Light Bleeding After Possible Pregnancy: What Could It Be?

Question
My last period started January 10.  My boyfriend was leaving to go to school and we had sex pretty much on a daily basis until he left on January 29.  On Febuary 5 when I woke up and went to the bathroom I wiped and there was very light bleeding very pinkish and a tiny little clot and again 2 days later in the morning very light pink with no clot.  I assumed my period was getting ready to start but hasnt yet and I havent had any signs of it except those early morning light spotting.  I have started feeling really tired and sleepy over the past week more so than usual, to the point where its hard for me to stay focused.  I bought a clearblue easy digital test pack and I took a test the night of Feb 13 and then again on the morning of Feb 16 both were negative.  I have had issues with irregular, missed menstral cycles in the past about 7 or 8 years ago,  but since I stopped taking birth control pills my cycle has been pretty regular cycle between 27 and 31 days not missing any months.  Could I still be pregnant?

Answer
Dear Melissa,

With a LMP of 1/10, your fertile window would have been 1/20-1/30, with expected ovulation around 1/25-1/26 (depending on the length of your cycle that month). That would definitely put you at risk for pregnancy if the sex during that time was unprotected.

If you did conceive around 1/26, the spotting on 2/5 could very well have been implantation bleeding.

The tests you took should have been late enough after a missed period to read an hCG level indicating pregnancy, however some women do have problems getting a positive within the first missed cycle.

You can do one of two things - you can wait another cycle and see whether you miss your period again and just keep in mind that you MAY be pregnant and act accordingly. OR you can go to your doctor's office and request a quantitative blood pregnancy test (serum beta hCG). This will give you an actual amount of hCG in your bloodstream. An hCG level of 25 mIU/ml or more would be positive for pregnancy.

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

Brenda