If you miss a period while you are sexually active, it might mean that you are pregnant. However, don’t jump to conclusions before testing it yourself. The first thing to do in this case is, go to a pharmacy and buy some of those pregnancy test meters. After following the mentioned instructions, you might still be wondering whether you are pregnant yet. All you need to do is bring that pregnancy test stick in contact with your urine. In most pregnancy tests, one sharp line denotes that you are not pregnant and two sharp broad lines signify that you are pregnant. In some cases, however, there might be a very faint single line that is bound to keep you wondering what that means. Although this isn’t uncommon, it is not everyday that one might come across such a signifier. This faint line may mean three things mostly:

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What Does a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test Mean?

You are pregnant

If the pregnancy test device shows a faint blue positive line, there is a good chance that you might be pregnant. But this line is faint due to the fact that you are secreting a low level of the pregnancy hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). When you conceive, your body starts producing these hormones, and the rate of secretion or production increases as your pregnancy progresses. The higher the level of HCG hormones, the darker will be the blue line. At this early stage, probably your hormone production is lower than the usual level, which is leading to the confusion with regard to your situation. The best way to come out of this dilemma is to visit the gynaecologist’s clinic at the earliest. If the answer is yes, then congratulations to you!

You are not pregnant

As much as the faint blue line on the pregnancy test device may denote a positive result, similarly, it can also denote a negative result. This faint positive line that doesn’t confirm your pregnancy, is also called the ‘Evaporation Line’. The line appears sometimes when the urine evaporates from the pregnancy testing stick. This situation is very likely to lead you to think that you are pregnant. However, it is advisable to not think of the ultimate positive scenario before getting it confirmed in a case of doubt. Many a time, women tend to miss the deadline that the pregnancy meter provides for ensuring the result.

Most pregnancy test devices instruct you to check the result window within 3 to 5 minutes of urinating. If you check the device within that time frame and notice a faint positive blue line, there are maximum chances of you being pregnant. However, if you miss the time line and check the meter later on, and then notice a similar line, you are most likely not pregnant. Even then, if you are confused by the results, consult your doctor and get an ultrasound scan done to be sure of the situation.

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You ‘were’ pregnant

In some cases, it is possible to experience a miscarriage during the early stages of pregnancy, without you even getting to know of the incident. However, even the fact that you’ve been pregnant, even if it was for a brief period, will definitely make you experience the plausible symptoms because your body is still secreting the HCG hormones in mild quantities. In cases of a missed pregnancy or early miscarriage, taking place within the first 12 weeks; which is also called as ‘Chemical Pregnancy’; a faint blue line appears on the pregnancy test stick.

In a situation involving early miscarriage, you might experience cramps and untimely bleeding, hence you might be rather confused about the faint blue line that appears on the pregnancy test. The safest method of knowing your situation is to visit the doctor as soon as possible. The ultrasound test will determine the time and probably the reason of your miscarriage.

In a situation of confusion, always visit the doctor without second thoughts. The earlier the gynaecologist diagnoses you, the better you know about your situation and the reason(s) behind the same. The doctor will most likely extract a vial of your blood and ask for a bottle of your urine to be tested for analysing the level of risk involved in your upcoming intended pregnancy. As of now, once you’ve consulted the doctor, you’re on a safe platform!