Am I Pregnant?

Is this you?

1. Last had sex more than 3 weeks ago (sometimes months)
2. Have had multiple negative home tests or blood tests for HCG
3. (optional) Have had periods or withdrawal bleeds since having sex.

But you’re still concerned that you might be pregnant based on shows like “I didn’t know I was pregnant” or online stories about cryptic pregnancy. Could it be that?

So, in a word, no. If you have multiple negative pregnancy tests three weeks after having sex, you’re not pregnant. In order to support a pregnancy your body produces HCG. Without HCG, there is no pregnancy. HCG tells the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone, and is required for major changes to sustain pregnancy like growing a placenta. Home pregnancy tests are very reliable at detecting even trace amounts of HCG, and blood tests as well.

There are three causes of false negatives with home pregnancy tests:

The first: Early measurement after conception. When people talk about cryptic pregnancy, they either never take a test, or they took a test too early and became pregnant after. It takes at least 7 days for a fertilized egg to float downstream and implant into the uterine lining. That’s why you have to wait about 2 weeks to take a pregnancy test after unprotected sex - 3 weeks makes it 100% solid result.

You’ll also see people say “I knew I was pregnant, but I didn’t test positive until I was 6 weeks”. This is because of how pregnancy is dated from the last menstrual period (the day your period started), but, embryonic development only starts after an egg is ovulated and fertilized. In a textbook 28 day cycle, this happens on day 14, and the first day your period is missed you get a positive test. In real life, bodies are a little more complicated, and sometimes people ovulate weeks later leading to a discrepancy - a doctor will tell them they are 6 weeks pregnancy based on their last menstrual period, but in embryonic terms they are only 4 weeks pregnant because they ovulated on the 28th day of their cycle. If they tested when they were ‘late’ on the 29th, it would have been a negative test. They weren’t pregnant, but they became pregnant later. For people who are more visual, I have made a very ugly calendar for the above example scenario.

For a longer, more detailed explanation: "Your period isn't late" Part 1 and Part 2

The second: Dilute urine specimen. If your HCG levels are low, drinking a lot of water can result in false negatives in very early pregnancy. This is typically why you’ll see folks talking about testing with first morning urine - it’s the most concentrated. HCG roughly doubles every 48-72 hours, and you can see in this figure how fast. At 20 days of embryonic development (aka about 3 weeks after sex), on average a pregnant person will have HCG around 1000 mIU/ml. At home tests are typically rated for detecting 10 - 25 mIU/ml.

The Third: The Hook effect. This is where there is too much HCG for a test to work properly. It is unlikely that this is happening especially if you’ve taken multiple tests. First, peak HCG is typically around 10-14 weeks pregnant - after this, it starts coming back down. Second, tests are often tested for the hook effect - wondfos (a very cheap test) showed no hook effect to concentrations of 200,000 mIU/ml. First Response Early Result showed no hook effect at 1,000,000 mIU/ml - much higher than any normal pregnancy. If you are concerned about it because you’re taking your first pregnancy tests 12-17 weeks after sex, you might dilute a sample of urine just in case for a second test. Although, that would be very unnecessary if you’re using an FRER.

When people do not figure out they are pregnant for months at a time, it is typically because they have not taken any tests. Denial of pregnancy is a more accurate descriptor.

If you believe yourself pregnant despite all the evidence, or having a lot of anxiety and fear around being pregnant, you may want to see a mental health specialist. If you’re feeling very unwell, or haven't had a period in months, you may want to see a doctor. Scarleteen has a great page on these things as well.

Want to learn about pregnancy tests? Great video

TL;DR HCG is required to support a pregnancy - if you've gotten multiple negative tests across a large time frame, there is no possible way you are pregnant from sex more than 3 weeks ago.

Feedback and questions welcome! Also if anybody has any resources they want to share, please do.

Hello friends! Mod Stress here to address a few things that come up often on this sub. Resources provided. :)

1.) You cannot get pregnant from fingering, with or without precum. Unless globs of fresh semen are being inserted into a vagina, fingering is just not going to cause a pregnancy. This article goes through all the sexual things that can happen that have no chance of pregnancy.

2.) It's extremely unlikely to get pregnant without PIV sex. In some cases, it's theoretically possible. But it's unlikely and not really worth worrying about.* *Not including medical processes such as IVF to cause a pregnancy.

• Chance of pregnancy from various scenarios

3.) If you're having unprotected sex, pregnancy is always technically possible. Doesn't matter if it's "just the tip" or "three strokes" or "pulled out before ejaculation." Pullout is 78% effective over the course of a year. Some of these scenarios are much less likely to result in a pregnancy than others, but we can't extrapolate the data like that. You're unlikely to get pregnant from one singular instance of unprotected sex, but it's always possible.

4.) Implantation bleeding is a misnomer. In fact, implantation is too small a phenomena to cause any symptoms.

5.) A test is mostly accurate 14 days after sex and definitive 21 days after. If you're getting negative tests 2+ weeks after sex, you are not pregnant. Regardless of if you have your period or not. In early pregnancy, concentration of urine matters. Take a pink dye test after a 3-4 hour urine hold without drinking too much water for the most accurate results. At 21+ days after sex, dilution of urine won't matter. Do not look at tests outside of their validity window and thoroughly read the instructions for your test before you take it.

6.) You cannot have a true period and be pregnant. Some women experience light bleeding in early pregnancy (this is NOT their period). If bleeding were related to pregnancy, a test would be positive.

7.) If your symptoms were related to pregnancy, a test would be positive. Lots of early pregnancy symptoms overlap with normal PMS symptoms.

8.) Am I having a Cryptic Pregnancy?? No, you're not.

9.) The only way to truly know when you ovulated is through tracking your BBT. Apps are not an accurate way to track, your body doesn't know to follow an algorithm off your phone. While things like CM and OPKs may indicate your body is gearing up to ovulate, they do not confirm ovulation. Check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility and r/FAMnNFP.

Some other helpful tips:

• Read the leaflet that comes with your birth control so you understand how your medication works, possible side effects, how to use it, etc. r/birthcontrol is also a good source.

• If you're on birth control and using it properly, you are having protected sex (from pregnancy). This is true whether or not you are using a condom. If you are using protection properly, you do not need Plan B.

• Don't want to become pregnant? READ THIS before engaging in sexual activity.

• The buddy system: using more than one method of contraceptive when engaging in sexual activities

• If you're taking Plan B, read the leaflet. It will go through all the possible side effects. r/PlanBs is also a good friend.

• If your symptoms are of concern, visit a doctor.

• Do not trust TikTok or YouTube as your medical advice.

• A lot of our users are from the Philippines. r/SafeSexPH is a great resource!

• Want us to look at your tests? r/lineporn

• Are you TTC? Check out r/TryingForABaby

• Confirmed pregnancy? Head over to r/pregnant

• Sex Ed Websites: scarleteen, bedsider, planned parenthood

Just need opinions

Took 2 pregnancy tests on last week on Monday the 27th and they were very negative.

My ovulation window opened the 13th, ended on the 19th and I ovulated on the 17th.

Period was expected on saturday but, it’s about to be monday and I’ve been cramping and down there smells like i might be about to start.

I have sex with my bf who has a vasectomy & we wear a condom for most the sex we have, barely take it off. I don’t remember the days we had sex, but we have sex every time i’m ovulating because I get horny obviously.

(i’ve also had tons of stressing factors this time around. Last time i was stressed my period was a week late ((scary)) )

What do you guys think? Pregnant or no?

I (F21) am terrified that I might be pregnant, or going through a cryptic pregnancy somehow. To give some background, I come from a very fundamental religious family, so being pregnant and not married is my number one biggest fear as it would literally ruin my life/tear my family apart. It would devastate them to know I had sex, let alone being pregnant. Along with that, I have an anxiety disorder that makes me extremely paranoid about a lot of things.

The last few days I've been spiraling and getting a nagging feeling that I might be pregnant and not even know about it.

Around the end of February/beginning of March, I hooked up with a guy. We used a condom and I am 90% sure that the condom was fully intact afterward. After we had sex I had some mild tearing and bleeding for a few days, which is normal for me as before this encounter I didn't have sex for over a year/didn't use lube. I did not have any sexual encounters after this.

My period after this hookup was around a week late and I got pretty bad cramps the week leading up to it. My 2nd period after this came around a week before I was expecting it. Since then I've had 2 more periods that have been relatively normal for me (normal heavy-ish bleeding with some clots).

I took a pregnancy test a few weeks after my first period (about 5 weeks after I had sex) which came out negative. About a month ago, I went to a free STI testing clinic where I took another pregnancy test which also came out negative.

Since then I've also lost maybe 2/3 pounds (127Ibs to 123Ibs) and only ever felt nauseous after eating a lot of food.

Despite all of the evidence pointing to me probably not being pregnant, I feel like my brain has convinced me that there is a chance that I might still be. It doesn't help that I keep seeing TikToks where women have had normal periods and negative pregnancy tests and still popped out a baby a few months later.

These last 2 days have been really bad. I haven't been out of bed, I've put off so many responsibilities, and I feel SO much guilt. Every time I go around my parents I feel like breaking down crying thinking about what a potential pregnancy might do to them. I am going to take a couple more pregnancy tests over the next few days, and I'm planning to see an OBGYN just to be 100% sure everything is fine.

The logical part of my brain is telling me that there is such a small chance that it's not worth worrying about, but my anxiety will not leave me alone. Every time I try to ease my mind, A TikTok/Reddit post/comment talking about how they took 20 pregnancy tests and still managed to have a baby pops into my head and I start spiraling again.

Can someone please help me ease my mind a little?? I know I probably sound insane but I just can't get over the fear that I might have a secret pregnancy. I also have read the post on here talking about cryptic pregnancies which helped a little, but the idea is just stuck in my mind.

TL;DR: I come from a very religious family who would be devasted if they knew I ever had sex. let alone being pregnant. My anxious brain has convinced me that I am going through a cryptic pregnancy despite there being a low chance, and I have not stopped spiraling for the last few days.

Guys, please help me have sanity. My last period was last year, around November 2023, because I have super irregular periods for as long as I can remember (never had a normal cycle ever). I have PCOS and high TSH too.

Since May 10, I've been feeling: - super loud heartbeat - sore nipples and breasts changes shape and color too - lower back pain - unwell feeling / light headed - minimal cramping on lower left and right side tummy - kind of throbbing headache lately (I'm not sure if this may be from overthinking or anxiety because I have a history of anxiety or my high sugar and cholesterol).

I went to my Doctor to check and she saw that I've thickened endometrium which means that I'm either about to start my period or a sign of early pregnancy, is anyone familiar with that?

Moreover, I've been testing from May 17 until June 1, and still negative. The last unprotected sex (the first time I did this) was on May 7. PLEASE HELP ME. I'M GOING INSANE 😭 I know I'm dumb. I won't have sex with no protection ever again :(

My discharge is white/cloudy/thick now.

So I (18F) am on oral birth control (lindynette) and usually I don’t use any on the contraceptive methods. Me and my boyfriend had sex like 5-7 time this month. And he finished in me. But I have been consistent with my birth control use. The most that I missed this month was 40 minutes. Is there a chance that i am pregnant. Please I need reassurance.

Hi, I’m just posting on here to be curious… my boyfriend and I got a little bit too drunk last night and had unprotected sex which led to him ejaculating in me a few different times (yes, I know it only takes one sperm to fertilize the egg.) With this being said, I am also a week away from starting and I’ve read that the chances for me to get pregnant a week before are low but not zero. I know there isn’t going to be a yes or no answer because it is way too early to know as of now. I also took a “Take Action” pill 14-18 hours prior to lower the risk more but, unfortunately I’m heavier than what the recommended weight is for it to be the most effective. Is it impossible to get pregnant a week before? If it is possible, what is the probability? Thank you to anyone who takes time to read this to help a girl out lol

I am anxious I got pregnant. My bf and I had sex that was slightly unprotected I have an IUD, but we didn’t use a condom. He pulled out and and there have never been any accidents. I got some light bleeding today, and I’m really nervous.

hello, i'm not sure if this is the right subreddit to be posting this on but i had a few questions. my girlfriend recently was spotting on friday (2 days ago). she said the blood was a little pink / brownish, the next day she started bleeding fresh blood; it filled up her entire tampon that she put in (this making her period around 16 days early as she was supposed to have it on the 16th of june. for some clarification a week or two before this she took around 2-3 plan b's, i know it's more than she should've taken. we always use condoms and the few times we don't she has taken plan b's afterwards. i've never finished inside her and before i even get close i'd make myself pull out and then at most an hour later she took a plan b. I've read online that taking too many plan b's or taking them in general can cause your period to come earlier/be lighter and cause spotting; shes had other symptoms similar to what's being described online in relation to plan b and pregnancy such as lower back pain, headaches, etc. she's also been feeling nausea and sick recently, im not sure if it's entirely from the plan b or if she's just also sick. the day of her spotting we took 4 pregnancy tests and all of them returned negative, we are only 18 so going to a doctor to figure it out isn't an option for us. her bleeding has been lighter than what her usual periods are like. (not sure if this has anything to do with it but two days before her spotting, we are pretty sure we bruised her cervix as well)

if there's any more information or questions that would help with determining our situation i'd love if i could be asked them.

i had some questions i really need the answers since i have ocd and these situations have been on my mind 1,so lets say I touch some fresh precum and have my hand touching other stuff or just not touching anything for maybe 5 minutes and i fingered myself would there be any risk? 2,and in a different scenario if the cum was in a mixture of saliva would that kill the sperm more or help he survive in conditions longer? 3, if there was a little cum on my hand and i let it be and it felt as if there was nothing on my hand and that was in the span of 5 ish minutes could there still be cum on my hands if i felt no wetness or cum like feeling? and if i fingerd myself with that in mind should i worry?

(help!)

My last period was April 27th, I usually log my period into the health and FLO app and i missed my period. My boyfriend has came inside me twice now. He came inside me on the 26th of May, a day before my actual period is suppose to start, but I still have not received my period. We tried to concieve yesterday again and I took a pregnancy test today and it came out as negative. What do you guys think?

It's nowhere near time yet. It just can't be. I've been off my depo shot since February and have had periods since January and that's mainly why I stopped.

Due to low libido we haven't been having a lot of sex lately, mainly just me giving him blow jobs because I'm happy to do it and while he says he doesn't resent my low sex drive at the moment, I still like to show my affection to him in ways that are more physically intimate. He's a sweetie about it and makes sure I'm okay with it and I'm kinda like bro you're killing the mood for me but yes, I'm okay. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to and I know you wouldn't want me doing this or guilt trip me into doing this.

Anyway, finally we have sex a few days after my period had stopped and my ovulation prior to this was the biggest it's been in awhile which should've been a red flag in hind sight but I thought I'd still be good because it hasn't been that long that I've been off the shot. I should've fucking known I was ovulating. I should've known. God damn it. I should've known.

Now here's to me freaking out way too soon: I had what at first was a reoccurance of my period the next day but it was just spotting and now I'm peeing a lot more than I normally ever do and I already pee a lot as is. Especially at night. Not sure what that's about. I'm also a lot hotter than I normally am and it's not even hot here yet. I'm usually cold/cool in this weather even though we have no AC because apparently California apartments hate AC's and my little one for the room isn't working and my roommates is off limits (that's a different story that I won't get into but I'm sure if I explained the situation, she'd let me use it but I just can't, look at post history for all those that are curious) and I'm just scared as hell.

It's way too soon to even be thinking like this. It's obviously way too soon to even do a blood test. I can't do a regular stick test until the 16th. I'm also just stressed in general so half of these symptoms could be psychological or something and I just want to shout it to the void but I can't, not until I'm sure. I'm only 16 months sober for fucks sake. I literally couldn't pick a worse time for this to be happening.

I don't know what the point of this post is. I think I just want someone to tell me I'm just being crazy and any symptoms I'm experiencing are either in my head or early menopause from the lack of Depo.

Sure, maybe one day. But not today. Not like this. Not with how our financial situation is. What do I do, wait until I get married and go surprise you're getting two for the price of one!

What if I am and he hates me and hates the kid and doesn't want the kid and I end up wanting the kid or vice versa? If I am, I really don't see this ending well. No matter which option I end up choosing.

TL;DR: I'm stupid as shit.

Me and my girlfriend had sex 6 times today and I'm curious about something in particular. We used multiple condoms and I pulled our perfectly everytime. In addition to this, I would wash my penis with a bit of water in the worry of semen left over. None of the condoms ripped aswell. The reason I'm worried is because she was expected to ovulate soon and was behaving as if she was. Do I have anything to worry about

Hi everyone! I am 10 dpo and have been feeling nauseous all weekend so I did a pregnancy test and came back 10mins later to a positive test (pretty dark) on an easy at home test strip but I am still 3-4 days away from my period but had brown spotting with what seems to be cloths or mucus. Am I pregnant or is it possible that it a false positive..Thanks in advance!

Yesterday, him and i were in bed but i was too scared to do it ( and i never did it before) .. his tip touched my vagina but didn’t go (without a condom) .. I was scared anything might have entered but i believe i was overthinking it as he never inserted it. So, i didn’t plan to take any pill then.

Today, i felt confident to try doing it and he put a condom on this time and it didn’t rlly go in fully - just half way. I’m concerned if i need to take the pill or not. My last period was 15th May if it helps calculating ovulation etc. Thanks

i had unprotected sex on may 5th (bad decision ik 😞) which was four days after my last period and i took a plan b immediately after. flo said my ovulation date was likely to be may 12th, which was also the day i had spotting (i’ve only ever had spotting one other time apart from this so it’s not a usual occurrence). my period is about four days late rn and my cycle is usually 25-29 days but it’s 34 right now. i took a test on may 27th and may 30th and they were both negative. obviously going to a doctor would be the only way to get an answer to my question but i don’t have school right now and they’d question why i was going to work that early. my parents are pretty strict so it’s difficult for me to go out without questions and it would just be nice to hear some opinions from other people who may have experienced something similar. what are the chances i’m pregnant and am i gonna be disowned pls :(

I have taken multiple brands of tests. Tested in the morning and still get a negative. I have never missed a period and am very regular. I have had a stressful month and am thinking that this may be it but am wondering if I should go to the doctor to find out for sure. I'm freaking out a bit because either way I'm not sure what's going on with my body. Is it possible to be pregnant and still get a negative pregnancy test this far after a missed period? Will I get my next period on a normal timeline or will I have two. It feels weird to be asking this about my own body but I'm not ready to tell anyone yet.

So, my GF's period has been delayed for 4 days now and I'm worrying. She had spotting that immediately went away on the day of the supposed period and four days later she hadn't had any period yet. We are worrying if it might be implantation bleeding. Her cycle was previously 27 and 28 days, respectively the past few months. This is what we did throughout the cycle:

Day 7 - dry humping with condom

Day 13 - dry humping with condom

Day 21 - protected sex and pulled out when I finished. I checked the condom too with a water test and there's no leak.

Day 27 - same in day 21

Is having spotting days before the period common?

I know i may sound stupid and uneducated but i just wanna make sure because im really paranoid about getting pregnant 😭 so my boyfriend touched his penis (may have some precum on it) and wiped his hand in his shirt and then he fingered me. I checked his and and it seemed dry Are there any chances that some precum may stayed on his finger and can that get me pregnant? I red that if there was only one bit of precum in vagina it can cause pregnancy. I was also in my fertile day.

There was also one time one shot of cum was on my short jeans and i emediatly took them off and noticed my underwear was dry so there was nothing to worry about. My period is in 8 days or so and i am a bit stressed about it, can please someone help me thank you 🫶🏻🙏🏻

So my bf and I had unprotected sex Thursday, yes that was so incredibly stupid, won’t do it again, it was only a few strokes and it was like 2 days before my period was supposed to start. Then the next 2, Friday and Saturday I was seeing like very light pink on my underwear so I used liners, but sometimes this happenes when I’m about to start my period but I was still somehow panicking. Today in the morning I started bleeding actually red 🩸 but usually my first day is super heavy and today I’m bleeding like what I bleed on my 4th day, which is way less than my 1st and 2nd day of my cycle. So now it’s the middle of the day and I’m starting to see a little bit of clots! I’m just an overthinking, please tell me this isn’t implantation bleeding and that it is my period. The thing that is throwing me off is that I’m not bleeding heavily! I don’t tend to bleed light especially on my first days so I don’t know what’s happening.

I normally have really rough and dry skin despite moisturizing - but for the past week my skin has suddenly become soft and smooth. I also would like to add in that I have more discharge than normal (clear whites) - ovulation days have past, I am supposed to get my period on the 8th and my breasts have been sore for the past 2 weeks.

Just a strange thought but could this possibly be pregnancy or am I overthinking it?

Help...

I did an ovulation test, and it was positive so we had sex on the day of. 3dpo i had extremely tender breasts, headaches, and frequent urination that lasted up to 9/10dpo. Day 10 post ovulation I had cramping up until today 15dpo. At 11 dpo I had spotting that started off as pink, then turned into brown. 12dpo I had light spotting as well (pink/brown). 13dpo no spotting except one noticeable spot on the pad. 14dpo, I had pain and cramps very similar to period was extremely fatigued and started bleeding much much lighter than a normal period but the spotting and bleeding kept on going (bright red with no clots- i usually always have clots) the bleeding has been going on for five days and today increased as i mentioned. I had really bad cramps that got to my rectum today and was sleeping all day. Needed to take pain killers and thought my period started. The flow is not increasing but i have blood every time i wipe redish pink color (bright). I usually have a 26-28 day cycle and my period comes religiously in this time frame. My spotting started on cycle day 23 up until today cycle day 26. Is this my period? Or am i pregnant? Anyone else had similar cramping & bleeding and turned out pregnant? I am extremely confused! Can implantation last this long? I took a pregnancy test yesterday cycle day 25 it was negative but it was before i would have missed my period. I need to reach day 28 to be able to test again. Please help

(Me 17 y/o) So I have a bf ( 16 y/o) but my mom doesn’t know I have to tell her but we did some things like dry sex and I jerked him off and some more things , we had sex but with condom . But he came when I was riding him without underwear and no condom but not inside me.since a month i have blood coming out of my vagina but not menstruation bc it just little bits everytime brownish / pink and it’s going on for almost a month now . I can’t rlly tell my mom bc she will get mad at me and stuff idk what it is and I’m scared .

Can finishing on thighs get someone pregnant, like a thigh job? My bfs penis was in between my thighs and it rubbed against my vagina a bit too

I had unprecedented sex on the 17th of may and i still haven’t avent had a period. Im 14 days late and there is some like light bleeding and i’m honestly stly not sure on what to do.

so my boyfriend and i had a sketchy night a couple weeks ago , unprotected, while drunk on the first day of my ovulation week. didnt take a plan b because it wouldn’t have worked since i was ovulating. usually i wouldnt stress about this but my period is usually very regular and right now its two days late. no cramps, nothing. i took a test the first day that my period didnt show up but it was very late in the day (arent you supposed to take them in the morning so your pee is more concentrated?) The test however was very negative, like no hint of a positive line even when shining my flash through the back of the test. if i was pregnant id be around 4 weeks, so it would’ve definitely shown up as positive if i was pregnant right? i think if im not pregnant that stressing out so much about this is making my period more delayed, anyways lmk what you guys think.

Edit: i forgot to mention that when i say sketchy, he didnt cum in me but we were both really drunk so idk if any got in on accident