ask: Tubes are tied but still concerned I could be pregnant. Period is MIA.
Hello and thank you in advance to all who try to help =)
I had my tubes tied after my last pregnancy (17 months ago) and since then I have not paid much attention to what day of the month my period starts. I do know I had my period in February (my guess is I started on the 14th or 21st - it was a Sat. and towards the later part of the month) and it's now going on April and I have not had a period. I know it's very unlikely that I could get pregnant after having my tubes tied BUT I conceived my three boys extremely easily. I'm just a fertile mertile ;) So, I do not doubt my bodies ability to get pregnant. I did take a pregnancy test last thursday (March 26) and it was negative. I don't currently have health insurance, if I did I would just make an appt to see my Doctor. What are your thoughts? Think I could be pregnant? FYI my periods are never late. If anything they come early and they last abour 7-8 days (ugh!!).
Thanks!!
~ K
P.S. If I were indeed pregnant would I get a positive pregnancy test if it was an ectopic pregnancy?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment11 Comments
Hi,
You're right, it is extremely unlikely that you can be pregnant with a tubal ligation; the risk of getting pregnant after sterilization is "about 1 in 100 over a 10-year period" (according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).
Assuming your period is "only" 3 days late (if your period started on February 28th, remember it was a short month. Today is March 31st, so on a perfect 28-day cycle, it would have started 3 days ago, but something as little as stress can cause an "irregular" cycle), it is not too much to worry about right now. Women with even the most perfect cycles start their periods a few days late once-in-a-while. A home pregnancy test may detect a pregnancy, once your period is late. (March 26th may have been too early to detect a pregnancy with a home pregnancy test, if your last menstrual period began February 28th).
Do you remember the date(s) you had intercourse, as that could be another piece to the puzzle.
Just to cover all of our bases, you are at a higher risk for an ectopic pregnancy after having your tubes "tied". Home pregnancy tests may/may not work in detecting an ectopic pregnancy, as there may not be enough of the "pregnancy hormone" (human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG), but this hormone is only produced when a woman is pregnant, and hCG is produced with an ectopic pregnancy...just in lower amounts.
As far as having an ectopic pregnancy, do you have any of these symptoms:
- tender breasts or an upset stomach. (Some women may have no symptoms at all).
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding. It may be light or heavy.
- Abdominal or pelvic pain. This can be sudden and sharp and ache without relief or seem to come and go. It may occur on only one side.
A call to your doctor's office would be suggested, if you do not get your period this week, just to put your mind at ease, and make sure everything is OK, whether or not the pregnancy test says "negative".
Please write back and let me know how you are doing!
March 31, 2009 - 12:07pmThis Comment
Hello... I am 23 and have 3 children. I have also had an ectopic pregnancy and a misscariage.. to say the least I'm as fertile as it comes which is why I got my tubes tied 11 months ago after my son was born. My period have been regular since... BUT... I got my period Feb 5th and today is April 8th and haven't had them yet.. I got worried because I have been having some pain, fatigue and some moodiness and so I took a pregnancy test last week which came back neg. Now I'm still worried and I'm about to make adoc appointment but I think stress is a big factor in all this.. at least I hope. Just thought I would share my little soty with you just so you don't feel so alone! Hope all goes well.. keep me posted..
thanx
[personal email removed by Moderator]
April 8, 2009 - 8:29pmHi, I just wanted to see if either of you ever got your period? I am going through a similar thing right now and I wanted to know how things turned out for ya'll. I got my tubes tied in January 2008 and my periods have always been regular. I am now a week late. I have had some back ache and cramping this week and a few sharp pains this morning but still no Aunt flow. Let me know how things turned out for you guys....
November 10, 2009 - 12:33pmI had my tubes tied in sept 2008,the day after giving birth to my daughter.My daughter passed away recently from SIDS(so they say) an I really want another baby.I heard you can still get pregnant after tubal but its rare but also your fallopian tubes can heal themselves!Well me an my husband keep that in mind all the time during sex.I am 9 days late this month but I started it only lasted 3 days an was weird,brown an red.But my breasts are sore,my nipples hurt,I feel sick to my stomach an look bloated constantly,I took pregnancy test from dollar store 2 days into being late it was negative.I have had 3 kids an feel like I'm pregnant.And no I don't want to see a doctor because I feel I can't trust them I feel they messed up on my daughter an it wasn't SIDS.I am so confused an really hope I am ,can I get some advice pleaseee
July 14, 2010 - 6:41amMrs Clark I am very sorry for your loss, but you really need to see a doctor.
There are many things that can cause the issues you are having, and some of them are dangerous medical issues. You have children who need you and refusing to seek help when something is clearly not quite right can leave them without a mother to care for them. The odds of you becoming pregnant and having a normal pregnancy after a tubal ligation are extremely low, so you probably have something else going on.
Please get checked out by a gynecologist and discuss reversing the tubal or other ways of conceiving such as in vitro fertilization. One bad experience with a doctor does not mean all doctors are bad, just like one bad experience with a woman does not mean all women are bad.
Please let us know how you do. Thank you for writing.
July 14, 2010 - 6:48amthank you,but I don't have insurance an if I went I'm sure they would want to do lots of tests that cost lots of money.And to me a bunch of doctors messed up with my daughter not one more than one so doctors to me are somethings I don't wanna say on here.I just don't wanna go to one an have them say I don't know lets do a bunch of tests!I can't afford it!
July 14, 2010 - 11:43amThere are low cost clinics in nearly every county in the U.S. and Planned Parenthood does health care on a sliding scale as well. The symptoms you are having can be no huge deal or a sign of a serious problem. You asked for advice, my advice is to get checked out. We are not going to be able to tell you anything else. We cannot diagnose what is going on, and if you have something serious, hospitalization or losing your life will be much worse than worrying about the cost of testing.
If you aren't willing to get care for yourself, do it for your kids. That's my advice to you. I wish you all the luck in the world.
July 15, 2010 - 6:53amthanks so much I'm gonna get some courage an make an appt.
July 15, 2010 - 7:07amHi everyone I"m 24 almost 25, and I'm a mother of 3, I had my tubes tied right after I had my youngest who is now 19 months old,I'm in the same boat as you, the last time I got my period was Aug. 16 0r so ( since I got my tubes tied I don't really pay attention to what day exactly I get it) it is now Oct. 01 and Idk what to do, My breast are sore, I get these weird pains in my abdominal area and I have got nausea at different times of the day. I need some advise could I be pregnant!!!
October 1, 2011 - 1:32pmI have four children. 16,15,11,and 10. after my ten year old was born in 2001 i had my tubes tied. It is now 2012 and i have missed my period for the first time. It didnt come in February and it's March 5th and still nothin. Could i be prego again, or could it just be late????
March 5, 2012 - 2:27pm