Brief history. I’ve had 6 pregnancies. 3 ectopics, my lovely daughter and 2 miscarriages inc one I’m having now. What’s confusing is when I did my tests they were really faint so knew something wasn’t right but my Monitor clearly said ‘pregnant’ I started bleeding Tuesday and went into hospital Wednesday. They tested me on a machine and it was negative. They offered to do blood but didn’t seem fussed so I said what’s the point i’ m obviously miscarrying. Symptoms all gone and bleeding continued. Well today I woke up and boobs felt sore so took a test and I had a really strong positive line on more than one test. Has anyone had This? I understand that HCG will still show positive when it’s falling but to go from faint to negative and then a strong positive is really confusing. Can pregnancy testing be positive if ovulating? I’m so confused and now have to go into hospital tomorrow morning on my birthday xx
Please help
Dear Clare11203,
I am so sorry to hear of the difficult time you are experiencing,
I am not medically trained so cannot give you specific advice on your symptoms however I can provide general advice.
You mention that the lines on the pregnancy test now appear darker, but if you are using different pregnancy test kits, they may have differing levels at which they test positive showing varying colours.
To answer your question, pregnancy test kits show levels of hCG, this hormone is released during pregnancy and not ovulation.
I am afraid I cannot give you answers as to why you are now having pregnancy symptoms but you are doing the right thing in seeking medical advice tomorrow. I’m so sorry that it is on your birthday.
Sending warm hugs,
Karen x
If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering?
Further information is available at www.ectopic.org.uk
Email us at ept@ectopic.org.uk.
Our helpline is 020 7733 2653 (available Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm).
Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team.
Thank you Karen. Having been pregnant 6 times now I’ve done a bit of research on pregnancy testing. First Response (FR) Is close to 6.6mlU CBAFM is 50 as I rang them up and most others are 20/25. Before I started bleeding I did all of them. FR was the most definite line but still faint and my monitor said ‘pregnant’. The day I started bleeding I took a test as i didn’t feel pregnant anymore my boobs didn’t hurt etc so I knew what was on the cards. I started bleeding later that morning and went to egu the next day after calling my consultant . They tested me on a machine that analyses everything and it was negative. I’ve bled ever since but had no pain. Yesterday my boobs were sore. I took a test from a brand id already used which previously showed a really faint line and I had a strong line. I then did a test on one I used before my bleeding that hardly showed anything and yesterday again a strong line.
I’m going to EGU this morning so hopefully I’ll get some answers??
Went to hospital this morning and even though my home pregnancy tests came back positive their tests came back negative. So did blood tests and the results have come back as 194 which shows a positive. so they don’t understand why it’s coming back negative on their machine. Still probably miscarrying I imagine or could still be ectopic but the bloody Dr today was an arsehole I showed him 4 tests with positive lines and he told me they were negative that they should be as strong as the control which is utter rubbish. I said I thought any line was a positive no matter how dark or faint. What the does he know he didn’t even know how to read it asking which line was which. So I’ve got to go for more tests Wednesday!! Such a head mess. I was actually quite relieved when I thought it was a miscarriage and that was that time to move on…now all this. Still bleeding too!! Sort of stopped but started again.
Dear Clare11203,
I am so sorry you didn’t get any answers today.
You are right though that any line showing next to the control on a pregnancy test is positive.
Apologies as I know you have posted before, but I cannot remember if you have had a scan, I am presuming you have but if not, I would certainly be asking for one on Wednesday.
Be vigilant, if you experience any worsening bleeding, abdominal pain or feel dizzy and unwell please seek urgent medical advice.
I am sending warm birthday hugs,
Karen x
If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering?
Further information is available at www.ectopic.org.uk
Email us at ept@ectopic.org.uk.
Our helpline is 020 7733 2653 (available Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm).
Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team.
Thank you Karen. No they haven’t scanned me. It’s too early and bloods are too low to show anything. I suppose they’ll only scan me if the levels go up. Just got to wait until Wednesday now. It’s all the waiting and tooing and froing it’s agonising
Hi Clare, have you had any more news yet? I’m in a similar boat. I had a faint positive 2.5 weeks ago and started bleeding 2 days later. On the morning the bleeding started it was still a faint positive, on a very sensitive test. Bleeding was like a proper period so I figured it was just a very early miscarriage and if it wasn’t for my testing I wouldn’t have known a thing so I was happy to move on and didn’t see a dr. Well about 4-5 days after period ended I started with this brown watery discharge. 6 days later (Monday) I went to dr who did a preg test which was positive. She sent me for an u/s which showed no sign of pregnamcy or retained products. I came home and did another hpt and it’s so strong and dark, like immediately! Called EPU and they agreed for an appt this thursday but said its prob just residual hcg from the miscarriage. I honestly can’t see how a test can be so much stronger 2.5 weeks after a muscarriage than it was just before miscarriage. My hcg was tested yesterday and is 212. In my heart I know there is something inside me releasing more hcg, most likely ectpoic preg, I just hope that the hcg is reducing in my next test. I have a large preexisting empty cyst on my left Fallopian tube and I’m worried it’s hiding in there and therefore won’t be seen on u/s 
Hello Delphine123. How are you feeling? I’ve got my blood test today so will see what’s happening. I’ve not been scanned yet as you need to have at least 1000 HCG in your blood for something to be seen so I’m surprised they scanned you. It seems our stories are quite similar I have everything crossed for both of us but I don’t want to be too hopeful just to fall flat on my face. I’ll be gutted if it’s another ectopic. This is going to be a long day…already awake thinking about it at 3.30am. I go from carrying on as normal and not thinking about it at all to it completely consuming me. Xx
I feel fine physically but very very anxious. Like there’s a ticking time bomb in there! I think they suspected retained products in my uterus so I was preparing myself mentally for a D & C but unless they missed that on the scan then I’m thinking there’s something in there that’s still, or was for a while still pumping out hcg. S normal miscarriage would not produce a stronger hpt 2.5 weeks later! Especially at only 4.5 weeks pregnant. I hope we both have dramatically reducing hcg levels and the whole thing just goes away!
I mean that in the best way. I’d in if these are not viable pregnancies (mine definitively is not) then I want this over so we can start trying again!
It’s ok I knew what you meant. I’m pretty sure it’s not a miscarriage now. My boobs have got more tender and I’m still getting stronger lines and 2-3 wks on CB digital. So it’s either ectopic or by some miracle it’s viable. So I’m really hoping they’ve doubled or something. It certainly hasn’t dropped as my bloods were 194 and sensitivity to show 2-3wks is 153 so it’s either dropped slightly; platued or risen slightly all signs of ectopic. It doesn’t explain the bleed I had with no pain or cramps. I’m getting ready to go now then going to keep myself busy until I get the results. Will keep you posted xxx
They’ve just rang me it’s gone up to 267. So i was like so it’s not doubled then and she said when levels are so low they don’t always double, bloods do funny things this early on we could be quietly optimistic. Bless her trying to be positive…but I’m not so certain. Got more blood on Friday then possibly scan early next week if levels go up enough. My levels this time last pregnancy (ectopic) were almost 3000. So still none the wiser but definitely not miscarriage!
Well that is unusual but I think our bodies can do some weird stuff. You hear if women having very unconventional starts to their pregnancies and still having healthy babies. Best of luck to you! I’ll get my results this afternoon so I’ll let you know. I’m in Australia so may be different time zone 
Good luck Delphine. I have everything crossed for you… xx
My hcg went from 212 to 71 in 48 hrs. Ectopic hasn’t been confined as it can’t be seen but the midwife I saw agrees with me that hcg was most likely increasing after my “miscarriage” 2.5 weeks ago. She was happy with the drop in hcg and said regardless it is likely sorting itself out. She gave me a few more blood test request forms to monitor until hcg is under 2. Best of luck, let us know how you go.
Oh I’m so sorry for your loss but I know you’re also relieved it’s over (sort of) and can hopefully move on. No invasive surgery or injections that stop you from trying straight away…I know you were hoping for this as the better of 2 evils. Good luck in the future and I hope the next one sticks in the right place and stays sticky. Will update you tomorrow on bloods. My bleeding has just about stopped. Had brown spotting last few days and virtually stopped today. So who knows???
So my bloods dropped to 136 do half. Told definitely miscarriage and not ectopic. Absolutely gutted as couldn’t help but get hopeful. Read lots of post half had positive outcomes with bleeding and lie HCG and half negative. I’m relieved it’s not ectopic but gutted it’s not a little miracle. I couldn’t help but wish for it. Better luck next time. Not sure how much more my soul can take xx
I’m really sorry to hear that. I know even when things seem not right you can’t help but maintain hope! I think sometimes it’s perpetuated by well meaning professionals too though j guess they see all sorts of unusual situations which I guess do have positive outcomes. At my last appt the midwife was suggesting I was pregnant with a viable pregnancy, that this was me being pregnant “again” since I had a “miscarriage” 3 odd weeks ago. I kept saying no and she kept pushing it until I told her that’s impossible, I haven’t had any sex! I’ve been bleeding heavily since Friday so I guess that’s me done. Wishing you all the best for the future, and hoping the next time you see a hcg result, it doubles nicely and that bean is stuck firmly in the right place! Xxx