early. Pregnancy tests show a positive result when there is hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your urine, and a negative result when this hormone, which a budding placenta starts producing shortly after implantation occurs, isn't present. If you test earlier than the day of your missed period, a pregnancy test can come back negative even if you're expecting. The advice we'd give is to take multiple tests stretched out over several days.
- Unusual circumstances — extreme stress, very strenuous physical exercise, and traveling may throw your cycle off for a bit. (Note that this may include feeling really excited about a possible pregnancy, according to some.)
- Being underweight or obese can also lead to changes within the menstrual cycle.
- The perimenopause, the transition to menopause, often initially manifests as missing periods here and there.
- If you recently took an emergency contraceptive like Plan B, this can delay your period a bit.
Long-term medical conditions can also affect your menstrual cycle, but in this case, you usually wouldn't be looking at a sudden missed period, but rather at a pattern of absent or irregular menstruation. Conditions that can cause this include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, a slow or fast thyroid, and pituitary tumors.
Vaginal spotting
The woman who began the thread didn't just ask about a missed period combined with a negative pregnancy test, however, but also mentioned that she experienced some vaginal spotting. This may point to a very early miscarriage, sometimes referred to as a chemical pregnancy. Though any pregnancy loss before the 20th week of gestation is a miscarriage, miscarriages often take place very early in pregnancy, including around the time of your expected period. This may explain vaginal spotting that looks quite a bit different from a period. Other signs of miscarriage can include abdominal cramping, pain, and clotty tissues leaving your body.
Ectopic pregnancies, which develop outside the uterus and can be life-threatening, can also cause vaginal spotting along with abdominal and shoulder pain and feelings of dizziness and fainting. If this sounds familiar to you, don't wait — go to the ER right away.
Many other conditions can cause vaginal spotting outside of menstruation, and they range from the harmless to the serious:
- Infections of the reproductive system, including sexually transmitted ones.
- Uterine fibroids or polyps, benign growths within the uterus.
- Reproductive-system disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.
- Other medical conditions like diabetes, lupus, or liver disease.
- More, ehm, vigorous sexual endeavours.
When to see a doctor
Any woman who has missed three consecutive periods and has had negative pregnancy tests should seek medical attention so your doctor can help you get to the bottom of this mystery, and offer treatment where needed. It is fine to initially ask your primary healthcare provider, and they can then refer you to a gynecologist or endocrinologist (who looks at hormonal issues) if they think it's necessary.
Women who notice worrying symptoms like extreme abdominal pain, foul-smelling discharge from the vagina, or a fever should also see their doctor right away. If you have a more serious underlying condition like an ectopic pregnancy or an STD, you need timely medical attention.
Discussion highlights
Questions
SteadyHealth members wanted to know:
- Jay,is it possible to spot for so long during the week I should have had my period if I didn't ovulate?
- So my question is how far long do I have to be before I get a positive pregnant test?
- Was the spotting my period, or is there a chance i am pregnant?
- Should I simply give it a little more time and test again in about 2 weeks or should I just go to the OB and have them test me?
- Could I be pregnant?
- Sould i go to the doctors to get a blood test done or should i wait?
- Should I take another UPT and if so how long should I wait.
- Or should I call my GYN?
- can anyone please help us do you think there is a chance we could be having a baby?
- Can it be a pregnancy symptom?
- Is it pregnancy?
- Am i pregnant?
- could I be pregnant and its just not showing up on the hpt?
- but as i read the posts, could istill be preg, just needing a bld test?
- COULD I BE PREGNANT ?PLS HELP
- So I have no idea what to think or should I just let it go as I am not pregnant and just see if I get my Period.
- Could these be symptoms of pregnancy?
- now what?
- is there a possiblty that i could b pregnant.
- Could I be pregnant?
- hi i am wondering i had one pregnancy test and it came out negative and i dont have my period yet it is going on three weks started yesterday what do i do
- My question is that can anyone relate and tell me that I'm not pregnant and my delayed/missed period is due to diet changes/active changes/medication?
- any ideas on whats going on?
- do u think im pregnant?
Experiences
Others who had experienced similar situations said:
- You probably have a cist on your ovaries I had the same isssue
- Just got diagnosed with a UTI today, but the doc says that baby is fine.
- I am now 5 weeks pregnant and doing well!
- it was too late for contraception!
- Well, a week later, lo and behold.
- I didn't learn that I had lost it until nearly two weeks later.
- Just found out last week that I am pregnant!
- The most common reason for a menstrual pattern like you have described is not having an ovulation every month.
- Very much the same as u and the other guest but I haven't really bleed since December.
- During my first pregnancy all of my pregnancy tests came out negative until I was almost 5 months pregnant and I felt the baby start moving.
- The quickening happened before the positive test.
- It felt like the world's shortest pregnancy.
- It's also possible for that kind of thing to be caused by reproductive conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.
- That can happen if you're pregnant too of course, but the negative pregnancy tests basically rule that out.
- I have been feeling sick pretty much all day for the past 5 days, I've also been cramping, and now I'm spotting bright red.
- I know spotting is normal for early pregnancy and so is cramping and nausea, but the tests are negative.
- I believe with my first I was 8 weeks before the test turned positive, and with my second it was 7 weeks.
- There is a possibility these cysts can be washed out from my body after i have my period.
- Btw, my OBGYN mentioned that period can be a little off after travelling.
- Ok it is now July (09) and I was due for my period on the 13th 14th and it is not the 24th and all I am getting is spotting with very little to no cramps just on my side.
- Here i am on day 35 i havent gotten my period yet.
- Yesterday i had a few little brown spots.
- I woke up this morning with a fever my body is aching, nausea and a headache.
- I've also been urinating more often and my boobs are itchy and around the nipple the skin is dry.
- I also have PCOS, and most of the time would only get a period once or twice a year.
- At first I thought I was getting my period, since I spotted a couple of days.
- And when it didn't come, it didn't seem like a big deal.
- Then after a month I thought I was getting the flu.
- So, it turned out that I was pregnant ( I found out when I was almost 12 weeks).
- Very light occassional spotting, mild cramping, and headaches.
- If you're a virgin and haven't had sex, then you aren't pregnant.
- Hey :) well I'm a proud mother of a beautiful healthy baby girl, ever since I had her I've been having regular periods , every month that Is, but since August this year (2013) I missed my period then,.
Symptoms
Posters described their symptoms in these ways:
- I still have not had a period, but my breasts are beginning to get sore.
- If the spotting were my "true" period, it was already a week late, as I have a 31 day cycle.
- At times during this past week I started spotting a light brown color when I would use the bRoom This usually happens continuously before I get my period for about 2 to 3 days, no period though.
- I noticed 2 weeks ago that for what ever reason looking at certain food made me want to vomit.
- I had random sudden headaches, can't sit still.
- Also randomly I got sick, my body feels like I'm burning up.
- For the exception of a Dan n a half which was to light for a tampon.
- Until one morning I woke up and felt very nauseas feeling like I was going to puke.
- On my 5th day being late I started spotting but it only lasted for about two hours and it was very lite.
- I've also been nauseas, sore Breast and nipples, and there also bigger in size!
- Frequent urination, eating & body aches.
- Hi ive spotted 3 times this month for four days each time usually my periods are irregular and last up to 8 days.
- The same say that I went in for the blood test I had started very minimal spotting which only continued for 2 days and then stopped.
- My breasts are very tender as well.
- nothing more than what would completely amount to a few drops over the course of about 2 days.
- I had spotting.
- I have more than normal urination, my breasts are tender at times, I have had the wonderful and not missed taste of metallic, some back pain, and bleeding gums.
- It's not brown, it's pinkish.
- I feel slight pressure in my abdominal area ( light to mild cramping).
- I've been tired lately and a bit moody, but nothing too far out of the ordinary.
- the spotting stopped but i'm so unsure what is going on:$
- On Thursday of last week I spotted, not even the whole day.
- I took a UPT on Monday and it was negative.
- I have been nauseous daily since Thursday and have had headaches.
- Only light brown spotting occassionaly.
- sometimes its not even there when I wipe, I took two hpt and both were negative, I've had mild very very mild cramping.
- Ok here it goes I've never written on here before im 26 and I had a really messed up period it was spotting and some times just extremely light like a watery pink.
Diagnosis
What did SteadyHealth members who went to the doctor learn? Let's take a look:
- Just got diagnosed with a UTI today, but the doc says that baby is fine.
- i was told early this year i had cysts in my ovaries but later on i got told i didnt have anything.
- I have taken two hpt both game back negative and so I went into the doctor and got a blood test and that was negative also.
- - hyperthyroid- irregular periods.
- endocrinologistMy thyroid level has become normal but my hormone level is high and she sent me to have an ultrasound and it turns out I have PCOS( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
- so she told me to go see an OB/GYN and recommend taking Metmorfin.
- OB/GYNresult of consultation:- she gave me birth control because Metmorfin is not for me because my cysts are still small.
- she told me to have another ultrasound after i am done with my period.
- I have Endo and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and I have been having unprotected sex since November (08).
- My dr did some test and come to find out that im not ovulating.
- I am 24 and have endomentriosis.
- i also am in the same boat i had been having really heavy periods so i went to the obgyn in feb she switched my bc and did a pelvic and vaginal ultrasound and they found a small edometrialpolyp.
- Oh, and about 3 weeks ago I went into the doctor and did one of their urine tests, NEGATIVE.
- Here is my story, I am a type 2 diabetic, sugar not quite controlled, had yeasty like discharge went to gyno and the exam was negative but found unusual light bleeding.
- The urine test was negative and the doc said my uterus felt of normal size.
- I was told I have PCOS as well and take metformin and insulin for m diabetes.
- ive been to the er and they've done a urine test but still negative.
- We didnt hear a heartbeat but he reassured me its common within the first 12 wks not to hear anything.
- Okay 'm 47 years old and been told I was in perimenopause.
- Hi I have missed 4 periods, I had pregnancy symptoms I been trying to get pregnant for the past 3 years I had an std for about a year cause I didn't know anything about it.
- the doctor check me out and he told me when i got home to write down that jan.23 2015 was the first day of my period he said my ovulation day would be the 14th of feb.
- 9negative tests, negative ultrasound scan.
- I'm a liver transplant recipient so I take lots of meds tht altar my body specially abdominal area but I had a early spot 2weeks before regular period well my periods are pretty irregular so this seemed common but it was spoofing only Thts odd I'm a bleeder hard and heavy is regular to me this was a pink spot then three weeks later I get spotting again only when I pee none on pad a week later two day light period Not normal I bleed a lot very heavy now I take a long walk mile walk and I spot I have sex and spot but still waiting to get a normal period?
Suggestions
Here's the advice that was shared in the thread:
- You probably have a cist on your ovaries I had the same isssue
- If you have been several months without a period, a gynecologist may give you some progesterone in a pill form (eg Provera 10 mg for 5 days).
- Hello Sarah,To be on the safe side I highly recommend that you see your doctor, it could be a hormonal imbalance or an Ovarian cyst, poor diet, lack of exercise, weight gain/weight loss, stress, etc could all be the cause.
- If you are stressing about being pregnant can also cause a missed period.
- One of the other things I have learned that could cause a missed period is a cold or flu.
- Sarah,Menopause could also be the cause if women are over weight even by a little.
- But like I said hun go see your doctor for a check up
- Depending on what type of birth control you were taking it might still be working its way out of your system.
- I would say your best be is to go check with your doctor.
- It would be the surest way to know if you are or aren't pregnant if you keep getting negatives.
- In any case, if you're worried, definitely make an appointment to be seen by your doctor to get some peace of mind.
- And then, it's possible you just had a slight injury from energetic sex or sport or something.
- It's also possible for that kind of thing to be caused by reproductive conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.
- Spotting blood, either in the form of brown discharge or more obvious blood, often indicates that there's a hormonal imbalance or change going on.
- Just wanted to say to all of you out there that have PCOS, that it is possible to get pregnant and carry it full term.
- You might want to go to the doctors just to be safe!
- Yes it's very possible my dghtr didnt show in a urine preg test until i was 4mos pregnant
- get a new doctor
- This seems like menopause this is a condition in which the woman STOPS her period.
- I would see doctor
- If you have a progesterone deficiency, your BHcg hormones that pregnancy tests measure will be low also.
In conclusion
Women who miss more than one period while repeatedly having pregnancy tests show up negative should see their doctor, as should those who have additional worrying symptoms like pain, dizziness, or foul-smelling discharge. Of course, if you're worried after missing just the one menstruation, you should also feel free to check in with your healthcare provider.