Are you one of those people who got a false positive pregnancy test while using Mirena? Then, welcome to the club! You're not alone in this mysterious situation. Let's find out why and how it happens.
What is Mirena?
For those who are blissfully unaware - Mirena is a small intrauterine device (IUD) that releases progestin hormone which helps prevent pregnancy. It's a long-term contraceptive method which lasts for up to five years.
The 'False-Alarm' Fear
When I was on Mirena, the fear of getting pregnant haunted me daily. Those hormonal mood swings were wild enough already without adding an unplanned pregnancy scare into it! And besides being paranoid about conceiving, most women also fear a unique horror – A FALSE POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST!
What does that even imply? Why did this happen despite taking proper precautions? Let’s take dive deeper...
Understanding How Pregnancy Tests Work
Before we unravel further let us look at how these tests work!
Pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) — also known as ‘the pregnancy hormone.’ Basically, when your fertilized egg implants in your uterus walls; your body starts producing hCG. So yes, if you get a positive result from the test kit,it means you have performed some serious baby-making mischief.
If only it was so simple...
There are several other reasons behind getting false positivet test results despite having no signs of conception:
Possible Causes include:
- Cancer
- Evaporation Line
- Defective Test Kit and many more…
The list goes on and on... Now imagine adding "I used contraception!"' To this list.
How Does This Happen with Mirena?
That brings us back to our topic at hand – Mirena.
Mirena is known to prevent pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to move through the uterus and preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg. Given this, how can one get a false positive test result if all signs indicate no fertilization?
Here’s what we know so far:
Theories behind False Positive Pregnancy Tests with Mirena
There are several explanations - Here are some of them:
- Ectopic –A fertilized egg implants outside of your uterus.
- Early Miscarriage — A miscarried embryo that hasn't left your body yet; providing ‘enough’ hCG for a positive on tests.
- Hormonal Interference – An active hormonal interaction between the progestin hormone released by Mirena and hCG present in the urine or blood may cause discrepancies in results
Hormones Are Confusing
Let's talk about hormones! Almost all girls go through fundamental changes during their puberty due to these little chemical messengers running amok within our bodies!
Now imagine filling up those hormonal levels with additional unnaturally produced hormones via contraceptive devices– It's surprising that everything isn't completely bungled up!
Extra Estrogen From IUDs
Did you know? Almost every IUD has some level of estrogen even if they claim otherwise! In reality, most will release variable amounts depending upon each woman’s metabolic rate. This amount of estrogen can potentially trigger a false pregnancy test.
Progestin Is No Help Either
Powder state synthetic progesterone- also referred to as pseudo-progesterone is time-released directly into your reproductive tract because its primary goal is specifically birth control.
This analog compounds have amazing potential side effects which often include disruption and thrown-off unnatural cycles.
How To Avoid Getting Misimformed?
After all, Getting a False Pregnancy test can lead to a lot of unnecessary panic!
Here are some things you should keep in mind:
Patience Is Key
Remember that the best thing is always to wait out another minute and retake the test. This ensures against false results which might have occurred for unrelated or unknown reasons.
Other Possible Explanations
Sometimes it's not just hormonal interference, here are several other possible explanations for why you got a positive pregnancy result (even if they aren't as funny) :
- Medical conditions such as thyroid issues
- Cancer Staging .
- Certain medications make pregnancy tests appear positive.
- An evaporation line can sometimes show up after taking the test.
Using Mirena may alter your body’s hormone levels causing inconsistent readings on your default preggy-test gadgets resulting in confusion. Do note these additional chemicals and hormones released from IUDs and weigh potential side effects before choosing how to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancies. Keep Calm & Either Celebrate The Result or Retest!