Positive Pregnancy Test But No Symptoms: 6 Possible Reasons

Know why a positive pregnancy test without symptoms may occur to end unnecessary speculations.

Medically reviewed by Subhashis Samajder, MS, DNB Subhashis Samajder Subhashis SamajderMS, DNB Follow MomJunction on LinkedinFollow MomJunction on YouTube Specialty: Obstetrics & GynaecologyExperience: 9 years
Written by , BSc Rebecca Malachi BSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pregnancy, Health and WellnessExperience: 12 years
Edited by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
Fact-checked by , MSc Aneesha Amonz MSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Health and WellnessExperience: 2 years
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Positive Pregnancy Test But No Symptoms

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You must have heard about the symptoms that mark early pregnancy, such as morning sickness, breast changes, and fatigue. However, it is possible to get a positive pregnancy test without any symptoms. If this happens to you, take a second test or consult a doctor. In addition, you may need to undergo blood and urine tests to confirm whether you are pregnant or not.

In this post, we explain some of the possible reasons behind a positive pregnancy test with no symptoms and when to see a doctor. We also address some frequently asked questions, such as whether it is possible to be pregnant and not test positive.

In This Article

Positive Pregnancy Test But No Symptoms: Why Does It Happen?

Pregnancy tests check your urine or blood for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone.

Your body is likely to produce this hormone about six days after fertilization (1), and the hormone levels may double every two to three days (2).

Micaela Cook, an expectant mother, talks about being pregnant without encountering any early signs of pregnancy, “I got pregnant, and I had the least amount of symptoms. I didn’t have cramping, bloating, heavy urination, breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea, or food aversions. I tracked my cycle on the flow app and documented my symptoms. Out of all the cycles that I had previously documented, I experienced the least amount of two-week symptoms in the cycle that I was pregnant. Even my mood swings and irritability were much less (i).”

If the test result shows positive, but the symptoms do not occur, the following could be the possible reasons.

  1. You may not have recognized the early symptoms: Implantation occurs about the same time your menstrual period is due. You might have taken the light bleeding and cramping (as a result of implantation) (3) for a period.
  1. You may have taken the test too early: Some women start experiencing symptoms a week or two after conception, while others may experience it after a few months. It takes about six to 12 days for the fertilized egg to attach to the uterus (4) and become viable, after which you may take the test. The test result may come positive but the symptoms might take time to appear.
You may have taken the test too early.

Image: Shutterstock

  1. You may have attributed the symptoms to some other causes: You might have taken certain symptoms such as nausea or dizziness for something else other than pregnancy. For instance, you might think that fatigue was a result of a long workweek or strenuous activity, and your mood swings have been caused by stress.
  1. You may experience subtle changes: You may not always have visible changes such as edema, morning sickness, or frequent urination. Sometimes, you may only experience subtle changes such as fatigue, minor appetite changes, aches, or mood swings, which are hardly noticeable.
You may only experience subtle changes such as fatigue.

Image: Shutterstock

  1. Ectopic pregnancy. It is a condition wherein the fertilized embryo implants outside the uterus in 95% cases in the fallopian tube. It is not viable but still produces hCG (5).
  1. False-positive pregnancy test results: False–positive test results may also occur when the test shows positive even if you are not pregnant. This could happen due to factors that may mess with the pregnancy test results. These factors may include: 
    • Chemical pregnancy : It is a miscarriage that occurs before you know you are pregnant. A low level of hCG could be present in the blood or urine and may give a positive result (6).
    • Fertility medications, anti-anxiety medications, anticonvulsants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and diuretics may also cause false positives if you take the test immediately after taking the course of medicine (7).
    • Taking the test when your urine is diluted or letting the test kit sit too long may also lead to a false-positive result. Read the kit directions and take the test accordingly. Also, check for its expiry, since it may also affect the test results (7) (8).

Online Pregnancy Test


protip_icon Quick fact
A false positive test may also happen if you have kidney disease, an ovarian cyst, a UTI, a pituitary gland problem, or a miscarriage or abortion recently (10).

When To See A Doctor?

They may conduct blood tests and urine tests.

Image: Shutterstock

If you have got a positive test result, it is crucial to follow up with your doctor for appropriate prenatal care. They may conduct a blood test (serum beta HCG) and a urine test to confirm your pregnancy. These may be followed by an ultrasound to (a transvaginal scan can detect pregnancy as early as five weeks) check for the gestational sac and determine if the pregnancy is normal. Furthermore, pregnant women must undergo regular fetal ultrasound scans during subsequent doctor visits to assess fetal health, development, and movement and support good maternal health.

You may check your basal body temperature at home, which usually remains elevated during pregnancy. However, it’s essential to consult with your gynecologist to confirm your pregnancy and discuss any concerns you may have.

protip_icon Did you know?
While uncommon, about one in 475 pregnant women may not experience any symptoms of pregnancy till they are 20 weeks pregnant, and one in 2500 pregnancies is not diagnosed until the woman goes into labor (11).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I get a positive pregnancy test in the fourth week?

You may get a positive result on a home pregnancy test at four weeks of pregnancy. It is often recommended that you wait for a week after a missed or late period and then take a pregnancy test (8).

2. Is it possible to be pregnant and not test positive?

At times, you might  get a negative test result, even when you are pregnant. It is called a false-negative, which might happen if you take the test too early in pregnancy (when hCG levels are low), if the test kit is used incorrectly, or if you have used diluted urine (drank excessive fluids before the test, or if you have taken the test in the latter part of the day) (9).

4. Does no symptoms mean that I’ll have a miscarriage?

Not having pregnancy symptoms from the beginning doesn’t mean you will have a miscarriage. However, if there is a sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms and symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, or an ectopic pregnancy, it might be a miscarriage (12). Only medical tests can confirm a miscarriage.

If you receive a positive pregnancy test but no symptoms, the chances are that you may have taken the test too early or might not have followed the steps accurately. Nevertheless, you can always retake the test after a few days or consult your doctor to participate in standard pregnancy blood tests. However, there are also chances for the test to result in false negatives. Therefore, seeking a doctor’s opinion to confirm pregnancy and ensure good reproductive health is recommended, rather than relying solely on home pregnancy kits.

Infographic: Why You May See A Positive Pregnancy Test Without Symptoms

When you spot a positive pregnancy test, you may be expecting pregnancy-related symptoms to begin after that. Nevertheless, there may be several reasons for not having symptoms despite a positive test result. Here is an infographic discussing a few causes for a positive pregnancy test without symptoms.

reasons for positive pregnancy test but no symptoms (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • A positive pregnancy test can occur without any symptoms.
  • Possible reasons for this include not noticing early signs, testing too early, confusing symptoms with other conditions, ectopic pregnancy, or a false-positive result.
  • A false-negative result may happen if the test is taken too soon, done incorrectly, or with diluted urine.
  • If you get a positive pregnancy test, it’s crucial to see a doctor for blood and urine tests, and an ultrasound.
Positive Pregnancy Test But No Symptoms_illustration

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team


Are you already 5 weeks pregnant, but don’t have any symptoms? Find out if this is normal or if there is any cause for worry. Also, know the signs requiring medical assistance during early pregnancy.

Personal Experience: Source

MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. Positive pregnancy test with no two week wait symptoms.
https://youtu.be/cwTkuzHGFD4?feature=shared

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. PA Nepomnaschy et al.; Urinary hCG patterns during the week following implantation; Hum Reprod. (2008).
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5330618/
  2. HCG (Urine); University of Rochester Medical Center
    https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=hcg_urine
  3. Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant? Cleveland Clinic
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant
  4. Alok Sharma and Pratap Kumar; Understanding implantation window a crucial phenomenon; J Hum Reprod Sci. (2012).
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3409914/
  5. Vanitha N Sivalingam et al.; Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy; J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care (2012).
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213855/
  6. “TWEAKING“ THE TEST; University of Utah Health
    http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2015/07/070715_tweaking
  7. Can You Get A False Positive Pregnancy Test Result? AVAIL
    https://www.availnyc.org/false-positive-pregnancy-test
  8. Knowing if you are pregnant; Office on Women’s Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get-pregnant/knowing-if-you-are-pregnant
  9. Pregnancy testing; Better Health Channel; State Government of Victoria Australia
    https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/pregnancy-testing
  10. 7 Reasons Your Pregnancy Test Gave A False-Positive
    https://www.thesource.org/post/reasons-your-pregnancy-test-gave-a-false-positive
  11. What is a Cryptic Pregnancy?
    https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/what-is-a-cryptic-pregnancy/
  12. Miscarriage signs and symptoms
    https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support/miscarriage-information-and-support/miscarriage-symptoms
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Subhashis Samajder
Subhashis Samajder MS, DNB
Dr. Subhashis Samajder, a consultant gynecologist-obstetrician with nine years of experience, is currently practicing at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Howrah. His area of expertise includes abortion, colposcopy surgery, hysterectomy, hysteroscopy, infertility treatment, and menopausal problems.

Read full bio of Subhashis Samajder
Rebecca Malachi
Rebecca MalachiBSc
Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi
Swati Patwal
Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA
Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Aneesha Amonz
Aneesha AmonzMSc
Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

Read full bio of Aneesha Amonz