Reproductive System

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ask: I can't tell if I'm PMSing or pregnant!

By bemine4evr November 19, 2009 - 7:13pm
 
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Hi empowher-ers!

I have a question, or concern rather.

My boyfriend and I were just fooling around one day, and there was rubbing of privates, but no actual penetration. But I think there was some pre-ejaculation. We did this the day after my period ended. It's been 3 weeks, and last week, I started cramping (mainly at night, till today still) and my breasts feel a little sore. I haven't had nausea, or headaches, or spotting. The cramping 2 weeks before my period is a first for me. I never really took notice to whether my period was regular to the day or not, but it should be due around next week. I took at test yesterday morning (yes, a bit early, but I was anxious) and it was negative.

Is the anxiety getting the best of me, or am I actually pregnant?

Thank you!

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Diane Porter

Hi, bemine4ever,

I would say there's a 99.99% chance that it's just your anxiety getting the best of you. Since this was the day before your period ended, you would not have been ovulating yet. And with no penetration, that cuts the chances by a mile.

You are right in that pre-ejaculate does contain sperm. But for you to become pregnant, this is what would have had to happen:

1. some pre-ejaculate would have had to find its way into your vagina and up into your uterus
2. the sperm from that pre-ejaculate would have had to find its way toward your fallopian tubes, and live at least 3 days
3. you would have had to ovulate at about day 10 or 11
4. the egg would have had to be fertilized AND implant in your uterus.

And even if all those things happened, you really wouldn't be feeling symptoms yet. Most pregnant women's symptoms do not start until around the time they miss their period.

I would guess that the cramping 2 weeks before your period was actually when you were ovulating, and that you're right on schedule.

Home pregnancy tests are set up to detect the presence of HCG (a pregnancy hormone) in your urine, and there is usually not enough HCG to detect until around the time of a woman's missed period.

Try not to stress out about this. Your chances are VERY slim, and stress can actually delay your period all by itself.

Does that help a little?

November 20, 2009 - 9:36am
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