6 days late but negative HPTs

[Anonymous]

I am so frustrated. DH and I are TTC #2. My period is six days late, which has only happened to me one other time - when I was pregnant with my son over 4 years ago. I typically have a very regular cycle, which is on the short side - 25 days for the past 5 months since coming off the pill. I've been testing daily since the day before my period was due but have gotten a negative every time. With my last pregnancy, I tested positive on the day I missed my period. I also think I'm experiencing other pregnancy symptoms - tingling, sore breasts, period-like pain (I had this with my last pregnancy), waves of nauseau, moodiness up the wazoo, but I can't figure out if it's all in my head. How is it possible that if I really am pregnant, my body knows not to menstruate but I'm not producing enough HCG to produce a positive test? I broke down and called the doctor's office today and the nurse said call back if my period is two weeks late and I'm still getting a negative result. Is it common for it to take 1-2 weeks past the date of your expected period to get a positive result? Thanks for any insights.

[Anonymous]

The truth is, unless you are charting and know exactly when you have ovulated, you don't know that you are actually "late". Also, if you did conceive, you're Luteal Phase (time between ovulation and expected mensus) may be long. Every woman's LP varies. A longer LP will mean it may take a few longer days than others to get a + HPT. Typically, you can't get a + HPT until about 10-14 days past ovulation. So if you ovulated late - which could happen based on many factors), you'll either get your + later than you expect or just get your period later than you think you should. Scientifically, the only time you're ever "late" is when you are pregnant and never actuallly get your peroid.

Likewise, your body can know when to menstrate and not ovulate fwiw.

Reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility would be pretty helpful!

[Anonymous]

Could be a "chemical" pregnancy that just hasn't ended yet. A lot of late periods are really "pregnancies" that didn't take. That's why your OB/GYN's office wants you to wait for 2 weeks: once upon a time OB/GYN's didn't see you to confirm a pregnancy until you had missed TWO periods - not one.