I need your opinion -- Please help
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| Fri, 10-01-2004 - 11:57am |
I had a very bad experience w/ the pill, and as a result, have realized that I am unable to take hormonal contraceptives. For this reason, my BF and I use condoms every time, no exceptions. However, last weekend we were on vacation and for the first time ever, momentarliy forgot a condom. He was only inside of me for 10-15 seconds at most, right at the very beginning (and sorry if this is TMI, but he wasn't "wet" w/ pre-ejaculate.) After a few seconds we realized what was happening and immediately put on a spermicidal condom.
I'm hoping that I'm just freaking myself out, but I am afraid I'm pregnant. This incident happened on September 26, and my last period had started on September 17. I'm not sure when I ovulate, so that scares me even more. I have been reading a lot of the early symptoms of pregnancy (which probably isn't a good thing lol) and I have noticed that I have had some constipation in the past few days, and also white discharge, that I normally get mainly just when I ovulate...but it's too early for me to be ovulating, isn't it?
Please give me your opinion. I know I'm supposed to wait until my missed period to take a test, but that is at least 17 days away, which sounds like forever! Please let me know what you think and what my chances of pregnancy are. Thanks so much.

White creamy discharge can be a sign ovulation is coming, but some women also get it after ovulation. I'd keep checking for clear stretchy discharge because that would be a really good indication you are ovulating now.
As far as when to test... a blood test 7-10 days after ovulation might help you find out earlier. Urine tests are usually accurate around the time of your missed period. First Response Early Results is the most sensitive and for some women picks it up 4 days before their missed period. Keep in mind it takes days (I think 5 or 6?) for a fertilized egg to implant, and then the HCG has to build up enough for the test to work.
Hope that helps and I hope you get the results you want!
I like your idea of abstaining during ovulation. Is there any way to know EXACTLY when you ovulate? I am still unsure as to when exactly ovulation happens. Is it about 12-14 days after the FIRST day of your period? I've heard that a lot of women don't ovulate at the same time each month. My period varies as to when it comes. Some months it's the 15, others is not until the 23. How much do you know about ovulation? Also, if you don't mind me asking, what form of BC do you use? Since you said you ovulate, I am assuming you aren't on a hormonal form. I'm looking for a second form of non-hormonal BC. I don't have health insurance right now due to my job not offering it, but as soon as I do, I plan on going to the doctor and perhaps getting a cervical cap. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks again!
I really think you're just freaking yourself out. Ok, yes it's possible that you could become pregnant from this, but it's not all that likely. You definitely couldn't be pregnant already though, it takes around 7 days for implantation after conception, so since you couldn't be pregnant yet, there's no possibility that you could be having pregnancy symptoms. If this ever happens again though, keep in mind that you might want to use emergency contraception within 3 days to be most effective. Planned Parenthood says it can work up to 5 days after, so technically you could still get it today and if you haven't ovulated, it would prevent it from happening.
Ovulation discharge is like egg whites. Mostly clear, sometimes with lines in it that make it cloudy, and stretchy.
No, there is no way to know EXACTLY when you ovulate, but by charting your signs you can narrow it down to a day or two. You definitely can't just count days!! Ovulation happens about 14 days BEFORE your next period. So the rhythm method does NOT work. The way charting works (and you really need to read the book), pre-ovulation you learn that any days with cervical fluid are potentially fertile. Without fertile cervical fluid sperm only live a couple of hours. The next critical thing to chart is a temp rise that lasts at least 3 days. Then you know the egg is dead and gone.
My b/f and I use condoms on my dry days pre-ovulation (I don't trust myself yet telling the difference between dry and sticky cervical fluid...) Abstain when I'm fertile. After ovulation we use nothing. A lot of women that use fertility awareness are less conservative than that, use barriers during fertile times and all that. But when you look at the stats, the method is 98-99% effective if you abstain during fertile times, but if you use barriers the effectiveness is only the rate of the particular barrier.
So iposh, you said that you use NOTHING after ovulation? And you are on no other form of BC? I can't believe it's as safe as you say it is, but if you've had good luck w/ it that's great! Doing that on a normal basis would scare me to death! I guess my "understanding" of ovulation is way off. I have only been sexually active for the past 6 months, so I never really cared before. I'm still a little unclear as to how it all works, but once I get my health insurance back, I'll definitely have the doctor explain it in great detail.
Very few doctors know all the details of how fertility awareness works, at least not to the point that they can teach you how to use it successfully.