If hCG is present in your urine, you’ll have a positive test result. It also helps to take the home pregnancy test first thing in the morning. If a faint evaporation line develops on your home pregnancy test, you may mistakenly think that you’re pregnant. Usually, a faint line on a pregnancy test simply means that you are pregnant. If you’re testing within a few days before or after your period is due, you are very early in pregnancy. It can be hard to determine whether a faint line is a positive result or an evaporation line. Here’s why: the change in color means that the test has detected the presence of a hormone in your urine calledhCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). One line means not pregnant. If possible, wait two or three days before taking another one. Missing a period is one of the first signs that you might be pregnant. But understanding what an evaporation line is and how to tell the difference between a positive test and a test with an evaporation line can prevent that confusion. If it is questionably positive or negative, a repeat in two to three days would be appropriate. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. There’s no specific treatment, but you can talk with your doctor if you suspect a miscarriage. The primary difference is that evaporation lines appear in the test window several minutes after the recommended time for checking the test results. Menopause and pregnancy share many similar symptoms. For example, if the test says to read after 2 minutes, do that. Testing up to 7 days after the first day of your missed period is generally considered early. A faint positive line isn’t uncommon and there are a few possible explanations. All rights reserved. Reasons for Getting Faint Line in Self Pregnancy Test Although, there might be instances in case a home pregnancy test shows a faint line. Many women eventually have healthy babies. More About Pregnancy Tests Last medically reviewed on October 27, 2016, Reputable home pregnancy tests can be accurate, but they aren’t foolproof and can cause confusion. Different pregnancy tests from different brands may also differ in terms of the way they look. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. If you think you had a very early miscarriage, let your doctor know. But as we’ve mentioned, testing too early could mean that your hCG levels are too low for a pregnancy test to detect. You may experience bleeding that resembles your menstrual cycle and light cramping. Faint Line Pregnancy Test It’s happened to so many of us – particularly those of us addicted to early pregnancy testing: you take a pregnancy test, follow the instructions to a “t”, and at the end of the interpretation period, there’s a faint line on the pregnancy test where the test line would appear. If you are further along in your pregnancy, you may notice that the control line is faint, but the test is very dark. The placenta starts to produce this hormone as soon as an embryo implants in the uterus. The less diluted your urine, the better. You will get a definitive answer soon. Each pregnancy test is different, with some brands using a red dye and others, like Clearblue, a blue dye. We’ll explain whether birth control…. Although the line should be darker in relation to higher concentrations of hCG, the actual amount of hCG in a sample of urine can vary. This is great for those … All rights reserved. Very Faint Line on Pregnancy Test: Am I Pregnant? You take a pregnancy test because you want to know for sure whether or not you’re pregnant. The hormone level increases as your pregnancy progresses. Sometimes there's a third result, a second faint line called a false positive. 10 Ways Pregnancy Can Damage Your Body. False positives are rare unless the test is faulty, but that doesn’t mean that a light line always means you are pregnant. Home pregnancy test vary widely in how the results are represented on the device. Is it a faint positive line? These cheap pregnancy test strips can work up to five days before your missed period. Lay the strip flat. It’s important to note that the more hCG in your system, the easier it is to see and read a positive line on a home test. So when the test doesn’t give you a clear answer one way or the other, it’s natural to feel frustrated, tearful and even angry. Some women see a clearly distinguishable positive line after taking a home test. What to Expect When You’re in the Latent (Early) Phase of Labor, Pregnancy Snacks for Your Cravings and Challenges. In this article, … Read more: 5 signs you should take a pregnancy test ». Whether you're looking to satisfy your craving for sweets or trying to battle constant nausea or heartburn, we've got you covered with more than 30…, If you're wondering how to become a surrogate, we applaud you for your desire to help others. A faint line on a home pregnancy test may or may not mean that you’re pregnant. A very faint line on a pregnancy test usually means that implantation has occurred and you're in the early stages of pregnancy. See which symptoms are unique to menopause and pregnancy, and which ones overlap. Kirkham says the raised hormone levels could last for weeks after a miscarriage. Source: Mira Fertility Club Facebook Group. If there’s any confusion about whether a faint line is a positive line or an evaporation line, retake the test. And you’re not sure if it’s the light or your eyes or some kind of a positive pregnancy test ghost but…you can see a line. But if you test too early you may have very low levels of hCG which could result in a very light line on your test. Concentrations can fluctuate dramatically throughout the da… Pregnancy tests are designed to detect hCG in your wee – because hCG is an early marker of pregnancy. Doctors would generally say that a faint line on your home pregnancy test device might mean three things, mainly: You are pregnant. In most cases, if the manufacturers' instructions were followed properly, a faint line indicates a positive pregnancy test. Early in pregnancy, there’s less hCG present, so the line is fainter. Sometimes, what appears to be a positive line is actually an evaporation line. If you are pregnant, this gives your body additional time to produce more of the pregnancy hormone, which can result in a clear, undeniable positive line. If they see one … If you take birth control pills, you may wonder if the hormones in them can interfere with pregnancy test results. If you are hesitating because of a very faint line, take a new test the next morning, when your hormone levels will have increased. A pregnancy test detects the presence of the hCG ‘pregnancy’ hormone. If you get a faint positive, you could try again using a digital pregnancy test. Pregged.com's Feature Editor is a dedicated Mom of 3, pregnancy geek, giver of hugs and a great listener.