Late Period & Pregnancy Symptoms: What Could It Mean?

Question
I am weeks late and I have taken 2 HPT and they both came up negative...could that be wrong?

I am just wondering because lately (past 2-3 weeks) I haven't been feeling like myself, i just feel different. I've been feeling nauseous, really bloated, have had really bad gas, it feels like I go to the bathroom every half hour, I have broken out on my face and back (which hadn't happened to me before, well not this bad anyway), really exhausted (wanting to sleep all day), extremely moody (last night I actually wanted cried when my friends son was crying because he wasn't getting his way), slight lower back ache every now and then, slight cramping the past couple days (not like period cramping, its not as strong, it just barely there) and a mild head ache every now and then, also.

Even my boy friend has noticed the changes in me, and he is the one stressing out about this more than i am.

I know that if you don't ovulate you don't get a period that month. The only reason in the past I have missed has been because I was starting training for softball. It was because we were exercising and losing fat and gaining muscle. That was the only time I was ever late or missed a period. That was only the four years I was in high school. Since high school (4yrs ago) it has been regular(every 30 days). Stress Can also be a factor I know, but I have not been under any stress at all in the past 6 months.

Sorry for being so long winded, but I think by giving more acurrate events can help better with answers/advice that is given.

So, I thank you in advance for any answers/advice that is given.

Answer
Dear Nichole,

The symptoms you are describing do sound like symptoms that are often experienced in early pregnancy, however they are hormonal in nature. That is why diagnosing a pregnancy based on symptoms alone is pretty tricky.

The absence of periods (amenorrhea) can be caused by a number of conditions or circumstances. By definition, amenorrhea is the absence of periods for at least three consecutive months. The most obvious cause is pregnancy. In the absence of pregnancy, the following are some other causes:
- Stress
- Certain medications (antidepressants, antipsychotics, some chemo drugs, and oral corticosteroids)
- Chronic illness
- Hormonal Imbalance - this is very common and could also contribute to the symptoms you are having.
- Low body weight or obesity
- Excessive or strenuous exercise (as you described)
- Thyroid dysfunction

There are occasions when women have reported not being able to get a positive reading on pregnancy tests until they are well into their pregnancy. This is not common, but it does occur when hCG levels are low to begin with in early pregnancy. Make sure when you are testing that you are using 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results. You can also go to your doctor's office and request a quantitative blood pregnancy test (serum beta hCG) which 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.

Otherwise, if you have missed three consecutive periods, I would suggest that you see your doctor for evaluation so that a cause can be determined.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. Be well!

Brenda