Questions about pregnancy test strips

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for reaching out to our community with your questions about home pregnancy test strips.

Did the box feel hot? Did the test strips feel hot? If so, discard and purchase a new testing kit. Extreme heat and cold can damage the test kit.

The only medications that can display a false positive test result are those that contain the pregnancy hormone hCG, such as most medications used to treat infertility.
Medications that contain hCG, or are used in combination with hCG, include, but are not limited to, Humegon, Pregnyl, Profasi, Pergonal, and Novarel. These may give false positive results if the pregnancy test is performed within 7-14 days of the last drug administration.

Anti-anxiety medication and tranquilizers or sedatives also causes a rise in the hCG level and have you believe you are pregnant. Tranquilizers can refer to anxiolytic medication and to antipsychotics. Prescription anti-anxiety medications include benzodiazepines (Diazepam or Valium, Alprazolam or Xanax), azapirones and hydroxyzine. Antipsychotics are prescribed for psychosis management (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) and include Droperidol, Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Triflupromazine, Thioridazine.

Anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs such as barbiturates (Phenobarbital), benzodiazepines, bromides, fatty acids (valproic acid), fructose derivatives, GABA analogs, Primidone and triazines can also cause false positive tests.

St. John's wort may result in altered menstrual flow, bleeding, unwanted pregnancies, and hormone level changes. But, I could not find supportive evidence that it can affect a pregnancy test.

Regards,
Maryann