How did you know you were PG?

[Lissa]

I've never been pregnant and don't plan to be for many more years, but this may help.

Some early symptoms of pregnancy are:

Tender, swollen breasts - Your breasts may provide one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. As early as two weeks after conception, hormonal changes may make your breasts tender, tingly or sore. Or your breasts may feel fuller and heavier.

Fatigue - Fatigue also ranks high among early symptoms of pregnancy. During early pregnancy, levels of the hormone progesterone soar. In high enough doses, progesterone can put you to sleep. At the same time, lower blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and increased blood production may team up to sap your energy.

Headaches - Early in pregnancy, increased blood circulation caused by hormonal changes may trigger frequent, mild headaches.

However these symptoms aren't unique to pregnancy so the only sure fire way to know if you are pregnant is a pregnancy test.

Most doctors recommend that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a urine pregnancy test. This is usually about two weeks after conception. However, some tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier.

A blood test can detect a pregnancy earlier than a urine test at about 7-12 days from possible conception (but if a negative result is received, a test should be repeated if a period is missed.) However it is more expensive than a urine test (price depends on cost of doctor's visit and lab fees).

[Lissa]

Oh, and I forgot to mention, since you have had a period since you potentially skipped a pill, it also decreases the likely-hood of you being pregnant. If you had become pregnant before your period then you more than likely would not have had it, menses is a result of an egg not being fertilized so your uterus gets ready for round 2 and sheds the lining of the uterus wall so another layer can swell up and get ready to go, and missing a single pill, though not good, isn't as bad as missing 3 or more. As long as you made sure you took the rest of them religiously, there is a slim chance of you being pregnant.

Of course there's also the case that bc isn't 100% effective, they can only claim 99.98% on the injection and 98% on most pills, so there's always an exception somewhere within the population.

But like I said, since you did have a period after the potentially missed pill the chances are slim, but the only way to know for sure is a pregnancy test and it may be too soon to get a store bought one. Just watch your symptoms, and if you start feeling nauseous I'd go to the doctor because it could be that you're getting sick.

[Ponyup]

I have a Gyno appointment on the 15th of june to see about switching pills anyway. So I'm sure if I am she'll tell me. My body just feels off. I guess it could be stress or the weather or whatever. I guess if I am I am. I'm in a stable commited relationship so it wouldn't be something we couldn't handle & my mom would be thrilled.

[Ponyup]

Originally Posted by Lissa

Oh, and I forgot to mention, since you have had a period since you potentially skipped a pill, it also decreases the likely-hood of you being pregnant. If you had become pregnant before your period then you more than likely would not have had it, menses is a result of an egg not being fertilized so your uterus gets ready for round 2 and sheds the lining of the uterus wall so another layer can swell up and get ready to go, and missing a single pill, though not good, isn't as bad as missing 3 or more. As long as you made sure you took the rest of them religiously, there is a slim chance of you being pregnant.

Of course there's also the case that bc isn't 100% effective, they can only claim 99.98% on the injection and 98% on most pills, so there's always an exception somewhere within the population.

But like I said, since you did have a period after the potentially missed pill the chances are slim, but the only way to know for sure is a pregnancy test and it may be too soon to get a store bought one. Just watch your symptoms, and if you start feeling nauseous I'd go to the doctor because it could be that you're getting sick.

My main concern is that I keep reading everywhere that when you are on the pill you don't have a real period. It is a period created by the pill to make women feel more comfortable. I don't really understand how this works. The pill makers say you don't ovulate on the pill so you don't build up a uterain lining. However, if you aren't building up a uterain lining where does the fake period come from. It's very confusing & hopefully something my gyno can explain to me.

[Emmsmom]

Many women have a small period even when they are pregnant. I know of a few women this has happened too. When it happened it wasn't a "normal" period. They said that it was very light and very short.

I knew I was preg about 2 weeks before my period was to even get here. Breast cancer runs in my family so I was doing the usual check of poking, pushing, and squeezing. I had a clear liquid come out of my nipple and so I took a test to rule a pregnancy out first. Well lo and behold I was preg. I never had any other symptoms for another 3 months.

Everyone is different. I wish you the best!

[Lissa]

I wouldn't say it's not a real period and that it's not just to make women feel better. Sure, bc stops you from ovulating, but I've been on and off the pill for medical reasons for many years now and I don't see any difference in my periods from when I'm on the pill and when I'm not. The pill just stops ovulation and increases the production of mucus on the cervix to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Of course, I'm not an expert, but I would hinge it on the fact that they make such a big deal when they come out with a pill that gives you a period every 4 months, and why it's been in the news lately that they're getting close to a breakthrough that will stop periods completely while on whatever medication it is.

I'm not a huge fan of stopping periods, it's a natural occurring thing, so why stop nature?

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by Lissa

I'm not a huge fan of stopping periods, it's a natural occurring thing, so why stop nature?

For me, it is the most painful thing in the world. I stay up literally all night in tears because it hurts so much. No medication works...midal, excederin, tylenol...nothing. I would love a pill that would make it go away. I'm sure my poor husband wouldn't mind either since he usually has to just watch me suffer and there isn't really anything he can do to help. Do you know what this medication is called?

[Ponyup]

Originally Posted by AngieDoogles

For me, it is the most painful thing in the world. I stay up literally all night in tears because it hurts so much. No medication works...midal, excederin, tylenol...nothing. I would love a pill that would make it go away. I'm sure my poor husband wouldn't mind either since he usually has to just watch me suffer and there isn't really anything he can do to help. Do you know what this medication is called?

I believe it's called lybril or something like that. They also have seasonal that makes you have a period only every 3 months. seasonal is FDA approved, lybril is still waiting. I will double check that I have the right now.