12 days post iui negative pregnancy test

Can a negative pregnancy test be inaccurate?

A repeated negative pregnancy test even with a missed period typically means that you are not pregnant. A negative pregnancy test a week or more after your missed period indicates that your chance of being pregnant is less than 1-2%. A positive pregnancy test usually means that you are pregnant. However, sometimes it is possible to be pregnant even though you had a negative pregnancy test.

What causes a negative test?

There are several reasons why you can have a negative pregnancy test. Maybe you miscalculated when your period was due. It's also possible you tested too soon and there is not enough hCG (the hormone that indicates pregnancy) found when you tested. You may need to wait another week and then retest.

12 days post iui negative pregnancy test

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When is the best time to do a pregnancy test?

hCG doubles about every 48 hours in early pregnancy, so a home pregnancy test that is negative on Monday could very likely be positive on Wednesday. However, if it's positive with first-morning urine, later on in the day, when the urine is more diluted, it could test negative. It is also important to remember that despite the advances in urine home pregnancy tests, blood tests are still the best at detecting early pregnancy.

The timing of a positive pregnancy test depends on implantation. If you are pregnant, a urine pregnancy test is not expected to be positive until 3-4 days after implantation (at the very earliest), which is about 10 days after ovulation/fertilization, and 4 days before the next period. About 51% of pregnant women have a positive pregnancy test two days before their next expected period.

Chances of being pregnant despite having a negative pregnancy test 

Days Post
Ovulation
(DPO)
Day of
Expected
Period (EP)
Chance of Still Being Pregnant With A Negative Pregnancy Test    Chance Of NOT Being Pregnant With A Negative Pregnancy Test %  Of Pregnant Women With A Positive Pregnancy Test
12 DPO EP -3 12.3% 87.8% 51%
13 DPO EP -2 9.5% 90.5% 62%
14 DPO EP -1 8.0% 92.0% 68%
15 DPO Expected period 6.5% 93.5% 74%
16 DPO EP +1 5.3% 94.8% 79%
17 DPO EP +2 3.8% 96.3% 85%
18 DPO EP +3 2.5% 97.5% 90%
23 DPO EP +7 1% 99.0% 96%

In each menstrual cycle, there is an about 25% chance of getting pregnant. Your chance of getting pregnant each month may be different depending on your age, certain medical issues, whether you ovulate or not, and if you are trying to get pregnant with IVF or other fertility medications.

If you know you ovulated and your period hasn't come 15+ days post ovulation, then there could be only one likely reason: you are pregnant!

Read More:
When Am I Most Fertile?
Pregnancy Symptoms: Early Signs You May Be Pregnant
Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a method of overcoming infertility. Many women wonder how soon they can take a pregnancy test after IUI. There are several factors that will influence your decision, but most doctors recommend a wait of at least two weeks.

During IUI, washed sperm is inserted through the cervix into the uterus via a catheter. It is typically performed when there is a problem with the man's sperm or the woman's cervical mucus. Introducing the sperm directly into the uterus bypasses both of these problems. IUI is also used when single women want to have children using donor sperm.

12 days post iui negative pregnancy test
Waiting at least 14 days after IUI to take a pregnancy test is recommended.

The recommendation is to wait at least 14 days before taking a pregnancy test after IUI. This is how long it will take most women to build up enough of the pregnancy hormone in their system to test positive. It is sometimes possible, however, to get a positive result sooner. Sensitive tests may be able to detect the hormone as early as nine days after IUI. Women testing that early should keep in mind that they may get a false negative result.

12 days post iui negative pregnancy test
Home pregnancy test showing positive and negative results.

For some IUI cycles, a trigger shot of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is used. This helps trigger ovulation in order to time it right for the IUI procedure. Since hCG is also the hormone that makes a pregnancy test positive, women who have had the trigger shot should wait longer before taking a pregnancy test after IUI. It usually takes eight to ten days for this to happen, but can take up to 14 days or longer. Some women take an inexpensive pregnancy test every day until it is negative, which means the hCG from the shot is gone and future tests will be accurate.

12 days post iui negative pregnancy test
Taking a pregnancy test after IUI before the 14 day mark may result in a false negative.

If you take a pregnancy test after IUI before the 14 day mark, you may get a false negative. This happens when you are pregnant but there is not enough hCG built up in your system to turn a test positive. Different tests have different levels of sensitivity. Those that say you can test before your period are the most sensitive, but you can still get a false negative. If you have gotten a negative pregnancy test after IUI but still have not gotten your menstrual period, wait a few days and test again.

12 days post iui negative pregnancy test
If you get a negative pregnancy test but no period after IUI, wait a few days and test again.

For the most accurate results, pregnancy tests should be taken using the first urine elimination of the day, but if you forget you should hold your urine for at least four hours before testing again. If you have waited at least 14 days after IUI to test and you get a negative result but still have not gotten your menstrual period, make an appointment with your doctor. He or she will probably do a pregnancy test using a blood sample, which detects lower levels than urine testing.

What Happens After IUI Day by Day?

Intrauterine insemination works to bypass some of the issues preventing conception. The entire visit should take less than a half-hour in your doctor's office. IUI only takes a few minutes and does not need any sedatives or pain killers.

During IUI 

IUI starts similarly to a pelvic exam. The doctor or nurse will have you lie back and guide you through the procedure, which includes:

  • The donor sperm is loaded into a flexible catheter. 
  • The cervix is located by the use of a speculum.
  • The catheter is inserted through the cervical opening.
  • The sperm is injected into the uterus.
  • The tube and speculum are removed.
  • The patient stays lying down for about 15 minutes.

Day 1-3 After IUI

12 days post iui negative pregnancy test
During IUI, washed sperm is inserted through the cervix into the uterus via a catheter.

It is possible that the procedure, though safe, can irritate the cervix or vaginal lining. Some spotting may occur for the first three days but isn't necessarily indicative of implantation. If there is a success, it usually takes a week to 10 days before any implantation bleeding happens. If any bleeding persists after the first three days, or if cramping or pain happens, then contact your doctor.

Day 6 After IUI

The sixth day is the soonest that implantation may occur. Now it is time to pay attention to the symptoms that indicate whether or not implantation happened successfully. These can vary but include:

  • cramping
  • fluctuations in basal body temperature
  • changes in mood
  • nausea
  • spotting
  • water retention
  • sore breasts

Day 11 After IUI

Every woman is different and implantation often happens at different rates. Some women experience implantation at 11 or more days after the insemination procedure. Therefore, it is possible that no pregnancy will be registered by symptoms or tests until two weeks after IUI.

Two Weeks After IUI

If you are pregnant, then your body needs enough time for your Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) to rise to detectable levels. This is why your doctor will schedule a follow-up pregnancy test at least 14 days after your initial visit. If it is going to occur, implantation will have typically happened after 12 days, and, even then, your natural HCG buildup takes some time for a pregnancy test to be effective. Testing too soon may otherwise mean false results.

What to Do After IUI to Increase Chances?

There are several things that can be done to improve your chances of getting pregnant with IUI.

Strong Sperm

Sperm washing means that the strongest, most viable sperm will be used for the sample. Studies have also shown that the sperm donor should avoid ejaculation for three or four days before giving a sample for IUI. This will result in a higher sperm count and improve your chances of pregnancy. Since sperm have a lifespan of about five days, it is advised to wait no longer than four before producing the sample.

Healthy Habits

The best approach is to behave as if you are already pregnant. Consider your daily habits. Practice healthy diet choices and maintain adequate exercise levels. Consider any medications you take that may affect your fertility. Don't drink any alcohol, take illegal drugs or smoke.

Hormone Stimulation

Fertility specialists may suggest special hormone injections that increase the likelihood of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. These treatments, used with IUI, can dramatically increase the chances of conception.

Stress Management

Anxiety and mood have been shown to affect fertility and insemination results. Listen to the doctor to properly set your expectations on the outcome of the procedure. Maintain a routine free of anxiety. Keep maintaining a healthy focus on the other aspects of your life aside from the IUI.

When Does Period Start After Failed IUI?

If the insemination was not successful, you will know for certain once you have your next period. This usually happens between 9 and 14 days, depending.

Hormone Balance

Attempts at artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and intrauterine insemination all use hormones and medications to help improve the chances of pregnancy. These can also change your usual reproductive cycle. It may move when you ovulate. Be aware that the result of an IUI that did not succeed can still mean changing when you get your period.

Trying Again

Remember, if you do have your period after IUI, then you aren't pregnant. But the procedure can be attempted multiple times. Reproductive doctors typically wait a minimum of one month in between attempts at insemination. This will allow a return to regular, healthy hormone cycles as well as starting a new cycle of any treatments or medications before attempting IUI again.

Is 12 days post IUI too early to test?

Follow your clinic's instructions and wait at least 14 days post-IUI before taking a test. Many clinics will schedule you for a pregnancy blood test at the 14-day mark. A blood test can detect lower levels of hCG and is considered even more accurate than urine tests.

Can you get a negative pregnancy test 12 DPO and still be pregnant?

If you get a negative pregnancy test at 12 DPO, it may not be final. A negative result at 12 DPO isn't always accurate — especially if the pregnancy test doesn't detect lower levels of hCG. Many at-home tests are most effective at determining pregnancy from the date your period was supposed to start.

Is it possible to get a negative pregnancy test 14 days after IUI?

A blood test at 14 DPO has an accuracy of around 99 percent because blood tests can detect lower levels of hCG. If you get a negative result at 14 DPO, there's a chance it could be a false negative. About eight percent of pregnant people get a false-negative pregnancy test result at 14 DPO.

Can you get a false negative two weeks after IUI?

After an IUI procedure, you have to wait at least two weeks to see if you have conceived. Even though it's incredibly hard to wait, checking too early with an at-home pregnancy test can generate a false-negative result because pregnancy hormone levels are not yet high enough to measure.