IVF is the fertility treatment that doctors choose when all the other fertility treatments do not succeed in achieving pregnancy. So, you will be feeling anxious to know the results after an embryo transfer.
But, what will you do if the pregnancy test is negative? And to top it off, what will you do if you don’t have your period after that?
Continue reading this article to learn why you got a negative pregnancy test and why you did not get your period.
Negative Pregnancy Test After IVF But No Period
When you get a negative pregnancy test after an IVF cycle, you will automatically get your period after about a week or two of embryo transfer.
However, the time interval between the embryo transfer and menstruation after a failed IVF can differ for each woman. Below are some factors why you don’t get periods after a negative pregnancy test.
You might be pregnant
There is a chance that the pregnancy test result is wrong, and you might actually be pregnant. This can happen if the pregnancy kit has defects or if you take the test too early after embryo transfer.
The progesterone level is still high in your blood
The progesterone hormone is an indicator of pregnancy. This hormone is a result of the fertility medication you take during and IVF cycle.
When progesterone is high in your blood, your body will consider you are pregnant and won’t induce menstruation. You will naturally get your period a week after you stop taking the medications.
Age also affects when you get your period
Age is another factor for no period after a negative pregnancy test. As a woman ages, her period becomes irregular. This can affect when you will get your period after a failed IVF pregnancy.
Some other factors that affect periods after a negative pregnancy test
Other than the factors discussed above, issues like a woman’s health condition, stress, and lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diet, etc., can also delay menstruation.
How to Cope with A Negative Pregnancy Result After IVF?
It can be disappointing to know that your IVF cycle failed after all the physical and emotional stress you went through during the process. But, the fact is that you failed, and so you should learn to cope with it and make necessary plans for the future.
Here are some things you can do to relieve yourself from the stress of IVF failure.
You can go for counseling
Counseling is a great way to free yourself emotionally from IVF failure. You can also go for counseling sessions with your partner. Discuss with your fertility doctor and visit a well-known counselor.
You can try again
Remember that not all couples achieve success during the first IVF cycle. Some had to go through three or four cycles before getting pregnant. So, take a short break and try the cycle again.
Stay with your loved ones
Surrounding yourself with your friends and family can give you emotional support during these stressful times. Divert yourself by engaging in some fun activities with them.
Can You Get a Negative Test After IVF and Still Be Pregnant?
Yes. Though the chances are rare, you can still be pregnant after a negative pregnancy test. This usually happens when you take the pregnancy test too early after an IVF embryo transfer.
Doctors usually suggest women give a two-week space (10–14 days) after embryo transfer before doing a pregnancy test. Taking the test before that period may show negative results.
This is because the embryo needs time to implant firmly in the uterine wall. The hCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin) that the body releases during pregnancy will also be low at this stage.
The pregnancy test you do at home measures the amount of hCG hormones in your urine. So, taking the test early may show positive results while you may actually be pregnant.
What Happens if a Urine Pregnancy Test is Negative After IVF?
As we saw above, a urine pregnancy test determines pregnancy based on the hCG levels in the urine. If the test turns out to be negative, there are only two reasons.
You took the test too early
Taking the test too early (within 2 weeks after embryo transfer) may show negative results, as the urine would not have that many hCG hormones that can be detected by the pregnancy test kit.
Your IVF cycle failed
The second probable cause for a negative urine pregnancy test is that your IVF cycle failed, and you did not get pregnant.
Can Home Pregnancy Test be Wrong After IVF?
Yes. There are chances that home pregnancy tests can be wrong for some women. It is best to visit your fertility doctor and take a blood test or an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy.
Can Twins Cause Negative Pregnancy Tests?
The chances are quite high to get twins with respect to women’s age during IVF. When it comes to Negative pregnancy results, studies have proven that twin pregnancy can sometimes cause negative pregnancy test results. This is called the high-dose hook effect.
The hCG hormones are released in the body when the embryo has implanted into the uterine lining. The pregnancy test you use at home will have antibodies that detect the hCG levels to determine the result.
When you are pregnant with twins or even triplets, your body releases high levels of hCG into the bloodstream. This can confuse the pregnancy test kit and give a false negative test result.
Conclusion
It may be frustrating to know that your hard work did not result in pregnancy. But know that a negative pregnancy test result does not necessarily mean that you are not pregnant. Sometimes, the test result may be wrong.
But you don’t have to worry too much if you fail your IVF cycle. You can try again after your period and give your body some time to recover.
Consult your fertility doctor and take the necessary measures to avoid failing in the next cycle. Don’t lose hope, and stay positive.
You will be asked to stop taking progesterone if you are not pregnant and to expect your period in 2–5 days (you should consult your fertility doctor if your period doesn’t start in about 5 days after quitting progesterone).
The hCG levels in the body won’t increase for some days after embryo transfer. This is why doctors suggest you wait for 2 weeks before taking a pregnancy test.
If you take one before 2 weeks, you will get a negative test result and still not have periods. You don’t have to panic and take another test after some days to confirm if you are pregnant or not.
When people seek fertility doctors, they mostly believe that natural pregnancy is no longer an option for them. However, according to recent studies, this is not the case. Within 5 years of a failed IVF cycle, nearly one in every five women becomes naturally pregnant.
