Getting a Little Anxious
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I am on birth control and have been on the same brand of pill for the past 7 years. I have missed a pill here and there, but always remembered to take it sometime the day after.
I was due for my period on February 14, 2009 and today is February 17....no period yet, not even a hint of it coming.
My boyfriend and I do not use any other contraceptive other than my birth control, so my question is what is the possibility of me being pregnant? I have no real symptoms...just a dull ache in my lower abdomen and I've been moody for the past couple of days.
Should I wait to take a pregnancy test because it may not be accurate this soon? Or would my best bet be to go ahead with the test as soon as possible since it seems I've missed my period? I have very regular periods and it is very rarely late....by very rarely, I mean never late.
Thank you for your advice!
ANSWER
All contraception (including sterilization) has a failure rate, so yes, it is fine to take a pregnancy test. If it is negative, I'd suggest a second in two weeks. If your test stays negative and you miss a second withdrawal bleed (not really a period since you are on the pill), I'd suggest a check-up just to make sure all is well.
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
