Could I Be Pregnant?: How To Know If You Should Be Worried

Your period is late.  The more you think about it, the more you convince yourself that you’re definitely pregnant. Even if your period isn’t late, the risk of pregnancy weighs on you like that bad hangover from last weekend.  Turn off “16 and Pregnant” because it’s not helping. But before you start confusing drinking too much the night before with morning sickness, and your undying need for a pint of ice cream with cravings, it’s best to know the facts. 

The symptoms of early pregnancy are extremely similar to the symptoms of your menstrual cycle, which is why you can’t be totally sure of either until you take a test.  Sore or enlarged breasts, bloating, nausea, and fatigue are all common to both.  Just because you really wanted those cheese fries does not mean you are three weeks along or eating for two (though if you really want them, go for it, girl).  It’s common for PMS to heighten your appetite, and believe it or not, worrying about pregnancy will only make it worse.  Stress can absolutely cause you to miss a period, so to avoid confusion, calm down.

To prevent any further freak-outs, here are eight sex scenarios that will help curb your nerves, rated on a scale from one to five—one being “chill out” and five being a potential Juno situation.  On the bright side, Ellen Page looks super cute with a baby bump, and you can always take a test or see your doctor to know for sure because worrying never helped anyone.

I always use a condom, but my period is late.
Worry Level: 1

Our bodies don’t always run like clockwork.   Sometimes they miss the alarm, oversleep, and are late for class.  Just because your period is late doesn’t mean you have to worry as long as you’ve used protection.

“Only two out of 100 women whose partners use condoms consistently and correctly for a year will become pregnant,” says Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Vice President for Medical Affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, who also explains that stress, illness, excessive exercise, and not enough food could throw off your menstrual cycle causing your period to come late or not at all.

Condoms alone are 98-percent effective when used correctly; however, it’s possible for them to tear or slip off during intercourse.  This is why it’s a good idea to use a backup. If you’re worried that a condom isn’t enough protection or just want to ease your mind, add an additional method of birth control to your sex regimen, like the Pill. 

I don’t always take my pill at the same exact time.
Worry Level: Varying

At 10 p.m. every night, my best friend’s cell phone alarm rings. No matter where we are, she runs to the bathroom, rummages through her too-big purse to find her small pack of birth control, and takes her pill with a swig of water (or a vodka tonic if we are at the bar, though I can’t recommend that). If she misses her alarm or forgets her pills in another purse, she panics, whines, and makes us go home to get them.  Sometimes, I find myself wondering, “Why can’t she just take it when she gets home.  Does she really need to take it right then, at the most inconvenient time, when this totally hot guy just bought me a drink?”  The answer is sort of.

“Pills with estrogen and a progestin (combined hormone) need to be taken every day, but not necessarily at the exact same time every day,” says Cullins.  “Progestin-only pills have to be taken within three hours of the same time every day.”

A package of birth control pills contains three weeks of active pills, and one week of reminder pills.  If you miss a pill, here’s what to do:

If you are taking a combination pill (progestin and estrogen) and...