Unexpected Period & Birth Control Concerns: What to Do

Question
So to start a long story I stopped taking Depo on June 15 , and began the pill on June 17th I lost my birth control pills on June 19th and came on my period the 25th of June. I had unprotected sex 2 times before my actual period      ( pull out method). My next period which was supposed to come on July 25th came on Aug 13th with breast tenderness 2 weeks ahead time , (when my period was late I took 3 hpt and went the doctors and everything was fine ).The breast tenderness has continued after my last period and I still have it now and now I have very light, brown bleeding 4 days ahead of my regular period. I am tired all the time, all I want to do is sleep and eat all day. Am I pregnant or just paranoid ???

Answer
Dear Teania,

After Depo Provera is discontinued, your menstrual cycles can be a bit irregular. With the additional factor of starting and stopping the BCP, it is not too surprising that you are having hormonal symptoms and irregular cycles.

However, the unprotected sexual encounters did leave you susceptible to pregnancy. "Pulling out" is historically ineffective as a method of birth control because the pre-ejaculate (the little bit of semen that seeps out prior to actual ejaculation) can have a high concentration of sperm cells contained within it. If you continue to worry that you may be pregnant, ample time has passed that a pregnancy test would come back positive now. Instead of stressing, go ahead and re-test to clear your mind of the worry. I do, however, feel these symptoms are more than likely hormonal, related to the remnants of Depo Provera and that BCP issue. Other causes for the absence of periods can be:
-Hormonal abnormalities, which cause fluctuating levels of the hormones needed to support menstruation
-Emotional or physical stress / Depression
-Rapid weight loss or gain
-Change in diet
-Low body weight
-Obesity
-Frequent or strenuous exercise
-Cysts or tumors in the ovaries
-Thyroid or Pituitary dysfunction
-Certain medications or drug use

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

Brenda