Breakthrough Spotting - Pregnancy Test

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Breakthrough Spotting - Pregnancy Test
2
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:16am
I was away last week so I couldn't take my pill at exactly the same time each day - 4 days total. I started on time again last night. I took a pregnancy test yesterday and it came out negative. Today I have some spotting. My period isn't supposed to start until this Friday. Could the test have been wrong or did I screw up the cycle cause of the time difference last week? Should I take another one?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:29am
Why exactly DID you take a pregnancy test? If you were worried about last week's irregularities, taking a test yesterday is much too soon to be accurate. I think it is something like two weeks after the intercourse that could have caused pregnancy is the earliest that a test would show positive.

How irregular were your pills? +/- 2 hours is considered on time. Even up to several hours more is unlikely to have compromised your protection, but could have caused enough hormone fluctuation to cause spotting. I understand that many of the manufacturers of the Pill are changing their instructions to say that you need backup after ONE missed pill, but I think a pill has to be something like 12 hours late to be missed. Also, many of us have been safe with the "no backup needed for one missed pill" instructions in the past.

I really think that taking another pregnancy test at this point would be a waste of money. Wait & see if you get your period before you start to worry too much, ok?! Good Luck to you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:36am
i think i was at most 2 hours too soon/too late for taking the pill. i was ahead an hour so i tried to take it close to the time i thought it was at home if possible. i took the test cause i'm paranoid, i have no better answer for that. i guess the spotting was due to changing back to my normal time last night. i'll wait to see if i get my period on friday, i was just scared so i thought i'd ask.