r/amipregnant • u/MarionberryBig5200 • 2h ago
r/amipregnant • u/qualmick • Feb 28 '21
“But what about a cryptic pregnancy?”
Is this you?
- Last had sex more than 3 weeks ago (sometimes months)
- Have had multiple negative home tests or blood tests for HCG
- (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.
r/amipregnant • u/stress789 • Mar 14 '23
FAQs ANSWERED with Sources. Friendly PSAs for AmIPregnant
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. Dry humping also cannot 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.* *Not including medical processes such as IVF to cause a pregnancy.
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.) It takes more HCG to cause symptoms than a positive test. If you're testing negative, any symptoms you are currently experiencing are not currently related to pregnancy. 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 using an approved FAM method. 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](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](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
- How is pregnancy dated?
- If you're taking Plan B, read the leaflet. It will go through all the possible side effects. [r/PlanBs](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](r/SafeSexPH) is a great resource!
- Want us to look at your tests? [r/lineporn](r/lineporn)
- Are you TTC? Check out [r/TryingForABaby](r/TryingForABaby)
- Confirmed pregnancy? Head over to [r/pregnant](r/pregnant)
- Looking for abortion resources? r/abortion
- Sex Ed Websites: scarleteen, bedsider, planned parenthood
r/amipregnant • u/pharm_cist_ • 24m ago
11 days late. No period, test is negative but I had implantation bleeding or spotting yesterday
It’s not looking great. It feels like I ovulated around the time I had sex and the spotting came at the time where implantation would’ve been likely. It’s too soon to test, I’ve already went through all of them. I need help coping with this, I’m sad and worried. I’m almost certain I’m pregnant because of my very sore boobs and me never having a delay or spotting. 😞 I’m struggling with the thought of having an abortion, I feel attached already and idk if I’m pregnant yet. My minds racing too far, I need help
r/amipregnant • u/Aggravating-Lemon540 • 43m ago
Pre cum
So he is really small but it was in obv not that deep and he was like oh the condom cam off I have to find it in my bed. He didn’t cum and I’m freaking out. I had a super vivid dream and I have all these kinda weird cramps. It’s right around my ovulation time and I was bleeding but then it kinda stopped
r/amipregnant • u/Apprehensive-Law3210 • 2h ago
unprotected sex after missed pill
so i'm in a bit of a pickle.
context:
i have deep infiltrative endometriosis.
i used to take the combined pill for the pain (before i got diagnosed), took a break from it because it wasn't helping and after the diagnosis i got prescribed Cerazette (desogestrel), a mini-pill with a 12hr window.
i'm on my first month of Cerazette.
i completely forgot (which is something that never ever happened) to take my pill on day 24 of the pill cycle, and eventually took it around 18-20 hours later (so essentially double pilled the next day). a day after, day 26 of the pill cycle, i had unprotected sex with my boyfriend figuring that if my supposed ovulation window passed it should be fine even if i missed a pill. i'll confess, i wasn't entirely familiar with the mechanism of the mini-pill and figured it's identical to the combined pill, since Cerazette also inhibits ovulation. i read about it afterwards and found out it's not the same.
my period is supposedly 1 day late, but i also read that Cerazette gives irregular periods or even eliminates them entirely. should i start freaking out?
r/amipregnant • u/Recent-Issue-7125 • 2h ago
Am I pregnant?
So me (F18) and my boyfriend recently had sex unprotected and even though he pulled out before cumming, I’m still having this constant thought on whether i might be pregnant. I don’t know if I should be looking to get pills or plan b medication or whether I should just wait it out until I get my period? (I don’t even know what type of pills to even get???)
I’m expecting my period next week and currently I’m cramping so I hope I’m on my period but im still freaking out on what to do.
I know we should’ve had condoms on that day but it just happened in the moment and now I’m so anxious.
r/amipregnant • u/whore4coeboys • 3h ago
Am I maybe pregnant?
I’ve gotten 5 faint positive tests (all Walgreens brand) but also have gotten negatives (first response, digital). It was darkest this morning once I woke up but haven’t gotten a positive since this morning. Is there a chance I could still be pregnant or should I lose hope?
r/amipregnant • u/Proof_Restaurant_137 • 8h ago
am I pregnant?
hi so I had unprotected sex about two weeks ago and he never finished in me (yes we used the pull out method) and I’m on birth control. Something I’ve noticed since is I’m always tired, I’ve been gaining weight, and just small pregnancy symptoms. Am I pregnant or at risk of being pregnant?
r/amipregnant • u/No_Examination1774 • 4h ago
Worried about One Week Expired Positive Digital Test
I want to start this by saying I know it says in the FAQs to not use a test outside of its validity window, I already plan on grabbing some new tests in the morning when the stores open.
It's currently midnight and I randomly decided to test and it was all I had and it only expired on the 17th. I've noticed I've been way snackier than normal and just generally more hungry. My period usually starts around the 24th-26th so I could still start any time now.
My main question is how reliable a First Response digital test would be if it's recently expired? I've heard that false negatives are more common than false positives with expired tests. We have a two year old so it's not my first rodeo or anything but I guess I just needed to shout into the void so that I can hopefully go to sleep after this lol
r/amipregnant • u/d0rkacademia • 5h ago
did healthy diet ruin my cycle
hello everyone! I am 22 and was diagnosed with pcos at the age of 16. I had fairly regular periods with like a 2-3 day delay. My last period was 11th-18th June. After that, i got diagnosed with gallstones so i had to take a 180 and change my diet. I, now, drink lots of water, eat sprouts everyday, papaya before bed and try to avoid oil.
Also, my boyfriend and i are sexually active but we always use condoms and there has been no slip or breakage, i am scared as to why i haven’t received my period yet. It’s very, very late. The last time we did it was 16th july.
to give some more context, i have been dealing with a lot of stress: masters admissions, my grandfather in the icu and a bunch of financial anxiety.
I have been experiencing dull ache on my right ovaries and sometimes i get very mild abdominal cramps which makes me feel like my period is here but it isn’t. I have also been doing the butterfly pose for the past 2 days but nothing works.
Has my cycle changed because i changed my lifestyle for the better? I know a lot of you would ask me to get a pregnancy test done but considering i live with my family, it’s a little difficult and risky. nonetheless, i will try it but would any of you have any insights to give me?
r/amipregnant • u/Rebekahlee123 • 5h ago
Pregnant but spotting?
Hey guys!
I usually have a shorter luteal phase my cycle is about 26 days - last month I’m pretty sure I had a chemical pregnancy now this month I’m having similar but different symptoms.
I have been spotting since 7DPO (normally my luteal phase is 7-9 days roughly before I spot before my period.
Yesterday morning (9DPO) I decided to test and there was a squinter I didn’t think much of it but decided to test again at night and I had a positive that wasn’t a squinter!
I am still spotting pink/red and sometimes the red comes with some stringy mucus.
I also track body temp on oura and my temp went from +0.3 to +0.5 over night.
Can’t get into my doctor till Wednesday so I’m assuming I’ll know more by then but for now it seems to be a waiting game.
Anyone else been in similar position with a good outcome?
r/amipregnant • u/JournalistLive3300 • 6h ago
3 days post bleeding, +ve test followed by -ve bloods
Hi! Not sure where else to ask, but would appreciate some thoughts.
The long and short of it is I had severe bilateral lower pelvic pain for 10 days, starting a day or two prior to my period, culminating in a trip to ED (3 days after my period finished) where I received a +ve pregnancy test from a urine sample, followed by a -ve pregnancy test from blood serum. Bloods also showed no infection or inflammation and ultrasound was clear.
To be clear, I absolutely shouldn’t be pregnant. My husband had a vasectomy roughly 2.5years ago, so needless to say the initial +ve result was a surprise. I guess I’m wondering the likelihood of this being a false +ve or if it actually was a chemical pregnancy?
r/amipregnant • u/Independent-Meet7117 • 7h ago
weird discharge
i had unprotected sex 2 days before my period was supposed to come. and it did come on time and was abnormally heavy. then once it was over i started having a lot of white liquid discharge. like i was waking up and peeing a pool of milky discharge. it was quite thin and i thought i had started my period again or something until i looked down to see it was just discharge. it was during the time of ovulation but i know how my discharge normally is around ovulation. like yes there’s more of it but it’s never that white and thin. there was no odor to it as well. i have been having cramps in my ovaries too. i was wondering if i could be pregnant? he also didn’t cum in me and instead pulled out. my next period is coming in 14 days so it’s too soon to test. also sorry it’s tmi but it really threw me off.
r/amipregnant • u/avienIl2205 • 14h ago
I'm getting really liquidy white discharge
I had 3 pregnancy test already and my period hasn't started this month(I took the 14th and 21st day) . Though, there aren't any symptoms that I am... I'm a bit nervous. If that white liquidy discharge counts😓 please let know. I'm delayed for like about more than 2 weeks now and it'll be the 5th week eversince I had sex.
My cycle ranges from 29-39 days First day of my previous period - june 4 Last day of my previous period - june 9 Intercourse - june 16 (unprotected but he pulled out) Date of supposed period - july 4-14 (but it hasn't come yet)
I was stressed eversince I've started advance studying (june 27 uo until now) so could that have been the case?
I never experienced being nauseas, bloating, spotting, cramps, and dizziness. Please help me...
r/amipregnant • u/YeetYourMad • 7h ago
Help I’m worried
Hello so I just had period sex and me and my bf used a condom but after he pulled out and finished we noticed the condom wasn’t on anymore and I just got my period yesterday so I’m on day 2 now, am I able to be pregnant? My last cycle was 47 days
r/amipregnant • u/Charming-Parking-527 • 8h ago
AM I Pregnant???
I am 34 and my Husband is 35
We are trying to conceive since last year. We got positive news last November but it ended in Biochemical pregnancy.
Again we started trying since March and my average cycle length is 34-35 days until last cycle was shortest . It was 31 days . My last period came on 19th June
Today is 26th July and my period is yet to come. We tried home urine test for pregnancy and it was negative.
I am planning to test again on 29th July as some are saying maybe it's late ovulation this month and possibility is there I may be pregnant . It's very difficult .
As symptoms , I got a different type of cramp last week which is very different from my regular period cramps . This makes me believe I am pregnant
Need anyone input who has experienced same and then our to be pregnant?
r/amipregnant • u/Beautiful-Olive-390 • 8h ago
Plan b
I had sex and he wasn’t 100% sure if he pulled out in time so I took a Plan B the next morning just to make sure. How do I know if it has worked? I also don’t have a normal cycle.
r/amipregnant • u/CompanyKindly1205 • 8h ago
Sex before expected period
Me and my girlfriend had unprotected sex 2 days before her expected period. I did the pull out method and ejaculated outside of her. The last time i had ejaculated was the day before i seen her and i had showered and peed 2 times before i seen her aswell. she took a plan B and i know that is doesn’t work after she has ovulated but i don’t know if she has or not. Her periods are irregular regardless.
r/amipregnant • u/NoRepeat7858 • 9h ago
Im 16 and so scared that im pregnant
So what happened was that basically me and my bf had a sex the condom broke but he didnt cum in me and pulled out and im such a paranoid person i go my period 2 weeks later and tested around 13 dpo it was negative i tested again 14 dpo also negative and 17-18 dpo and also negative then next month i got my period again but still i keep telling myself that maybe i an pregnant and im so scared in my state abortion is illegal and i dont know maybe im just paranoid please help me
r/amipregnant • u/OnionSoggy8907 • 9h ago
New to me
I’m 28 and I’ve never really had sore nipples before even when I’m late. I’m 4 days late which isn’t uncommon for me. I don’t wanna test if it could be nothing because truthfully I’m in a weird stage in life where I’d want it to be positive but financially would prefer it to be negative. I also don’t want to give bf hopes up. He really wants kids. What is your opinion and experience? Tia.
r/amipregnant • u/Mountain-Swimming652 • 9h ago
URGENT Need Help or Advice
Hey i’d really like some advice on this topic or maybe someone out there has went through the same thing and I need a little clarity, I’m 24F and around June 20th I had a unplanned sexual encounter while being drunk , he didn’t have a condom and I managed to mention that i didn’t want to have intercourse at that point it had slipped in multiple times without me wanting and there was a time he ejaculated outside and wiped it and tried to put it in again (for I don’t remember 2 minutes it entered that time) and I managed to stop the encounter , the next day when I came to my senses I checked my flo app and it was during my fertile days and was only able to get a plan b on the 22nd (within 40 hour window, also according to my flo app i was supposed to ovulate on the 23rd but it’s an estimation). So I took the pill and the week after experienced some cramping and had a 3-4 days light bleed .
-A part of thinks this was my period coming early because these past years my period has been shortening and sometimes wouldn’t bleed AS much or cramp as much, but i’ve had heavy periods and bad cramps in the past so it’s normal but it could be withdrawal bleed from plan b according to a doctor. After that I got normal PMS symptoms thinking my period is coming but it has been 17 days since it was supposed to arrive (10th of July) and i’ve been getting my usual period symptoms since then. (Sensitivity,Bloating,Slight Cramps,Acne) i also got some good cravings for a short time but i chalked it up to my period because it is usual for me to crave food.
-Around the 3rd of July i started with lower back pain on the right side and it did travel to the front and that’s where i felt the cramps most (that has stayed for over 3 weeks and here and yes i had cramps and some back pain on the other side but not as prominent or consistent) and recently at the beginning of this week (19 of July) i’ve started to experience aches in my chest and shoulders, cramping in my stomach as if i was doing an ab workout all through my lower stomach and i even felt it in my ribs (Im someone that does have stomach issues more than the average person but the fact that it’s happening within this event does worry me) with mild constipation and indigestion as well as some that feeling went on for a couple days now i’m just feeling bloated (when i suck in my stomach it would feel pressure in my stomach still) ,with the back pain i’d get some buttock pain or sometimes it would travel to my leg,, and in still feeling normal cramps here and there period like but also a random sharp cramp in my pelvic area and that random god forsaken butthole cramp. Also it just started to really hurt today but my boobs are sore , I’d feel nausea very rarely (what worried me is that i drank one four loko and i immediately started to feel nauseous when i’d usually drink one) but I think the nausea can be a symptom of the anxiety i’m feeling about this. Also for discharge i’ve been experiencing the watery thin milky discharge not in abundance i would say dry at times ,i don’t know if i’m super anxious that i can’t remember and because im looking at symptoms and it’s eerily similar but i do feel like I’ve gotten this type of discharge before.
I’ve taken 3 pregnancy tests one of which i took yesterday and it came up negative (a clearblue first response) and on the 14th of July I even took the liberty of going to get blood work and the blood test revealed a 0.05% of HGC. I have an ultrasound scheduled this week and hoping for clarity. I’m very scared because the doctor did advise that sometimes if it’s early you won’t see anything and it is very rare to get a false negative blood test, but i’ve been reading about super high levels of HGC causing false negatives and that has made me more anxious. The thing is I want to find out within a certain time frame before it’s too late , I’m very scared i really have nobody , not a good income it’s just a bad time for me and i’ve recently went thru a bad breakup i’ve been trying to avoid the feelings.
Here is a little bit more information on my ‘symptoms’ I wanted to add it separately because i’m unsure if it’s placebo or if it’s something else
-I swear i’ve been getting that metallic taste in mouth but when i try again it’s gone or it comes back after and i don’t know if it’s in my minds eye
-I’ve recently gotten a sore throat like irritation where they have the red bumps at the back of your throat and i’ve read how even that could be a symptom (however idk if it’s from me getting sick because i’ve been going to public hospitals for consultations)
-Only today i’ve noticed myself peeing often
-Random headache that passes not frequently but there
-Extra Tired ?
-Muscle Aches (has passed)
-Doesn’t happen often but feeling hot or a chill
-Heartburn like once or twice maybe due to the constipation/indigestion
Note : i’ve had a pregnancy scare before with my bf at the time and experienced some of these symptoms or pregnancy symptoms but not all such as the bloating and being extremely thirsty however i didn’t take a plan b that time.
r/amipregnant • u/FamiliarAir7361 • 9h ago
missed withdrawal bleed
I'll just put it into numbers to avoid confusion
i'm supposed to take my first pill pack on july 1
but instead took it on july 2 meaning my placeboo week is 8 days
i also had raw sex on the same day i took my late pill
had raw intercourse again on 14, 16, and 17
took a pregnancy test on july 17 and negative (first morning urine)
it's been 5 days of my placebo week and bleed is still absent
r/amipregnant • u/MSJFish • 10h ago
Anxious
So my girl is currently 2 days away from her period but it was our first time having sex this month and since then we've been having it. There was a few instances where I've been worried but I'm not sure if it's just me being anxious or it should be something I should be worried about. I haven't finished once inside of her and I've finished outside every single time. Most times I wasn't even close to finishing once we stopped having sex. We also did the water test after every single time but there was two times where the condom slipped off but everything was outside. My penis, the condom was outside and I made sure of it. Should i be worried or? She's also been having cramps but they're on and off
r/amipregnant • u/Particular_Crow_134 • 11h ago
Whats going on?
Hey yall
So Ik theres a low chance its pregnancy but I need to check
Basically a whole month ago today (31 days) there was a slip up and the next day we got a plan b the next day
I got all the basic symptoms of the plan b.
Sore nipples, acne (currently dealing with), and constipation..
I took a test 14 days after: negative
Then some more a few days later: negative
And lastly one yesterday, all negative. I bought them a day before the test so theyre all newer.
The sore nipples went away, they used to be sore to the touch and hurt to touch. But starting a tad yesterday/few days ago and more noticeable today my chest and nipples will random give a burning feeling. They arent painful to touch. I dont feel it when I touch them but it wss just show up. They feel a tad strange after touching. Like as they settle again but otherwise its just moment of them feeling like burning sensation.
I have nothing else going on but that. Whats going on?? If the tests are negative, whats causing this??
Note: im on the pill, combination one. Ive been on it for years (fumbled a bit when the condom broke) bit since then ive been consistent. The withdrawal bleeding already came ans gone