I have a positive pregnancy test one night, a negative one the next day and a positive one the next night. What should I do?

Hello Ma'am,

Many factors can influence the result of a home pregnancy test. First, there is the time in your cycle that you took the test. In fact most tests should be taken from 5 days before your expected period up to 60 days late. A test taken too early or too late can skew these results.

The time of day is important; the test should be performed with the first urine of the day.

It is also important to follow the instructions on the box, as they may vary by company. Check the expiration date on the test before using it

In addition, a recent delivery, miscarriage or abortion can also affect the result.

That said, only a doctor can confirm pregnancy. So you should make an appointment with a gynecologist/obstetrician since you had two positive results.

Ayoub Bouchama, pharmacy student

Supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist

When you do not have a fixed period, it is possible to test 14 days after the date of unprotected sex.

The reason it's recommended to take the pregnancy test in the morning is because the hormone level in the urine is at its peak, which helps the test detect hormones. So taking a positive test at night increases the chances that it is a true positive. I would still advise you to see a doctor to confirm or not if you are pregnant.