Fact Check: Can Men Test Positive on a Pregnancy Test?

Claim: A viral post on social media suggests that when a man takes a pregnancy test, it will always show a positive result.

Verdict: False.

Social media users have circulated a claim suggesting that if men were to take a pregnancy test, the result would always come back positive. The claim has been widely shared in memes, jokes, and misleading posts, sparking confusion among readers.

The Science Behind Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced after a fertilised egg attaches to the uterus during pregnancy. Women typically have measurable levels of hCG only during pregnancy, which is why the test is designed as a reliable indicator.

Men, however, do not normally produce hCG, which means that if a man takes a pregnancy test, the result will almost always be negative.

Rare Exceptions

While the claim is false in general, there are rare but serious medical conditions where a man could test positive. Certain cancers, including testicular cancer, as well as some liver, stomach, and lung tumours, can abnormally produce hCG.

In such cases, a positive pregnancy test in a man is not a sign of pregnancy but rather a critical medical warning that requires immediate professional evaluation.

Why the Claim is Misleading

The viral claim distorts reality by suggesting that a positive result is guaranteed for men, which is not true. Instead, such results are extremely rare and linked to dangerous health conditions, not pregnancy.

The Bottom Line

A man taking a pregnancy test will not always get a positive result. In fact, the vast majority of men will see a negative test. A positive result in a man is rare and may indicate a serious underlying medical condition, making it a reason to seek urgent medical care, not a source of internet humour.