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NOTE: Opinions and advice provided on this website are based on the personal experience of the author, Stacy Quarty. Ms. Quarty in no way claims to be a professional source of medical, psychological or statistical information.

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Am I Pregnant?

Q. I don't know if I'm pregnant. I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. But after that I had my period. Just recently I had sex and the next morning I had light pink spotting. I've been feeling ill for about two weeks now. Is that a sign that I am pregnant?
-Anonymous, Michigan

A. You may still be pregnant. Spotting after intercourse and general ill feelings are definitely signs. Although it's not all that common, some women do experience a period during pregnancy. You should take another HPT or visit your OB/GYN to be sure.

Q. I always get my periods regularly and on time, but my last period lasted for only two days with cramping. I think I can rule out pregnancy because I had my tubes tied seven years ago. What should I do?
-Anonymous, New York

A. Since you've had your tubes tied, you are probably not pregnant. There have been cases of unsuccessful sterilization, but it's rare. A period might be missed due to stress, illness, diet changes or pre-menopause. (See the other pre-menopause question for more details.)

If you miss your next period, you may want to take a home pregnancy test and/or visit your OB/GYN to see what's going on.

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Q. My period started three days ago. That night, my boyfriend and I had anal sex while I was on top of him. He came in me and when I got up I could feel something running down toward my vagina. Could this be semen and could I be pregnant?
-Anonymous, Iowa

A. Yes, it probably was semen you felt running down, but the chance of your getting pregnant is very slim. If you have regular periods (about every 28 days), you were nowhere near the time of ovulation. Also, the fact that the sperm was not directly deposited into your vagina greatly decreases your chances of pregnancy.

Q. I had unprotected sex about two months ago. I also had a tubal ligation after the unprotected sex. I have not missed a period and I have taken three home pregnancy tests, all of which were negative. Last week I had a sharp, stabbing pain in my lower left abdomen and my breasts are tender to the touch. Could I be pregnant? If I had been pregnant, wouldn't the doctor have noticed before or during the operation?
-Anonymous, New York

A. I'm fairly sure you're not pregnant. Your tests were negative and you are displaying no other common symptoms. Plus, it's standard procedure before any kind of surgery to check for pregnancy. Your doctor should have performed a blood test before the tubal ligation to check for pregnancy amongst other things. The stabbing pain could have been from gas or a cramp from ovulation. The tender breasts are probably a precursor to menstruation.

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Q. Can an egg implant, un-implant and then implant again? I can't get a clear test result, but I have the symptoms of pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my daughter the result was faint, but plain. Now it's positive then negative, then positive again, then negative. I'm so confused!
-Teri, Kentucky

A. An egg cannot implant and then un-implant and relocate. If you had one positive HPT (home pregnancy test), then you probably are pregnant. It's possible that during certain times of the day you have less of a hormone level that would create a positive test. If you use a HPT with your first urine of the day, you will get your most accurate reading. If, a week from now, you are still getting varying results, you may want to visit your OB/GYN to check your progesterone levels. If your levels are low, you may be put on a hormone supplement for the first few weeks of pregnancy. (See the other progesterone/Prometrium question for more details.)

Q. I've had an IUD since my youngest son was two months old (for 18 months). He is our fourth child and, we thought, probably our last. Now I'm overdue to start my period, sick to my stomach and tired–all signs of pregnancy. I don't know if I am just paranoid, but it seems like I might be pregnant. What do you think?
-Anonymous, Washington

A. Although an IUD device is a fairly reliable form of birth control, it is not 100% fail-safe. If you're experiencing symptoms of pregnancy, you should get a pregnancy test either with a urine home test kit or by visiting your OB/GYN. If you are pregnant, you should contact your doctor. If you decide to keep the pregnancy, your doctor may recommend removing the device and will want to watch you closely for an ectopic pregnancy, which can be common with an IUD.

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