QuestionQUESTION: My last legitimate period started February 27. I've been on a pretty regular cycle for awhile now and I definitely have never been early for a cycle, but on March 17 (about a week or so before my next scheduled period) I had what I wouldn't necessarily call a "period"; I just spotted really really heavy for a few days. Now, it's April the 6th and I started spotting heavy again. I am worried that I could be pregnant. My boyfriend and I always use a condom, and he even pulls out when he actually starts to cum. But there have been a few times where he has put it in me without a condom. We're always extremely careful and he makes sure there's no pre-cum on it before he does and we don't leave it in long AT ALL. But I'm still afraid with my weird cycle that I could by some chance be pregnant. Is there any advice or answer you could give me? I would be extremely appreciative! Thank you so much.
ANSWER: Dear Rachel,
Anytime you have had unprotected sex in the last cycle or two, you cannot dismiss the possibility of pregnancy. The spotting could simply be a bit of a hormonal imbalance you are experiencing right now, or it could be related to pregnancy. You will need to test for pregnancy to know for sure. Although some tests claim accuracy on the first day of a missed period, I usually suggest that women wait until the week after a missed or spotty period before testing for pregnancy. This tends to minimize the incidence of false negative results and also avoids wasting money on a test for a simple delay of a period by a few days. When/if you test make sure to use 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results.
FYI - checking for pre-ejaculate before having sex will not guarantee much. If the man is sexually excited enough for the penis to be erect, pre-ejaculate can seep out. This can obviously happen after you check it.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: First of all, thank you so much for your response!
I do have one more question:
How soon will it be okay for me to take a pregnancy test? Because if I follow my regular cycle, then the first day of my missed period would be around March 27th. Right now I am experiencing a little bit of spotting, but not very much at all. Would it be accurate if I took a pregnancy test now?
Thank you again for all of your help!
AnswerDear Rachel,
I usually suggest that women wait until the week after a missed or spotty period before testing for pregnancy. If your next period is due 3/27, I would wait and test 4/3-4 if you don't have a regular period.
Hope that helps. Be well!
Brenda
