Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test...What does it Mean?

If you have made it to the point of taking a pregnancy test, there’s probably a certain answer you are looking to find. It can be extremely exciting or incredibly nerve-wracking waiting on the results after all these results could totally change your life. Whether you have been trying for years or actually not trying at all, when a faint line appears on your pregnancy test it can suddenly become very confusing which way you should be feeling. Here’s the rundown on what this faint line really means and your next steps.

Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test…What does it Mean?

The Rundown on Pregnancy Tests

As frustrating as that faint line may seem, we should really be thankful for how far pregnancy tools have come in recent years! To begin with, we have all different sorts of pregnancy tests in all price ranges. Many of these tests can detect pregnancy very early on and some even before you miss your period. Get this, pregnancy tests used to take multiple days to develop and show results compared to just a few minutes most tests take today. Understanding how pregnancy tests work can relieve tons of stress so when the big moment comes you know exactly how to interpret your results. At home pregnancy tests work by detecting HCG hormone levels in your urine. HCG starts being produced the moment you become pregnant and steadily increases throughout your pregnancy. The more in your system the bolder the line on the pregnancy test should be.

All About the Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test

There are a couple different things the faint line on a pregnancy test can be trying to tell you. Just remember whatever results you see to remain calm because you so got this mama.

Is it possibly too early to get a good reading?

When you’re trying to get pregnant patience is seriously so hard. Your mind is constantly filled with questions and wondering if this is finally it, so it’s no wonder so many women rush to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. However, rushing to take a test may be the reason a faint line appears. If you take a pregnancy test very early there may not be high levels of HCG showing up yet, therefore the line shows up very faintly. If you think this may be the case for you, take a breath and try taking another test in a few days.

What kind of pregnancy test did you use?

You may have purchased your pregnancy test awhile ago or in such a rush that you didn’t really get a chance to check out what type of pregnancy test you have. Always, always read the instructions carefully before taking your test even if you feel like you already know how it all works. Some pregnancy tests have an evaporation line that will appear if you don’t check the results in the directed timeline. It’s always a good idea to take a couple tests to rule out the evaporation line as the reason a faint line is appearing.

What time of day are you taking this test?

The time of day you take a pregnancy test may or may not affect the results. Play it safe and take a pregnancy test right when you get up in the morning rather than later on in the day.Â Urine is dilute in the morning and will produce the most accurate result.

Might it be a chemical pregnancy?

We do not wish this on anyone, but a fairly common reason to see a faint line is that you’ve lost a pregnancy very early on possibly even before the embryo attached to the uterus. Early miscarriages are fairly common and usually have no bearing on being able to later conceive and carry a healthy baby. So, feel all the feels but keep hope that what is meant to be will be.

Next Steps After a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test

If you are confused about your pregnancy test results, the best thing to do is wait a few days and try again. You can also make an appointment with your doctor to take a test there. Your doctor will be the best source to figure out what might be going on and why you keep seeing a faint line. Whether that be an early pregnancy or an early miscarriage, they can help you figure out what the best next steps will be. Just try to be as patient as you can be and if you ever have any questions feel free to call your doctor.Â

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Amber Mamian

Amber is the CEO and mama in charge at Rookie Moms! She is raising six amazing humans and has been through a lot as a mom including high-risk pregnancy (preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome), adoption, navigating special needs, working from home, and more. Now she's on a mission to pass along the knowledge she's learned... from one mama to another!

Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test…What does it Mean?