How Does A UTI Impact A Pregnancy Test?
If you’re worried about how your UTI could impact your pregnancy test results, this blog is for you. It can be confusing to navigate the different symptoms of urinary tract infections and potential pregnancy - but we’re here to explain why a UTI will not impact your pregnancy test result.
UTI tests and pregnancy tests are looking for very different things.
The only real similarity between UTI tests and pregnancy tests is that they both rely on a urine sample, and both can be done either at the doctor's office or at home.
UTI tests look for signs of infection or bacteria in your urine.
A typical UTI test will involve giving a urine sample at the doctor's office. Your sample is then sent off to a lab where it is tested using either a dipstick or cultures. The dipstick (or UTI test strip) is used to look for signs of infection, whereas a culture looks for a specific type of bacteria called e.coli.
The MyUTI test is different: we analyze your sample for the top 12 symptom-causing UTI pathogens, check for antibiotic resistance and provide treatment recommendations. For more on the differences between testing options, download our UTI testing guide.
Pregnancy tests look for one specific hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
This is the hormone that supports pregnancy. hCG starts being produced around 6 days after fertilization and levels continue to rise steadily throughout pregnancy. So, if a pregnancy test detects hCG in your urine, you will get a positive pregnancy test result.
Pregnancy tests can also be done by a doctor, using a blood sample to check for hCG. However, urine tests are more common because they’re affordable, easily accessible and yield quicker results.
Are home pregnancy tests accurate?
Home pregnancy tests are most accurate first thing in the morning when your urine is the strongest. The best time to test for pregnancy is at least a week or two after your missed period - so around 4 weeks after ovulation. Before this point, hCG levels in your urine may be too low to show up on a pregnancy test.
If you get a negative pregnancy test result, it’s important to test regularly until your period arrives. This is to make sure you detect a potential pregnancy as early as possible to allow you to make informed choices.
Can a UTI cause a positive pregnancy test?
A UTI won’t cause a false positive pregnancy result because UTIs do not impact your hormone levels - which is what pregnancy tests are looking for.
False positive results are very rare but could be caused by medications, abortion or user error. If you get a positive pregnancy result at home, it’s important to seek support from a doctor as soon as possible.
Can a UTI cause a late period?
If you have a UTI and a late period with a negative pregnancy test result - this is not due to your infection. A UTI won’t cause your period to be late because the infection does not directly impact your hormone levels.
However, the stress caused by long-term or recurrent UTI symptoms could disrupt your menstrual cycle. This is because your hormones are highly sensitive to lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep and mental well-being.
Lower estrogen levels in the lead-up to your period could also make you more susceptible to UTIs since estrogen plays an important role in supporting your vaginal microbiome.
Can UTI medication affect a pregnancy test?
Although a UTI itself will not impact a pregnancy test - the medication you take to treat it might.
Antibiotics can alter the composition of your urine, making hCG more difficult to detect early in pregnancy. So if you started antibiotics around the time of your missed period, it’s a good idea to wait until you’ve finished the treatment to test again.
Anything else I need to know?
The key thing to remember is that a UTI will not impact a pregnancy test. If you’re still unsure about your at-home pregnancy test or UTI test results, it’s important to seek support from a medical professional.
