If you're trying to decide when to test... (possible TW, BFP mentioned)

1faceinacrowd

I've seen a few people ask when is the best time to test.

I've also seen comments from people saying, "if the test is negative, you are not pregnant." (This comment drives me bonkers... most women get at least one false negative at some point in their lives, especially if they are early testers!)

I think this page (below) is super useful. They did an analysis of a bunch of women who ended up being pregnant and broke down what percentage of them got a positive at each DPO. For example, of all of the pregnant women who tested on 10 DPO, 67% of them got a BFP and the other 33% got a FALSE BFN. I'm a statistics junkie and enjoy resources like this. It helps me remain patient knowing my statistical chances of getting a false negative each day.

https://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/pregnancy-test/results-by-day-past-ovulation.php

AndiPandi127

As I said yesterday:

I've seen you post in several places that you can have symptoms and have a negative test. I don't think you're understanding what people here mean when they say if you have symptoms, you can turn a test. The point is, you can have those "symptoms" any time. They can't be considered "pregnancy symptoms" until you get a positive test. Yes, you can have "symptoms", get a BFN, and then eventually get a BFP, but if your HCG is so low that you can't turn a test, then they are just "symptoms" of high progesterone or maybe something you ate. They are NOT pregnancy symptoms.

vampirina

Thank you for this!

TheBorg7of9

When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.

TheBorg7of9

To add: if the test if negative it means you have no hcg in your system, you are not pregnant, and any symptoms you have are not related to pregnancy.
If you later test positive, then at that point, you have hcg in your system and you are pregnant. Any symptoms you have *might* be caused by pregnancy, but you generally don't have enough hcg in your system to cause symptoms until about 2 weeks after you turn a test positive.

It was not a false BFN because they were not pregnant at that time.
In addition, unless the women were temping or getting vaginal ultrasounds, they don't actually know they were 10 dpo.

ShallowSeas

Testing and getting a negative means you are not pregnant at that time.  It doesn't mean that you can't become pregnant before AF arrives.  That's why its best to test as close to AF as possible.  

nlwz123

TheBorg7of9 said:

When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.

This.  You can have lots of negative tests until you implant.  You aren't pregnant before that, therefore do not show a positive pregnancy test.  Honestly, don't try complicating this.

1faceinacrowd

AndiPandi127 said:

As I said yesterday:

I've seen you post in several places that you can have symptoms and have a negative test. I don't think you're understanding what people here mean when they say if you have symptoms, you can turn a test. The point is, you can have those "symptoms" any time. They can't be considered "pregnancy symptoms" until you get a positive test. Yes, you can have "symptoms", get a BFN, and then eventually get a BFP, but if your HCG is so low that you can't turn a test, then they are just "symptoms" of high progesterone or maybe something you ate. They are NOT pregnancy symptoms.

This post in particular isn't about symptoms and whether or not they're pregnancy-related. This post was about when to test, and what percentage of people get false negatives at various days past ovulation.

But to address your comment, HCG builds up in your system beginning the day that implantation completes (as I'm sure you're well aware). The HCG starts accumulating in your blood, and is eventually filtered out by your kidneys and excreted through your urine. Your blood HCG level could be at 25 (as an example) while your urine HCG is still at 10, or lower, because it takes time to build up enough in your urine to be excreted in any measurable amount. Home pregnancy tests look at the level in your urine, which is elevated 2-3 days AFTER your blood level is elevated into the "testing positive" zone.  It is the HCG in your blood that causes nausea, not the HCG in your urine...if that makes sense.

Now, I've been pregnant twice in my life. Other than those two pregnancies, I've probably had nearly 150 normal, non-pregnant cycles. I've never had consistent nausea before my period was due, except for the two times that I ended up being pregnant (the first of which was a "surprise/unplanned" pregnancy while I was on BC so I wasn't symptom spotting..I just took a test as soon as I realized I had been nauseous non-stop for a day or two). I had false negative tests for several days with both pregnancies. I'm aware that I'm only one person, and I'm also aware that there are 1,000 other things that cause nausea. The point I'm trying to make is that it's poor judgement to tell people that a negative test = absolutely not pregnant. If you're getting a negative test at 10 DPO, it's probably still not a good idea to binge drink if you think you could be pregnant (not saying anyone here would, but if implantation has already happened then you ARE technically pregnant). If you're having nausea or any other possible symptom of pregnancy and your pee-stick came up negative, you COULD still be pregnant and experiencing symptoms because the HCG in your blood is elevated enough for you to notice. 

skilouise

TheBorg7of9 said: When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.
--ETA QBF--
This, as well as what @andipandi127 said.  People here typically say "if the test is negative, you are not pregnant at this time."  If the egg is fertilized, they could become pregnant once it implants and HCG levels rise.  Until they can turn a test, though, their "symptoms" are not pregnancy related.  That is why people also tell the poster to keep testing until a BFP or AF.

Also, the people who post the "omggggg u guyz my lft boob itchez and my womb is vibrating but the pg test was negative do u think i culd still be preggers?!?!?!?!?" posters aren't exactly the type who seem likely to pick up on a nuanced explanation.  "Negative = not pregnant at this time" is much more straightforward.

nlwz123

1faceinacrowd said:

AndiPandi127 said:

As I said yesterday:

I've seen you post in several places that you can have symptoms and have a negative test. I don't think you're understanding what people here mean when they say if you have symptoms, you can turn a test. The point is, you can have those "symptoms" any time. They can't be considered "pregnancy symptoms" until you get a positive test. Yes, you can have "symptoms", get a BFN, and then eventually get a BFP, but if your HCG is so low that you can't turn a test, then they are just "symptoms" of high progesterone or maybe something you ate. They are NOT pregnancy symptoms.

This post in particular isn't about symptoms and whether or not they're pregnancy-related. This post was about when to test, and what percentage of people get false negatives at various days past ovulation.

But to address your comment, HCG builds up in your system beginning the day that implantation completes (as I'm sure you're well aware). The HCG starts accumulating in your blood, and is eventually filtered out by your kidneys and excreted through your urine. Your blood HCG level could be at 25 (as an example) while your urine HCG is still at 10, or lower, because it takes time to build up enough in your urine to be excreted in any measurable amount. Home pregnancy tests look at the level in your urine, which is elevated 2-3 days AFTER your blood level is elevated into the "testing positive" zone.  It is the HCG in your blood that causes nausea, not the HCG in your urine...if that makes sense.

Now, I've been pregnant twice in my life. Other than those two pregnancies, I've probably had nearly 150 normal, non-pregnant cycles. I've never had consistent nausea before my period was due, except for the two times that I ended up being pregnant (the first of which was a "surprise/unplanned" pregnancy while I was on BC so I wasn't symptom spotting..I just took a test as soon as I realized I had been nauseous non-stop for a day or two). I had false negative tests for several days with both pregnancies. I'm aware that I'm only one person, and I'm also aware that there are 1,000 other things that cause nausea. The point I'm trying to make is that it's poor judgement to tell people that a negative test = absolutely not pregnant. If you're getting a negative test at 10 DPO, it's probably still not a good idea to binge drink if you think you could be pregnant (not saying anyone here would, but if implantation has already happened then you ARE technically pregnant). If you're having nausea or any other possible symptom of pregnancy and your pee-stick came up negative, you COULD still be pregnant and experiencing symptoms because the HCG in your blood is elevated enough for you to notice. 

There's a difference between having a "false negative" and simply just testing too early.

1faceinacrowd

TheBorg7of9 said:

When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.

Unless it was a negative blood test (not urine), that's not true. Implantation happens, and HCG builds up in your blood for a few days before there's enough built up to be processed by the kidneys and excreted through urine. It doesn't just go straight from the womb to your bladder.

ShallowSeas

1faceinacrowd said:

AndiPandi127 said:

As I said yesterday:

I've seen you post in several places that you can have symptoms and have a negative test. I don't think you're understanding what people here mean when they say if you have symptoms, you can turn a test. The point is, you can have those "symptoms" any time. They can't be considered "pregnancy symptoms" until you get a positive test. Yes, you can have "symptoms", get a BFN, and then eventually get a BFP, but if your HCG is so low that you can't turn a test, then they are just "symptoms" of high progesterone or maybe something you ate. They are NOT pregnancy symptoms.

This post in particular isn't about symptoms and whether or not they're pregnancy-related. This post was about when to test, and what percentage of people get false negatives at various days past ovulation.

But to address your comment, HCG builds up in your system beginning the day that implantation completes (as I'm sure you're well aware). The HCG starts accumulating in your blood, and is eventually filtered out by your kidneys and excreted through your urine. Your blood HCG level could be at 25 (as an example) while your urine HCG is still at 10, or lower, because it takes time to build up enough in your urine to be excreted in any measurable amount. Home pregnancy tests look at the level in your urine, which is elevated 2-3 days AFTER your blood level is elevated into the "testing positive" zone.  It is the HCG in your blood that causes nausea, not the HCG in your urine...if that makes sense.

Now, I've been pregnant twice in my life. Other than those two pregnancies, I've probably had nearly 150 normal, non-pregnant cycles. I've never had consistent nausea before my period was due, except for the two times that I ended up being pregnant (the first of which was a "surprise/unplanned" pregnancy while I was on BC so I wasn't symptom spotting..I just took a test as soon as I realized I had been nauseous non-stop for a day or two). I had false negative tests for several days with both pregnancies. I'm aware that I'm only one person, and I'm also aware that there are 1,000 other things that cause nausea. The point I'm trying to make is that it's poor judgement to tell people that a negative test = absolutely not pregnant. If you're getting a negative test at 10 DPO, it's probably still not a good idea to binge drink if you think you could be pregnant (not saying anyone here would, but if implantation has already happened then you ARE technically pregnant). If you're having nausea or any other possible symptom of pregnancy and your pee-stick came up negative, you COULD still be pregnant and experiencing symptoms because the HCG in your blood is elevated enough for you to notice. 

False negatives are super rare.  If your pregnancy test is negative then more than likely you are not pregnant. It doesn't mean you don't have HCG in your body, it just means that the level of HCG is not high enough to be a pregnancy. 

ZoMania57

I don't think you understand what a false negative test actually is. The definition of a false negative is a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition is absent. In the case of pregnancy tests that condition is a level of HCG > 25 mlU/ml (using Wondfos as an example). So if you test at 9 DPO and get a negative test result it is because a level of 25 mlU/ml is not present, that is a negative test NOT a false negative. Yes, you may still turn a test positive in the coming days after your levels rise if you are in fact pregnant but that doesn't mean that first test was false. Understand? 

The reason people on TB say "if the test is negative you are not pregnant at this time" is because it's true. PMS and early pregnancy symptoms are very similar so if you think your symptoms are from pregnancy (or HCG) you should turn a test positive. 

Also, from someone that is a statistics junkie you don't really understand confirmation bias either based on a lot of your postings here. Just because you got a headache (or whatever) before all your BFPs, and equating that with headaches = pregnancy, disregards all of your past headaches with no BFPs. 

Sorry, that's just my two cents. I'm not really an everything's rainbows and kittens person so I couldn't let this post slide. I feel like sometimes its dishing out false hope instead of reality

AndiPandi127

IMO, you are encouraging symptom spotting. No one has ever said that a negative test means that it is impossible that you will get a positive shortly - but if the test is negative, you are not considered pregnant at that time. Well, unless you live in Arizona. In which case we are all pregnant 2 weeks out of every month. 

1faceinacrowd

nlwz123 said:

TheBorg7of9 said:

When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.

This.  You can have lots of negative tests until you implant.  You aren't pregnant before that, therefore do not show a positive pregnancy test.  Honestly, don't try complicating this.

It still takes several days after implantation to build up in your blood enough to be excreted through urine.

How is it that so many people think that the day you implant, the HCG just magically appears in your bladder? It has to build up in your blood stream, be processed by your kidneys, and built up enough in your bladder to be excreted when you pee. They recommend FMU because of this fact... because your body is constantly processing your blood and pulling out the toxins and it builds up over time.

nlwz123

1faceinacrowd said:

nlwz123 said:

TheBorg7of9 said:

When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.

This.  You can have lots of negative tests until you implant.  You aren't pregnant before that, therefore do not show a positive pregnancy test.  Honestly, don't try complicating this.

It still takes several days after implantation to build up in your blood enough to be excreted through urine.

How is it that so many people think that the day you implant, the HCG just magically appears in your bladder? It has to build up in your blood stream, be processed by your kidneys, and built up enough in your bladder to be excreted when you pee. They recommend FMU because of this fact... because your body is constantly processing your blood and pulling out the toxins and it builds up over time.

Look, I really think you are complicating this matter.  

PeggyOlsonFTW

I think PP have covered everything I wanted to say except, what exactly was your point or aim in posting this? What do you think we should be saying to people who ask about their itchy boobies and fluttering uterus at 9dpo?

1faceinacrowd

ZoMania57 said:

I don't think you understand what a false negative test actually is. The definition of a false negative is a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition is absent. In the case of pregnancy tests that condition is a level of HCG > 25 mlU/ml (using Wondfos as an example). So if you test at 9 DPO and get a negative test result it is because a level of 25 mlU/ml is not present, that is a negative test NOT a false negative. Yes, you may still turn a test positive in the coming days after your levels rise if you are in fact pregnant but that doesn't mean that first test was false. Understand? 

The reason people on TB say "if the test is negative you are not pregnant at this time" is because it's true. PMS and early pregnancy symptoms are very similar so if you think your symptoms are from pregnancy (or HCG) you should turn a test positive. 

Also, from someone that is a statistics junkie you don't really understand confirmation bias either based on a lot of your postings here. Just because you got a headache (or whatever) before all your BFPs, and equating that with headaches = pregnancy, disregards all of your past headaches with no BFPs. 

Sorry, that's just my two cents. I'm not really an everything's rainbows and kittens person so I couldn't let this post slide. I feel like sometimes its dishing out false hope instead of reality

I understand how urine pregnancy tests work; I guess I should've been more clear on what a "false negative" is, according to this study. A "false negative" is when a home pregnancy test tells you that you are Not Pregnant (whether that's by only giving you one line, or the digital tests actually saying "Not Pregnant"). As I've mentioned in previous comments, HCG builds up in your blood first and, over several days, builds up enough to be processed by your kidneys and excreted through your urine. 

If everyone had access to blood HCG tests, pregnant people would receive a positive blood HCG test 2-3 days before they would receive a positive urine test. 

chrlyr

If someone tests negative and subsequently tests positive, the negative test wasn't a false negative. It was negative because it didn't pick up enough HCG to turn the test. Until such time as a test can detect the instant the sperm meets the egg, that's the way it is. 

MrsDho11

OP, I feel like this is such MUD. People say some variation, "if you're testing negative, you're not pregnant at this time. Keep testing until AF or BFP." Context makes what they say maybe more or less snarky, but that's the average, base advice they give. I feel like you're stirring things up way more than necessary in here.

MamaMunn

1faceinacrowd said:

ZoMania57 said:

I don't think you understand what a false negative test actually is. The definition of a false negative is a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition is absent. In the case of pregnancy tests that condition is a level of HCG > 25 mlU/ml (using Wondfos as an example). So if you test at 9 DPO and get a negative test result it is because a level of 25 mlU/ml is not present, that is a negative test NOT a false negative. Yes, you may still turn a test positive in the coming days after your levels rise if you are in fact pregnant but that doesn't mean that first test was false. Understand? 

The reason people on TB say "if the test is negative you are not pregnant at this time" is because it's true. PMS and early pregnancy symptoms are very similar so if you think your symptoms are from pregnancy (or HCG) you should turn a test positive. 

Also, from someone that is a statistics junkie you don't really understand confirmation bias either based on a lot of your postings here. Just because you got a headache (or whatever) before all your BFPs, and equating that with headaches = pregnancy, disregards all of your past headaches with no BFPs. 

Sorry, that's just my two cents. I'm not really an everything's rainbows and kittens person so I couldn't let this post slide. I feel like sometimes its dishing out false hope instead of reality

I understand how urine pregnancy tests work; I guess I should've been more clear on what a "false negative" is, according to this study. A "false negative" is when a home pregnancy test tells you that you are Not Pregnant (whether that's by only giving you one line, or the digital tests actually saying "Not Pregnant"). As I've mentioned in previous comments, HCG builds up in your blood first and, over several days, builds up enough to be processed by your kidneys and excreted through your urine. 

If everyone had access to blood HCG tests, pregnant people would receive a positive blood HCG test 2-3 days before they would receive a positive urine test. 

ShallowSeas

GUISE. If you have symptoms at 9 or 10 dpo but your test is negative, you're still probably pregnant, okay?  

br0co1ii

AndiPandi127 said:

IMO, you are encouraging symptom spotting. No one has ever said that a negative test means that it is impossible that you will get a positive shortly - but if the test is negative, you are not considered pregnant at that time. Well, unless you live in Arizona. In which case we are all pregnant 2 weeks out of every month. 

Hahaha! I live in AZ! So true!

1faceinacrowd

chrlyr said:

If someone tests negative and subsequently tests positive, the negative test wasn't a false negative. It was negative because it didn't pick up enough HCG to turn the test. Until such time as a test can detect the instant the sperm meets the egg, that's the way it is. 

So, let me just clarify what I've always thought, and maybe you guys can tell me if I'm wrong. Because according to all of the reading I've done, this is my understanding. Here's an example:

9 DPO - Implantation Occurs & HCG begins to build up

10 DPO - Urine pregnancy test would be negative. Blood test MIGHT be positive.

11 DPO - Urinte pregnancy test would be negative. Blood test would likely be positive.

12 DPO - Urine test MIGHT be positive. Blood test DEFINITELY would be positive.

13 DPO - Urine test likely positive. Blood test definitely positive.

...That's just a rough example. But in my mind, in this example, pregnancy "officially" happened on 9 DPO. Am I wrong?

jhems776

I don't like the site's stats.  The numbers are calculated by "All results are based on pregnancy test results submitted by our members."  Which means that it isn't scientific, just user reported.  I would hazard a guess that a fair amount of people are wrong about their O date.  

JournoGrl23

I'm not encouraging symptom spotting by any means because when I do it to myself it drives me crazy and hurts in the long run. But some people (probably very rare) do feel symptoms before a positive test. For my pregnancy that ended in a loss, I had symptoms well before the positive test. However, I have been diagnosed with hypersensitivity by several doctors. That means I'm hyper aware of every little change in my body that most people never feel. The second HCG entered my blood stream I could feel it. I started having fainting spells and intense periods of dizziness. As soon as my levels fell back to normal, that went away. Therefore I agree that some people feel symptoms before a positive test. However, every one is different and pregnancy symptoms feel a lot like PMS. So I wouldn't assume I was pregnant or act like I was until I got a positive test. Last time I just assumed I was coming down with something and went on with my life until I got the positive.

1faceinacrowd

severmilli12 said:

GUISE. If you have symptoms at 9 or 10 dpo but your test is negative, you're still probably pregnant, okay?  

While I appreciate the sarcasm - truly I do - that's not the point I'm trying to make. I never said that you're "probably" anything. Oy vay.

momstahp

nlwz123 said:

1faceinacrowd said:

nlwz123 said:

TheBorg7of9 said:

When they had the negative test, they were not pregnant.

This.  You can have lots of negative tests until you implant.  You aren't pregnant before that, therefore do not show a positive pregnancy test.  Honestly, don't try complicating this.

It still takes several days after implantation to build up in your blood enough to be excreted through urine.

How is it that so many people think that the day you implant, the HCG just magically appears in your bladder? It has to build up in your blood stream, be processed by your kidneys, and built up enough in your bladder to be excreted when you pee. They recommend FMU because of this fact... because your body is constantly processing your blood and pulling out the toxins and it builds up over time.

Look, I really think you are complicating this matter.  

^ This.  For the record, the commonly given advice is "Negative test means you are not pregnant at this time.  Test again in a week if still no AF." I don't think anyone thinks that as soon as implantation happens HCG is automatically zapped into your bladder and BOOM positive pregnancy test.  I think the physiological process is implied, but the simple response mentioned above is quick and easy to get the simple point across.  You seem to be trying to create a problem that isn't even there.

1faceinacrowd

jhems776 said:

I don't like the site's stats.  The numbers are calculated by "All results are based on pregnancy test results submitted by our members."  Which means that it isn't scientific, just user reported.  I would hazard a guess that a fair amount of people are wrong about their O date.  

Yeah, but isn't that what all of our O dates are? Just an estimate? Nobody can know with 100% certainty. I dunno, I thought it was interesting information, even if it is self-reported.

PeggyOlsonFTW

But really, @1faceinacrowd, what was your point in posting this? What do you think we should be saying to people who ask if we think they're pregnant or not?

1faceinacrowd

KDHB13 said:

But really, @1faceinacrowd, what was your point in posting this? What do you think we should be saying to people who ask if we think they're pregnant or not?

If someone comes on this page and asks if they're pregnant or not, tell them to F off. Or to take a test, which is what MOST people say.

I'm absolutely not saying that people breaking the rules are cool and should ask if they're pregnant (those people annoy me just as much as anyone else). But seeing that comment so many times made me wonder if people understand that home pregnancy tests pick up HCG several days after implantation, so you're actually pregnant for several days before a BFP (unless it's a blood test BFP, which can be positive 24 hours post-implantation).

mrsdee15

AndiPandi127 said:

IMO, you are encouraging symptom spotting. No one has ever said that a negative test means that it is impossible that you will get a positive shortly - but if the test is negative, you are not considered pregnant at that time. Well, unless you live in Arizona. In which case we are all pregnant 2 weeks out of every month. 

**I know how you roll, boxes**

This is exactly my issue with the post.  This board focuses on science, realistic expectations, and staying away from false hope and symptom-spotting.  Do I want to be pregnant?

Do I want to test at 10 DPO, get a BFN, and then still tell myself "Oh, it's ok, I still have symptoms so I could be pregnant!!11!" only to get AF? 

And I don't want that for anyone else on the board either, that feeling sucks.  It happened to me last cycle when FF wasn't sure about my O date because I was sick at the same time I probably O'ed.  I promised myself I would never feel that way again without some sort of positive test.

AndiPandi127

@1faceinacrowd - I do understand what you are saying, but I think it's safe to say that when we tell people just keep testing til AF shows and don't consider yourself pregnant til you get a +, it's okay. I tend to agree with @MrsDho11 - this is a bit MUDdy. I know you're trying to invoke science, which I certainly appreciate, but it's sometimes dangerous to over-complicate.

FinePlacentaPie

If you're testing early, then it's not a false negative, because you're still not officially pregnant. 

What am I missing?

I see this has already been covered but I'm posting it anyway because I have this face on.

MamaMunn

PocketFullofShells said:

If you could just let me know when you're done with AW posts...

vampirina

I personally found the original post to be helpful. I asked in the TWW thread - when is the best time to test? I had noticed a lot of people were testing around 10 DPO. So as a relative newbie, it seemed as if that was the “norm” around here. I was planning on waiting until my period was expected to arrive (this is my first cycle temping/charting, so I don’t know my actual LP length, expected period date was calculated using a general period tracker), which would be about 15dpo. Anyway, I wasn’t sure – should I be testing at 10ish DPO like nearly everyone else? The chart shared was helpful in letting me know what I should expect when testing earlier rather than later – mainly the chance of actually turning a positive pregnancy test so early. I’m assuming that was the OP’s original goal.

Also after reviewing the original chart shared, I realized I'd much rather stick with my original plan of testing later rather than sooner (unless, of course, I plan to rave or something). I'd rather not go through the crazy of "it just didn't turn YET" kind of thinking, which I feel like I see around here quite frequently.

FinePlacentaPie

I'll say it this way. The run of the mill person who stops by here, not including those who are established and those who know what they're doing, don't need the confusion of talking about hormones building up to a positive. Most are drive bys who "missed their period" by a day and aren't even just testing early, they really are just not pregnant. 

virginiaham

I'm calling bad data. I see your Countdown to Pregnancy self-reported data and counter with Fertility Friend's analysis of over 90,000 actual charts (and not just self reporting with an unknown number using period trackers). As long as we're going to argue about data, at least use good data.

https://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/When-can-I-expect-a-positive-HPT-if-I-am-pregnant.html

ShallowSeas

1faceinacrowd said:

severmilli12 said:

GUISE. If you have symptoms at 9 or 10 dpo but your test is negative, you're still probably pregnant, okay?  

While I appreciate the sarcasm - truly I do - that's not the point I'm trying to make. I never said that you're "probably" anything. Oy vay.

I don't think any of us see the point you're trying to make with this post. 

PeggyOlsonFTW

Also, there's that whole "Don't act like you're pregnant until you know you definitely are" thing. I had a BFN this morning at 11dpo. I'm not assuming I'm a speshul snowflake and I am actually pregnant and the test couldn't pick it up. I want a glass of wine tonight and I'm gonna have one because BFN = not pregnant at this time and likely, not pregnant at all.

0SeaMonkey0

I am also in the "you're not pregnant until you can turn a test" camp.i disagree with the term false negative when it comes to hpt. To me that implies that the test was faulty and did not detect HCG that was actually there.

I am even more hardcore than some in that I don't believe in squinters. When you are really pregnant enough to matter, you won't have to squint and hold the test st a 45 degree angle in natural light. The line should be visible to the naked eye before you get excited. Don't even get me started on tweaking.

Fwiw, in other places, people use the acronym BFNY "big fat not yet". I actually really like this because it acknowledges that you've tested early as you're not pregnant yet, but you're not out also.

More UO: I also believe that if it weren't for early results tests, chemical pregnancies wouldn't be a thing. You just wouldn't know.