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You take the test and anxiously watch the clock until it’s time. Finally, it’s time to look at the test and you find that it’s positive! You’re pregnant!
The excitement floods your system. Then a few days later, you worry it’s too good to be true so you grab another test to confirm.
But this time, you notice the positive test line getting lighter on the pregnancy test. What does it mean?
Before you spiral to the worst scenario, know there are a few reasons why this could be happening. And not being pregnant is only one of them.
We’re here to help you get to the bottom of these lines on a pregnancy test.
Why is my pregnancy test getting lighter?
Questions about home pregnancy tests are totally normal. Taking multiple tests can sometimes help clear things up, but not always.
If you take two tests and the pregnancy test is not getting darker, but lighter, you’re probably wondering what’s going on.
You’ve got line eyes
One potential cause for your pregnancy test having the first line dark and the second line faint is your eyes.
No, you aren’t crazy. And you aren’t alone. Many women who are trying to conceive (TTC) experience this.
Sometimes the faint lines are simply your eyes playing tricks on you. Line eyes make it harder for you to accurately read your test results.
Pregnancy tests and their lines are subjective. What one person considers dark could be totally different from another person.
It’s a good idea to ask someone else to take a look at your results, too.
This is where digital tests have an advantage.
Rather than trying to read between the lines (pun intended), you get a clear “pregnant” or “not pregnant” result.
Your urine is more diluted
If your urine is diluted when you take your pregnancy test, this can decrease the concentration of the pregnancy hormone, hCG. Which means the pregnancy test reads lower levels of hCG in your urine.
And that may give you a lighter pregnancy line.
To avoid this, test first thing in the morning (your first urine). Your urine is more concentrated then and will more accurately pick up the hCG hormone.
You’re mixing test brands
We love the convenience of at-home pregnancy tests, but they are all a little bit different.
If you’re taking multiple tests, stick with just one brand.
Different brands may:
- Have different levels of sensitivity
- Use different types of dye
- Incorporate different manufacturing
So buy a multi-pack at the store and only compare tests from the same brand.
You have an evaporation line
We all have moments of forgetfulness.
However, forgetting to check your pregnancy test results at the right time can cause the pregnancy line to get lighter.
If the test sits out too long, the urine evaporates, leaving the salt in your urine behind. And along with it, a very faint line on your pregnancy test.
But sometimes it can be hard to tell whether that faint line is an evaporation line or a faint positive pregnancy test.
We’ve got you covered:
To help avoid this faint line confusion, set a timer for the amount of time your test directions say to wait. Check the results immediately.
Learn more: What is an Evaporation Line on a Pregnancy Test?
You’re having a chemical pregnancy
So you’re doing all of the following:
- Asking someone else to read your test results
- Testing first thing in the morning
- Using a single brand for testing
- Setting a timer for your results
But you’re still seeing a lighter line. Your hCG levels may be dropping, which can be a sign of a chemical pregnancy. This type of miscarriage happens on or before the fifth week of gestation.
You may also get something that looks and feels like your period, but is delayed, heavier than usual, and has clots.
The halting of embryo development is what causes the drop in hCG levels. And this all happens before the fetus is even visible on an ultrasound.
Chromosomal abnormalities are often to blame for a chemical pregnancy.
Reach out to loved ones during this time for support. Also, consider looking to the Inito Support group to find women who can relate to what you’re going through.
Learn more: Chemical Pregnancy: Quick Guide & Need to Knows
Should pregnancy test lines be getting darker?
In short, yes. Your test lines should get darker the further you progress in your pregnancy (at least until the first trimester).
This happens thanks to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a.k.a. the ‘pregnancy hormone’.
And at-home pregnancy tests are used to detect your urine hCG levels.
Here’s a look at how your hCG levels change throughout pregnancy and why that causes a pregnancy test line progression.
The ‘hCG doubling time’ during the first few weeks is when your hCG typically doubles.
As your pregnancy progresses, the doubling time slows down. And once you reach your peak hCG levels around 10 weeks, either they plateau or decline.
At-home pregnancy tests don’t give you the exact hCG level. They can only detect if it’s above a certain threshold.
And, as a general rule, the darker the line on the test, the more hCG is in your urine.
A.k.a. the further you are in your pregnancy, the more your hCG levels increase. This translates to a darker indent line on the pregnancy test.
Now, let’s discuss what happens if you see a positive test followed by bleeding.
What if I get my “period” after a positive pregnancy test?
Don’t panic. There could be many causes for this.
For starters, early pregnancy bleeding is more common than you think. In fact, it happens in 15-25% of women.
But if you’re worried, consult with your doctor. It could mean more.
Chemical pregnancy. As we talked about earlier.
Ectopic pregnancy. When implantation occurs outside of the uterus. This can be in the fallopian tube, ovaries, cervix, or the abdomen. And it unfortunately results in a non-viable pregnancy.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy look like:
- Heavy bleeding
- Clots
- Severe nausea
- Abdominal pain
If you’re experiencing these, seek emergency care immediately.
Learn more: Can You Have a Period and Be Pregnant?
When do I need to see a doctor?
Tell your healthcare provider about your positive pregnancy test.
You’ll want them to confirm your pregnancy. Plus, they’ll give you some prenatal advice to kick this pregnancy off the right way. Your doctor’s office will also schedule follow-up care and chat about any questions or concerns you may have.
If you’re TTC and experiencing pregnancy test line confusion, we hope this article will help. It’s important to remember that both faint and dark positive lines exist.
In review
- Positive pregnancy test lines get darker as you progress in your pregnancy. This is because of increasing hCG levels.
- If you’re seeing your home pregnancy test line getting lighter, ask someone else to check it for you. The lightness of these lines can be subjective.
- Faint positive lines could also mean that your urine is more diluted. Or you could be mixing test brands, you have an evaporation line, or you’ve had a chemical pregnancy.
- An evaporation line occurs when you leave your pregnancy test sitting out too long. This leaves the salt in your urine behind and also a faint line.
- A chemical pregnancy is a very early miscarriage because the embryo stops developing.
- Early pregnancy bleeding happens in 15-25% of pregnant women.
- This bleeding is spotting or mild and lasts only a day or two.
- If you experience bleeding that’s more like a period flow after a positive pregnancy test, go to the doctor immediately.
Was this article helpful?
- What is an Evaporation Line on a Pregnancy Test? | Inito
- Chemical Pregnancy: Quick Guide & Need to Knows | Inito
- Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit | ScienceDirect
- Doubling times of human chorionic gonadotropin increase in early viable intrauterine pregnancies | NIH
- Human chorionic gonadotropin in pregnancy diagnostics | ScienceDirect
- Bleeding During Pregnancy | ACOG
- Ectopic Pregnancy | ACOG
- Can You Have a Period and Be Pregnant? | Inito
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