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What to Do if You Think You Are Pregnant
I have received several comments on my article, Early Signs of Pregnancy, from readers wondering what they should do if they think they may be pregnant. I thought I would write a quick article with some suggestions to help other readers who may be wondering the same thing.
There are really only a couple of things you can to do determine if you really are pregnant.
- You can opt to take a home pregnancy test. These can be purchased from any pharmacy or grocery store. There are many options on the market so be sure to read the labels and pick one that suits you preferences and needs. Home pregnancy tests have fairly high accuracy rates when used correctly and used at the proper time. False positives are very rare.
OR
- You can visit your doctor for a doctor administered urine pregnancy test (similar to home pregnancy tests) or a blood test. Many women feel more comfortable hearing the results directly from their doctor, especially if you are unsure about performing the home test properly. If you don’t have a regular doctor or lack health insurance you can also go to a clinic to have these doctor administered tests.
There are many early signs of pregnancy from sore and swollen breasts, cramping, exhaustion, morning sickness, and lack of or late period. All of these symptoms can also be signs of other things that may be going on, which makes it important to find out for sure. Any time you have unprotected sex (and even protected sex since no birth control is 100% accurate) there is a chance of getting pregnant. If you suspect that you may be pregnant the best thing is to take a pregnancy test.
If you have questions or concerns about your early pregnancy symptoms, or about how to get and administer a pregnancy test you should contact your doctor.
Hello,
I am a 26 year old married woman. I have been craving a baby for a couple of months now but have been putting it off because we are building a new house. Financially we are doing great and we do have a place that we are renting in the mean time. We just found out that my father has cancer and we feel that even though the house isn’t ready maybe we should start trying to get pregnant so that my father would be asle to be with his grandchild. Do you think that we are making the right decision? Thank you.
Anonymous,
Only you and your husband can make that decision. Listen to your heart and do what you think is right. Sorry to hear about your dad.
I’m confused. I had unprotected sex about a week ago and i just ended my period when i had sex. I’m having waves cramps with nausea, heartburn and feeling bloated. Also im spotting brown blood. Am i pregnant?
Kristina,
It is possible to get pregnant anytime you have unprotected sex. It would depend on when you ovulated. If you think you might be pregnant you could take a home pregnancy test or go to your doctor for a blood test.
Hi. I have been throwing up, feel sick, being on a bad mood and very tired lately. I am sapose to be gettin my period on the 27th, I have a home-pregency test, but it says to take it 2 days before my expected period!I think I may be pregnant because of these signs. What do you think I should do? Should I take the test on Wednesday? or wait and see if I get my period on Friday?
Brandi,
Home pregnancy tests become more accurate the longer you wait. I would recommend waiting to see if your period arrives. If it doesn’t then you can take the test.
ok thank you very much. I have another question!! Do you get different sympotms depended on what age you are?
Brandi,
I don’t think pregnancy symptoms change with age, but I don’t know for sure.
hi every one
i have a 5yrs old son i also had a misscarriage in february(1 month old)But i have been trying to get pregnant since september but instead of a missed period my blood has changed from being thick to light.But right now i am experiencing cramping under my stomach for the past week mood swings because i just cant stand my boyfriend looking at me and i am always sleepy but not excessively so could i be pregnant?
June,
I would recommend taking a home pregnancy test.
hi guys i wandering if i’m pregnant i been having some symptoms like my breast is swollen and there is some spot coming around my nipples and i have a little tightness and cramps in my lower abdominal. i’m 6-7 days away from my period did a pregnancy test today and negative i guest it was too early what do you guys think?
Nik,
I think the earliest you can test with the right hpt is 5 days before your missed period. They become more accurate after your missed period. I would recommend testing again if you actually miss your period.
I have been taking the pill since I got married, but on the last cycle I missed two pills and my period came 7 days early, I continued with my pills and once my period was over (five days ago) a had sex with my husband two days in a row, without protection, that was two days ago, today I woke up feeling sick to my stomach, with nausea, had cramps and noticed spotting (light pink) but the spotting stopped. Could I be pregnant? I am supposed to begin taking my pills this Friday, should I wait and see in case I am pregnant? Answer me ASAP please, thank you!
Maria31,
I would recommend talking to your doctor. I wouldn’t want to make a recommendation on whether you should be taking your pills or not, that is something best advised by a medical professional.
I need some help. I had a girl call me and tell me she is pregnant with my sons child. In a drunken moment, they had sex once on Nov 7th. According to written documentation, she has known since Nov 15th that she was pregnant and advertising it on her myspace. Is that possible? She says she was on birth control but it must not have worked (her words). I feel she is either trying to trap him to get out of her own bad situation OR she was already pregnant at the time. your thoughts?
Terry,
It would seem a bit early to know for sure that she was pregnant. I know early ultrasounds are pretty good at dating the pregnancy as they can tell by how developed the embryo is how far along she is. Maybe you and your son could ask for an ultrasound (and attend with her so you hear the words from the doctor). I hope everything works out for your son.
thanks Lisa. I know yesterday was “supposedly” her first doctors visit which I find hard to believe she got in so soon. And I doubt she could afford an ultra sound. 8 days seemed awefully early to tell.
thanks again
Terry,
Well hopefully everything gets figured out. Best of luck to your son (and you!).
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well iam 18 years old and i think i am pregnant. I had my period on Dec. 5th and on Dec. 28th i started spotting. I told my boyfriend and he told me to take a test. so i bought the cheapest on i can find and i took it. It said negative but i dont think it is right. Because i have had cramping headaches and things like that. iam going to make an appointment to go see my doctor. But i think iam going to get a defferent test. what do you think i should do please tell me something
Sam,
It wouldn’t hurt to take another test. Be sure to read the packaging and choose a test that is accurate before your missed period. I think First Response is accurate about 5 days before your missed period. Also going to see your doctor is a good idea too as they can do a blood test which is a lot more accurate than the home urine tests.
Im 16 years old.. I have 2 months having unprotected sex with my boyfriend, he did come inside me… and ever since i have gotten headaches backaches tender breasts nausea dizziness stomaches everyday for the past 2 months & a half.. But I haven’t missed a period yet . In 3 days im supposed to have my period, but I don’t feel well at all I can’t even sleep.. I wake up every night tose and turning . Can i be pregnant?
I have to add on to that..
I have had unprotected sex recently alot . Like every 3 or 2 days ..
I am very worried.. I told my boyfriend and he thinks I am prego I got scared ..
I don’t eat normally and food that I used to find very deliscous now I find discusting . I throw up sometimes, get much nausea, headache everyday, stomaches, backaches EVERYDAY TOO . I’ve never had a missed period before, sure I have had a couple of days late but never missed a period.. I have 2 months that everytime my periods going to come it comes 3 or 4 days late . I get worried, I haven’t done a pregnancy test in the last couple of 2 months . Can you PLEASE HELP ME ?!!!
:’( I need to know what to do early with time so that I can know what’s going to happen !
Samantha,
Anytime you have unprotected sex there is a chance of becoming pregnant. Given that you have had a lot of unprotected sex and are experiencing all those symptoms there is a good chance you maybe pregnant. I would recommend going to your doctor so you can get tested and your doctor can be there for support and advice.
Okay thanks, but there’s one problem.. I don’t want my mother to know because she has already suspected if im prego.. I even have these weird everyday dreams like im prego and my stomach is getting type shaped roundish.. Perhaps I shall go to my school nurse tomorrow ? I have been discharging some clearish whiteish stuff… HELP PLEASE !!!
Samantha,
It is probably a good idea to go to your school nurse. She should be able to help you out.
Hello. I wanted to ask if it is possible to get your period but still be pregnant? Because I have always had unprotected sex with my boyfriend but never got pregnant. And I got my period last month around the 23rd and lasted about a week. But now I am having some rare symptoms that seems to be pregnancy ones. I really don’t know what to do but is it possible for me to be pregnant? I’m only 17 years old and I am terrified!
Valerie,
Yes, it is possible to still get what appears to be a period in the first couple of months of pregnancy. Any time you have unprotected sex there is a chance of becoming pregnant. I would recommend taking a home pregnancy test or going to your doctor if you think you may be pregnant.
Okay but what if I bled a lot? Is that normal?
Valerie,
Not necessarily normal, but it does happen. I would recommend talking to your doctor or the nurse at school. Teens often have symptoms that are different than adults since their bodies are still developing.
hello,i am a mother of 2 daughters our youngest one is 7yrs old i had a tubal ligation in 2002.for the past week and some odd days i have been feeling really tired,craving milk and monthly not normal like usual it was very light,last month it was a normal menstrual.i was feeling nauseous but never vomit,it comes and goes.can i possibly be prego again? i just have this deep down gut feeling i am.i didnt do a hpt yet,i’m just seeking some answers b4 i go ahead and take it.can someone plz help me out.i heard of women getting pregnant after a tubal ligation and had the baby.
Lori,
Although uncommon, it is possible to get pregnant after a tubal ligation. I would recommend taking a home pregnancy test to find out for sure.
Hi,
My boyfriend and I have had unprotected sex through out our relationship. I am on the pill but I forgot to take one about two weeks ago and I started the whole month a day late.
We had unprotexted sex about a week ago, and I forgot the pill the day after. I’ve been having to go to the bathroom a lot, my breasts are sore, fatigue is increased, i’m a little more moodier, and my stomach feels kind of weird. Not normal. I don’t know how to explain it.
I have about a week and half left on my pills, should I continue to take them or stop if I may be pregnant? Should I wait on taking a test?
Sam,
I think your best bet is to talk to your doctor, especially about the pill question.
I’m a PCOS sufferer and I’m almost 6 days late Ive never been more than 3. is it even possible i am pregnant? Ive had 2 negative tests. But my gut tells me they r wrong.im currently extremely nauseous, as said i lack my period, my boobs are sore, and i think Ive put on weight. I have no insurance and i “make to much” for the clinic to take me. what should i do? Are the symptoms been all in my head? PLze help
Megan,
It is possible to become pregnant with PCOS, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are. Your symptoms could be signs of pregnancy or something else. Since you are getting negatives on the home pregnancy test I think your best bet is to try to get in to see a doctor.
hey everyone was just wondering if someone could help me i have a 1yr old gave birth dec 07 at my 8 week check up i started taking the pill i took this for 6 months then decied to change to the depo shot i have been taking this for nearly 9 months next shot next week i have had no side effects but the past month and half i have spotted for a few had stomach cramps and headaches now the past 2 weeks i have been feeling a fluttering feeling in my stomach that reminds me of when i first started feeling my son also my boobs have got bigger i dont know if i can be pregnant or not is there even a chance that i can be the depo is 99.9% effective and i have always had it on time im just worring could you please help any advice
Laura,
There is a slight chance of getting pregnant while on birth control. Although it is very effective it isn’t 100%. I would ask the doctor to do a pregnancy test before the shot to be sure.
So I went to the gyno last week wed. and i had a vaginal bacteria infection, gardnerella so they gave me clindamycin (Cleocin) vaginal suppositories, for 3 days then normogin for 6 days. I currently take YAZ and was on the placebo pills , i had unprotected sex on day 3 so i was on cleocin, he didn’t cum in me, but pulled out, but i know thats not always effective. I know i shouldn’t have had sex while have the infection, but i didn’t think my birth control lost effectiveness?? The doctor didnt even tell me not to have sex or to be careful that my birth control will lose effectiveness, but i have been reading information about it. I am in italy so I couldn’t read the information of the box. Anyways now im very worried i could be pregnant, I got my period the next day. I also, am sick, and going to the doctors tomorrow to see, i think i have strep throat, so I will probably get a antibotic which i know effects the birth control. Whens the earliest i can take a test, will it give acurate results if im on antibotics or was?
THANKS
Tara,
You will need to wait a little while since you just had sex last week. I would talk to your doctor when you go see him/her about your strep throat.
Hi, I am new to this website. Was wondering if anyone could help me. My periods have been crazy ever since I had a tubal reversal back in June ’08. This months period I spotted Feb, 6,7,8 it was a clear mucus tinted with brown. Only saw it when I would wipe. My first full day was on the 9th and had a full period for 7 days. On the 24th and 25th started again although it was very light. Hardly anything. I am pretty sure I ovulated around the 27th, 28th, or 1st as there was the large quantity of egg white mucus. For the last few days I have been cramping, boobs sore and can not sleep at night. The cramping is not bad I just feel it every know and then. It feels like twinges and moves from left to right. I have also had a sharp pain go from my left ovary or in that vacinity through to my pubic bone. What could this be? I have been TTC since Aug. Also, how do I know when I am late? Do I count from the day I first spotted which was the 6th or do I count the first day of full bleeding the 9th, or do I count from when I had the light bleed on the 23rd? I am sooooooo confused. I have done a HPT but it was neg. Someone please help me.
Can anyone help me I had a abortion 2weeks ago, and on my 2weeks I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend, but before he ejaculated he pull out and I wanted to know could I be pregnant……
Michelle,
I would say count from the day you full period started just to be sure. Also, I had similar shooting pains when I had an ovarian cyst several years ago. Since your periods are irregular and you are having those shooting pains I would recommend talking to your doctor. They can do a blood test to check for pregnancy which is more accurate than a hpt. If they determine you are not pregnant then they can check for other problems that maybe causing the symptoms.
Good luck to you.
Shayla,
My first bit of advice is to either stop having sex or use protection if you do not want to become pregnant, abortion should not be used as a form of birth control.
Any time you have unprotected sex there is a chance of becoming pregnant. I would recommend talking to a doctor.
I have 15 day missed my period then i have use home pragnancy test results are nagative so i want to know that can I Pragnant ? Please help me
Smt. Ashweeni,
It is possible to get a false negative on a home pregnancy test. I would recommend going into see your doctor and getting a blood test as they are much more accurate. Also, if you are not pregnant than your doctor can try to determine what else may be causing the missed period.
um i had unprotected sex like two and a half weeks ago and i think i am pregnant i took a pregnancy test but it says im not but i be haven signs that i am my beast gettin bigger i feel dizzy have head ace um belly feel tight um sick alot um think bout food day and night eat more then i use to and more stuff but any ways i think i am pregnant i set an apt. but thats next mont i wont to no now i miss my peroid today im gettin bigger ion no what to think is im pregnant or not alot of ppl think i am that dont even no bout it so what should i doooooo???????
Kisha Marton,
It could be that it is just too early to test. You could wait a few more days and test again. If that still comes back negative then you may just need to wait until your doctor’s appt.
so my gf and i recently had unprotected sex… i am super scared that she is preg…but she said her period is not regular… how do we know when to test then.. if it is not regular…
Bob,
It can be difficult to tell when to test if her periods are not regular. Your best bet is probably to wait a couple of weeks and if she has not had her period then test at that time.