Can You Find Out If You Are Pregnant Without a Pregnancy Test?

Published: January 11, 2017
Dear TeenHealthFX,

Hello, I had protected sex late October. I got a normal period that weekend exactly on time. I got my period exactly on time again in November and December. I also had brown discharge after my period in December. (I'm on birth control.) When I get my period my boobs go down to normal size as they're supposed to and my bloating goes down as well. However, if im not on my period, I'm bloated all the time! And I haven't been eating more than normal. I've been moody and tired and a tad bit nauseous for a while but I've never thrown up. I seem to have had a bunch of pregnancy symptoms throughout the months. Recently I've felt nothing but extremely bloated! I've been trying to feel my stomach to see if I can feel my uterus but I cant feel anything except my stomach is squishy and bloated. This could be due to the birth control because I've only been on it for 3-4 months. Questions: Could I be pregnant? How do I tell a difference between actual period and pregnancy bleeding? Am I just worrying? Is there any certain way to know that I'm not pregnant without having to get tested because I'm young and can't go get a pregnancy test? I don't want to bring it up if i'm not pregnant.

Signed: Can You Find Out If You Are Pregnant Without a Pregnancy Test?

Dear Can You Find Out If You Are Pregnant Without a Pregnancy Test?,

There are several parts to your question, so TeenHealthFX will do our best to address them one at a time.

Getting your period after having sex:

You mentioned that you had sex in October and then got your period in November and December. If you did not have sex again after having sex the time you mentioned in late October and had your period twice following the time you did have sex, then you would not be pregnant.

How do you determine if you are pregnant?

You would not be able to determine if you are in the early stages of pregnancy by feeling your uterus. The first sign of pregnancy is generally a missed period. This is usually confirmed by taking a pregnancy test after a missed period. Women who think they may be pregnant should take a pregnancy test on their own, go to their doctor so that a pregnancy test or blood test can be performed to confirm a pregnancy, or both.

Menstrual bleeding versus implantation bleeding:

There are several differences between menstrual bleeding and implantation bleeding. Menstrual bleeding can be accompanied by more intense cramps than would be present with implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding may come and go, whereas menstrual bleeding is more constant. But the main difference between the two is the flow. Implantation bleeding is often referred to as spotting because it is so light, whereas menstruation bleeding may start out or end lightly, but at some point will have a more intense flow.

Getting a pregnancy test:

There are two ways in which to go about checking to see if you are pregnant. The first would be to purchase a pregnancy test from a grocery store or pharmacy. If you take a pregnancy test at home it is best to wait until after you have missed a period and to make sure you follow the directions exactly as written out. The second would be to meet with a doctor. You could meet with the doctor who is prescribing you birth control pills. If you were put on the pill because of menstruation issues, you could always tell your parent/guardian you need to see your prescribing doctor because of possible side-effects you are experiencing with the pill and then speak to the doctor in private once you are there about any pregnancy concerns. You could also go to a local Planned Parenthood clinic if you want to meet with a doctor confidentially.

If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist or contact your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.

Side effects of the birth control pill:

There can be some side effects to taking the birth control pill, especially during the first few months of taking the pill. Some of the symptoms you are experiencing could certainly be caused by the pill. Planned Parenthood presents the following information about side effects of the pill:

Like most medications, birth control pills can have side effects. But most usually go away after two or three months. Many people use the pill with no problems at all.

The hormones in the pill can change your level of sexual desire. You may also notice bleeding between periods (most often with progestin-only pills), sore breasts, or nausea.

You may have spotting or bleeding between periods, sore breasts, nausea or headaches. These usually go away after 2 or 3 months.

Birth control shouldn't make you feel sick or uncomfortable. Luckily, you have many birth control options. If you keep having side effects that bother you after using the pill for 3 months, talk with your nurse or doctor about finding another brand of pill or another birth control method. Just don't stop taking the pill before you start a new method or you'll be at risk of pregnancy.

If you have any concerns about the pill, including side effects, please discuss this with the doctor prescribing you the pill.

Bloating:

According to WebMD these are the most three common causes for bloating:

  • Overeating is probably the most common cause of bloating. Smaller portions should ease the pain.
  • Eating rich and fatty food can make you feel uncomfortably stuffed. Fat takes longer to digest than protein or carbohydrates, so it keeps the stomach full longer. Avoid bloating by limiting fats in your everyday diet.
  • Eating too fast adds to the risk of bloating after a meal. The remedy is simple -‑ eat more slowly. Satiety signals can take up to 20 minutes to reach the brain and dampen appetite. Many weight loss experts believe that eating slowly helps prevent overeating.

 

If you try to eat more slowly, reduce portion size and eat fewer foods that are rich and very fatty and you still feel constantly bloated, FX recommends that you speak about this with your doctor.

Sexual readiness:

TeenHealthFX is a little confused by your statement that you are young and therefore unable to obtain a pregnancy test, but that you are currently taking birth control pills and somehow have been able to obtain those. If you are so young that you are unable to get yourself to a pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test or to a doctor, then FX thinks it is best that you not be sexually active at this point in time. For one thing, it is not healthy for someone to be having sex at a very young age for a variety of reasons. Second, there is a lot of responsibility that comes with having sex and the potential consequences of having sex (such as getting pregnant). If you are so young that getting a pregnancy test is a challenge, then you are not ready to be dealing with all of the responsibilities that go along with being sexually active.

Education about sexual health:

While you did not ask about this, FX thinks that it is very important that you educate yourself about various things connected to sexual health so that you can make healthy decisions for yourself now and in the future. We suggest you check out the links in our Resource of the Month: Planned Parenthood Resources on Safer Sex so that you can learn about sexual readiness, how pregnancy happens, birth control, STDs, emergency birth control, pregnancy tests and more.

 

TeenHealthFX understands that we did just present you with a lot of information. If you still have questions, or if anything presented here is confusing to you, please reach out to a trusted adult about it. You could speak to a parent or guardian, your school nurse, or a doctor. Just make sure that you have some trusted adult in your life who can give you the information you need so that you can make healthy decisions for yourself.

Signed: TeenHealthFX

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