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I started cramping a week before my period was due. I was spotting for two days then I began to have heavy bleeding for two days. After the two days of heavy bleeding I began to spot for two days and then nothing. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. My mom and sister thinks it may be to early to detect pregnancy but i think I'm not..although the period was not as heavy as I'm used to and the fact that I don't usually get cramps during my period. Should I take another test? Is something wrong with me?
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Dear Anon,
You didn't say how old you are or how long your cycles usually are. And I am assuming you are usually regular?
If this is an isolated incident -- meaning, if it happened this time but hasn't happened before -- there probably is nothing to worry about. Our hormones can get kind of crazy at times and they can make us have late periods OR early periods. December is a busy time filled with pressure or stress for many people, and we've gotten lots of questions from women whose periods went a little bit strange last month.
Wait and see what happens in January, Anon. I would expect that you'd get back to a normal cycle in the next month or so.
January 14, 2010 - 8:26amThis Comment
Okay thank you so much! You really put my fears at ease.
January 3, 2010 - 2:56pmThis Comment
Hi, I am on birth control and should be starting my period in one week. About two weeks ago I had unprotected sex (besides my birth control). It was at the end of my mentrual cycle that it occured (day 5). I am feeling a little paranoid because I am having a little bit of cramps right now. I was interested in what Diane had to write with the schedule of events. Should I be worrying?
January 3, 2010 - 1:29pmThis Comment
If you are taking your birth control every day as directed, consistently and correctly, then you would be considered as having PROTECTED sex (from pregnancy, not STDs) two weeks ago.
Have you missed any pills?
The pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, irregardless of when during your cycle you had sex.
The cramping you are experiencing could be from anything, and most women do not experience this as a first sign of pregnancy (your fear). Cramping a week before your period could be hormone-related (the normal ebb-and-flow of your cycle); some women experience cramping a week before their "bleeding days" begin, and this can be normal. If the pain is severe, this would indicate a need to call your doctor.
Short answer: no need to be worried if you are taking your pills as directed. Your body will have differences every month that do not mean you are pregnant (period that is a few days late, or few days early; more blood flow or less; shorter duration of bleeding days or longer; blood flow that is red, brown or pink; cramping, bloating, headaches, irritability, sore breasts or none of these). It is completely normal to have different cycles each month, as your body is reacting to its environment and will change according to your stress level, recent illnesses, new medications, etc.
The time to worry is if your bleeding lasts more than 7 days, if you experience severe pain before/during your bleeding days, or if you have an absence of bleeding days.
January 3, 2010 - 2:27pmThis Comment
if you bleed 3 days before your periods are you pregnant? i started bleeding 3 days before my periods and then the day of my periods it was lighter
November 27, 2009 - 12:35pmThis Comment
yea u should but u know wat da some thing is happening to me now.
September 10, 2009 - 9:27amThis Comment
Anon, Alysia is right; that level of cramping and heavy bleeding isn't usual. If your next cycle is normal, however, you can probably chalk up the difference just to stress, hormones and so on.
Let's talk about your pregnancy question, however. What was the date that your last period began? Are your cycles usually regular, and if so, how far apart are they usually? And do you know the approximate dates when you had unprotected sex?
What it sounds like, to me, is that your period came early and was slightly different than usual.
Most pregnancy tests are made to detect the hormones that pregnancy releases in your body. That hormone is never released any other time. But they usually only work when you are actually late for your period -- from 1 to 5 days late.
The normal series of events for a woman to get pregnant would be as follows:
Day 1 - period starts
Day 10-14 depending on cycle -- ovulation
Day 7-17 - unprotected sex
Day 28 - period should start
Day 29-35 pregnancy test would detect pregnancy.
From your letter, I am assuming this is what happened:
Day 1: period started
Day 10-14 - ovulation, at some point
Day 7-17 - unprotected sex, at some point
Day 21 and 22 - spotting and cramps
Day 23 and 24 - heavy flow and cramps
Day 25 and 26 - spotting and cramps
Day 28 - period was due.
Is that about the course of events?
If so, my guess would be that you aren't pregnant, that you just had an early and somewhat different cycle. (Have you started or stopped any medications in the last month, or changed your diet, exercise, etc?) My guess would be that you should count this as a period and expect your next cycle about 28 days after this one began. However, as Alysia said, since this was so very different for you, a call to your doctor -- or at least your doctor's nurse -- might be the best way to go.
Please write back if there's any more information here that might help.
April 10, 2009 - 9:59amThis Comment
I was two to three weeks late from my period then I spotted the same day I started what dose this mean.?
July 25, 2010 - 3:17amThis Comment
i am experiencing the same as alysia but u have not had no bleeding at all just cramps what would you suggest 4 me?
February 22, 2010 - 2:21pmThis Comment
Hi, Anon:
I would certainly talk to your gynecologist about your heavy bleeding and cramping. While it's not unusual to experience cramps or the occasional heavier cycle, there might be something else going on worth checking into. My daughter went through this and her doctor has her on birth control pills to help regulate her cycle.
You might also be interested in this empowHer article on Dysmenorrhea, painful menstrual cycles that could be caused by an underlying condition.
Please let us know what you find out after you consult your doctor.
April 9, 2009 - 8:57pmThis Comment