Early Pregnancy Symptoms & Negative Test: What To Do?

Question
Brenda,

I am 35, off BCPs since October, and trying to conceive for the first time.  I had a period starting on 10/06/07 and last month I started my period on 11/09/07.  I had sex on the 25th, 27th, 29th, and 2nd of December. On 12/6 I had a small, very light yellowish- brownish discharge, one or two wipes and cramping from the 5th-7th. I thought I was trying to start my period.

This morning I took an early (EPT) test, and it said, "not preganant."  At this point, should this test be accurate?  

Thanks for your time & help!

Answer
Dear Teresa,

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 usually works out to be approximately three weeks after a potential conception date. Waiting just 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.

I would suggest waiting another five days and testing again if you don't start your period. If those results are negative, you can either wait for the next cycle to see if your periods resume or have your doctor's office do a quantitative blood pregnancy test (serum beta hCG). That test will give an actual amount of hCG in your bloodstream rather than just a positive/negative result. Any amount of 25 mIU/ml or more would be considered positive for pregnancy.

I would also suggest starting to have sex a bit earlier in your cycle. Your fertile window will typically be from cycle days 11-21 (Day 1 being the first day of your period). I recommend having sex every other day from CD 11 through 21 when you are trying to conceive. This will allow for any variation in your ovulation day and will also give your husband's body time to build back up his sperm stores.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and a Merry Christmas.

Brenda