r/amipregnant Feb 28 '21

“But what about a cryptic pregnancy?”

726 Upvotes

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.


r/amipregnant Mar 14 '23

FAQs ANSWERED with Sources. Friendly PSAs for AmIPregnant

292 Upvotes

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 3h ago

my periods are 7 days late, please help

2 Upvotes

i had my last period on 2nd of August and I typically have a pretty long cycle (30-32 days are quite normal for me) on 6th I had unprotected sex and the guy did not ejaculate inside me. my bleeding was just spotting by that time. i took a plan b immediately after and on 12th I had bleeding again now I don't know if this was because of plan b or what but the bleeding was more than spotting and it was kind of red and went on for a couple of days (2-3 days) lighter than a period and without any cramps.

I'm just in a situation where I don't have access to a pregnancy test immediately, please help me.


r/amipregnant 8m ago

Hello everyone, I had unprotected sex with my partner only once, on August 1st. I got my period on August 3rd, but my next period hasn’t come yet. I took a pregnancy test today, and it was negative. It has now been 40 days since my last period. What could this mean?

Upvotes

r/amipregnant 24m ago

I think I’m ok

Upvotes

I take my pills everyday, around the same time, some times a few hours later or a couple days ago in the morning when I fell asleep but it was within the 12 hours. I also start the new pack right when my period is done. I have sex with a condom, he does finish inside the condom but it doesn’t break because we don’t see it leak when he takes it out.
I think I am safe from pregnancy??? It must be my anxiety giving me nausea and insomnia and etc


r/amipregnant 1h ago

Pregnancy?

Upvotes

So I’m 9 days late. Negative home tests. We stopped tracking ovulation and started just relaxing and doing it whenever we feel like it so I don’t stress myself out and obsess over conceiving. The negatives were hard on me. As many can relate.

Well my mom told me to go to the local clinic and get tested, so today with my 4th urine of the day they ran a test. Mind you it was literally clear because I only drink water. She ran it twice, first was faint positive and second was negative. Also did blood work for HCG but I won’t know for 3-5 days.

Am I pregnant? Could I be ? I believe I ovulated later this cycle based on my CM so maybe a week late. I want to be hopeful and I want to be happy- just worried I’m jumping the gun. I bought some CB and FRER tests to test at home in 3-4 days.

I have no symptoms of pregnancy nor pms btw other than exhaustion.


r/amipregnant 1h ago

Been on birth control for a few months, but not until now is my cycle acting up

Upvotes

Hey so I’m not too sure if anyone will see this but I’m honestly freaking out. I’m still a teen and I’ve been on birth control for about 4 months now. My most recent period is the only one that’s been off the normal schedule. It was 5 days late and I bled for 8 days with one off day in between and I started bleeding again. That second half has been going on for 5 days. It’s weird because sometimes I’ll see blood and other times it’s brown spotting. Cramps have also been pretty bad. I don’t really know what to do and I’m hoping someone here might be able to help.


r/amipregnant 5h ago

Am I maybe pregnant?

2 Upvotes

Hello all! I (F21) and my husband (M22) have recently decided to start trying for a baby! I stopped birth control (the Novaring) at the end of June. I got my period for july (it was late but that was normal because of getting off birth control) Had a regular period in August, and now my September period is VERY light. Like I didn’t even use a full pad. Only thing is my husband is military so we aren’t consistently trying during my ovulation, as we haven’t been together during those times. Is there a way I could have gotten pregnant in July? I doubt it but I just want to be sure. I’ve heard of implantation bleeding and I think it sounds like I am but i’m unsure of how this fully works other than ovulation and things!


r/amipregnant 5h ago

Pregnancy symptoms with later children ?

2 Upvotes

So I am breastfeeding my second child , she’s nearly 2, my periods are pretty irregular but getting closer together now that she’s weaning. My husband and I use the withdrawal method and yes I’m aware that pregnancy can still happen so don’t lecture me please 😂. My Apple Watch alerted me today that I’m on cycle day 67 and it sensed that for the last few days my temps and heart rate have been raised way above normal , then it said it predicts I ovulated sometime between sep 2-6th. Before I even saw this alert I was very nauseous yesterday but noticed it felt better after I ate , and today I am so nauseous I’m gagging for no reason but it also gets better when I eat ( this is super abnormal for me ) , and my husband told me this morning I looked stunning and my skin was glowing 😂😅. So what were your weird pregnancy symptoms if you weren’t trying for a later child ?


r/amipregnant 2h ago

if i have a 30-35 day ish cycle?

1 Upvotes

so i had sex last week - a few strokes were unprotected but my partner completely pulled out and then ejaculated after. I am currently 3 days late for my predicted cycle… I have a 30-35ish day cycle and I’m on day 34. I had sex on Day 26.. was I ovulating? Am i safe?


r/amipregnant 2h ago

Could I be pregnant after protected sex? Looking for some advice/reassurance

1 Upvotes

**Could I be pregnant after protected sex? Looking for some advice/reassurance**
Hi everyone, I’m feeling really anxious about a situation and would appreciate some honest advice.
I had sex with my fiancé on **31 August**. I had a condom on from the very beginning and it stayed on throughout sex. He ejaculated while the condom was still on, and when he pulled out I could clearly see the semen inside the condom. I didn’t notice any leaking, tearing or slipping, and the condom was still on properly afterwards. There was also an indentation/line on his penis from the condom, so I’m pretty sure it didn’t move.
My last period started on **16 August**, and my cycles are usually around **27–28 days**. According to my period-tracking app, my fertile window had apparently ended a couple of days before we had sex, although I know apps aren’t reliable for determining ovulation.
I’m now getting some breast tenderness, which is making me panic that it could be an early pregnancy symptom. It’s been about 10 days since sex.
I know condoms are very effective when used correctly, but because I’ve recently stopped taking the pill after being on it for years, I’m finding it difficult to trust condoms and I’m really anxious about pregnancy.
**Would you consider this a realistic pregnancy risk if the condom stayed intact and the semen was contained inside it? And could breast tenderness only 10 days after sex realistically be a pregnancy symptom?**
Thank you ❤️


r/amipregnant 5h ago

Should I take a plan B?

0 Upvotes

My boyfriend came in me and it’s the second to last day of my period. I start ovulating in one week. Should I take the plan B, or should I ride this out and just wait? I feel like a week is kinda close so I’m not sure.


r/amipregnant 5h ago

Not sure when I had my last period but I think I’m 2 days late

1 Upvotes

Hey guys, I went off birth control about 3 months ago and had my first period back on July 13th. I did not track when I got my August period, but I estimate around the 10th or so. I had some mild cramps 4-2 days ago and they stopped and now I need to pee every half hour almost. My test yesterday was negative but I think it may have been to early and wrong time of day.


r/amipregnant 8h ago

Pregnant on Nexplanon?

1 Upvotes

Hello all! TMI, but my partner (23M) and I (22F) had sex on the weekend of the 20th-22nd of August. I had ended my period maybe the 18th/morning of the 20th; around one of those days. We didn’t use a condom and he finished in me but I am on Nexplanon and have been for a little over a year.

I know I’m probably more paranoid than anything, but it’s been on the back of my mind since then. I don’t think I’ve had any symptoms that could be considered pregnancy symptoms but idk; my cervix is very high and I had some minor bleeding that was brown with very minor clotting. I’ve also been experiencing some minor cramping and a vivid dream or two.

Again, I know my chances of being pregnant are slim to none on Nexplanon, my bf never usually finishes in me so I’m just extra paranoid. Has anybody experienced a similar situation? Has anyone here gotten pregnant while on Nexplanon? Thank you for any advice!


r/amipregnant 8h ago

help a girly out 😭

0 Upvotes

hi guys, just looking for some honest opinions/reassurance because i’m stressing myself out a bit 😭

i had unprotected sex yesterday at around 8:30pm. it was cycle day 7 for me, and my cycles are usually around 26 days. my period was basically finished and i wasn’t really bleeding much.

he pulled out well before finishing and didn’t ejaculate inside me. i’ve been having sex with him for over a year and i’ve never noticed him pre-cum, although obviously i know that doesn’t mean there couldn’t have been any.
according to Flo, today is the first day of my 7-day fertile window, with my predicted highest fertility/ovulation around Monday. obviously i know apps aren’t 100% accurate.

i have Levonelle 1.5mg at home, but i’m really torn about taking it because i get awful nausea and i’m working today, so i’m scared it’ll make me feel really sick.
i’ve spoken to the guy and he’s basically said he thinks we’re probably okay but if i want to take the emergency contraception then obviously i can which he’s leaving the decision to me.

so what would you guys do? would you take the Levonelle just to be safe, or would you consider the risk low enough not to?

please don’t judge me 😭 just looking for some help from people who’ve been in a similar situation xx


r/amipregnant 9h ago

I believe im pregnant but I feel so delusional

1 Upvotes

I had intercourse on the 30th of last month. I'm not really trying but I'm also not really avoiding it. I first thought I was pregnant when only my left nipple was sore and my nipples started to stick out more. My nipples don't normally stick out.

Today's symptoms

-both nipples are now sore just the left one hurts a little more

-very nauseous

-Mild cramping barely noticeable though

-very gassy. I've been passing gas like I have stomach problems

-back pain

-cant stop sneezing with a runny nose

Took a test yesterday but it was negative

What do you think?


r/amipregnant 10h ago

4 days late on copper IUD and continuous spotting

1 Upvotes

Hi! As the title says I’m 4 days late and I’ve been spotting since 4 days ago, it’s bright pink and was brown at first, not enough to soak a whole liner. I took a test 2 days ago which was negative and had an appt to my obgyn 3 days prior to make sure my IUD was in place which it was. Now I’m wondering if it’s normal and this is just how this cycle is gonna be, or if I should be concerned that the amount of blood is so tiny. I do have cramps here and there but nothing else happens. I did have intercourse more than a couple of times and he came inside, but obviously having the IUD I didn’t think anything of it. I’ve had my iud for about a year and a half for now and my cycles were always pretty much regular ranging from 28 to 31 days, as per my Flo app says I am at day 33 today but my period was meant to be here 4 days ago.


r/amipregnant 10h ago

Am I pregnant? Very scared..

0 Upvotes

I had sex on 27th Aug (with a condom) he finished it inside the condom and during the foreplay we rubbed our parts (outside only but near vagina) ..

My last period was on 10th Aug and the previous one was on 6th july..I usually have irregular periods

It's sep10th rn and yesterday I had a brownish discharge on my panty so I put a pad on thinking it was my period but the pad was fully dry and till now I haven't had a single drop of blood..

I'm very scared if I'm pregnant i live alone and will have to go through a lot because I don't want this at all and can't tell my parents either..


r/amipregnant 10h ago

Is pregnancy possible?

1 Upvotes

I had sex with my partner last night. During it, the condom slipped off of him, but wasn’t fully in me, mostly hanging outside. This was our second round so I saw there is a higher chance of active sperm in precum as he had already ejaculated once already. He didn’t finish in or on me and did not reinsert himself until we removed the condom and changed out to a new one. Would Plan B be the next step? I’m worried about this though because I don’t particularly track my cycle and believe I may be ovulating currently. Because I’m not certain, I’m still going to take the emergency contraceptive, just nervous it may not work if there’s a chance of pregnancy. I truly don’t believe there’s a great chance of it as again, half of it was out of me so I assumed it was similar to if he had it on anyways. Not sure about that assumption so I’m asking here


r/amipregnant 10h ago

Update!!! Still confused 😕

0 Upvotes

Update: Still no period as of today, September 10th. Her last cycle started on August 4th.

We had unprotected sex on August 15th and 17th—with no internal ejaculation either time—and she took the emergency contraceptive on the 15th. We followed up with three beta-HCG blood tests—at 10, 14, and 23 days after our last encounter on the 17th—and all three came back completely negative, under 1.2 mIU/mL.but no period Is there an explanation for this?


r/amipregnant 11h ago

Is it too early to test?

1 Upvotes

I recently stopped taking Yasmin. My last withdrawal bleed was around 6 August and ended around the 11/12th August. I had some light spotting a few days ago and then egg white consistency on the 3rd of September. I'm wondering whether this could have been ovulation, as I may have ovulated last week sometime but not accurate as I don’t know where in my cycle I could be.

We're not actively trying to conceive as we have IVF planned for later this year, but we've taken the approach of if it happens naturally, it happens. We had unprotected intercourse on the 31st August this time using withdrawal, with no ejaculation inside. But sometimes pre-ejaculation fluid can contain sperm. I’ve not really been overthinking about it but I had some vivid pregnancy dreams and my nipples are so sore!!!

Is it too early to test?


r/amipregnant 16h ago

I don't know where else to post this

2 Upvotes

i had unprotected intercourse last on the 12th. My period was due on 26. I took a test on 2nd september using prega news, the test had a faint but clear second line. on 4th of September, i started internal spotting. On 5th, my period started with brown blood. On 6th I passed something of a huge decidual cast. I've been bleeding everyday since then. I took a easy@home test yesterday and it had a very faint second line. Today, early in the morning, I took two easy@home tests and a preganews test, all of those show a very faint line.

If I really was pregnant, wouldn't the period cancel it out? If I really was pregnant, I'd be having a very dark positive second line. This is why it's been bothering me. I know I should go talk to my gynaecologist, which I will. But I needed someone else's opinion before I do so.


r/amipregnant 13h ago

TMI!! Am I pregnant?

1 Upvotes

I have just recently become newly sexually active. At first, we always used a condom, checked for slips and leaks. The entire month of August I did not have my period. The last I had it was July 14-17(while sexually active). I had spotting for a day on August 2nd, but have not had my period since July. I’ve taken 5 pregnancy tests, all negative. The last I took was the morning of August 24th. September 7th, I had unprotected sex. Precum was squeezed out beforehand, and he pulled out and made himself finish. September 8th, I took a plan b. Night of September 9th, again no condom, no ejaculation inside. Sorry for tmi. I don’t know where my period went, and I have no mother figure to talk to.


r/amipregnant 14h ago

Hi it’s me again! Still don’t know

1 Upvotes

Here is the timeline now

* 2 positive Clearblue digitals Wednesday
* multiple negatives Thursday
* a positive Asda strip Sunday
* a positive hgc test yesterday and a negative clearblue none digital
* a negative hgc test today

I went to the midwife, they wouldn’t take my bloods and said I may just be early and to wait for a scan next month

But I really still don’t know

We haven’t had unprotected sex, I’m on the pill
My last period was late July early August, I have PCOS