A 31-year-old woman believes that she may be pregnant.She took an over-the counter (OTC)pregnancy test 1 week ago after missing her period;the test was positive.During her assessment interview the nurse inquires about the woman's last menstrual period and asks whether she is taking any medications.The woman states that she takes medicine for epilepsy.She has been under considerable stress lately at work and has not been sleeping well.She also has a history of irregular periods.Her physical examination does not indicate that she is pregnant.She has an ultrasound scan,which reveals that she is not pregnant.What is the most likely cause of the false-positive pregnancy test result?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anticonvulsants may cause false-positive pregnancy test results.OTC pregnancy tests use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology,which can yield positive results as soon as 4 days after implantation.Implantation occurs 6 to 10 days after conception.If the woman were pregnant,she would be into her third week at this point (having missed her period 1 week ago).Fibroid tumours do not produce hormones and have no bearing on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)pregnancy tests.Although stress may interrupt normal hormone cycles (menstrual cycles),it does not affect hCG levels or produce positive pregnancy test results.

A 31-Year-Old Woman Believes That She May Be Pregnant