I need your opinion -- Please help

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
I need your opinion -- Please help
7
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 11:57am
I remember seeing a message board called "Am I pregnant?" but I have searched iVillage top to bottom and I can't find it. I'm sorry if this is the wrong area for this, but I need advice and I don't know where else to go.

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.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 3:19pm
Is it possible? Yes. Is it something you should risk in the future? No. But I don't think its highly likely either. If I'm adding correctly the incident happened on CD 10. You can definitely ovulate that early. Plus sperm can live 5 days in fertile cervical fluid. You might like reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility. My b/f and I have found it really helpful to know when I'm fertile. We like to abstain completely at that time, rather than using a barrier. But at the very least it might keep you from being tempted to have contact without a condom.

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!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 4:12pm
Thanks a lot, iposh! My discharge is definitely the sticky/stretchy kind. That normally means ovulation (aka not pregnancy), right? But I have also heard that having "lotion-like discharge" can be an early sign of pregnancy. Do you know which might be more likely?

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!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 4:21pm
I have a suggestion if you can't do hormonal contraception. Condoms can be pretty good if you always use them, but you might want to consider using a separate spermicide with them. There isn't very much spermicide on spermicidal condoms and not as much extra protection as a full dose of a separate spermicide. I've seen that using condoms with a separate spermicde approaches being as effective as hormonal contraception.

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.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 4:36pm
Yeah, I've heard that too about the creamy, lotiony discharge being a sign of pregnancy. But plenty of women get it in the luteal phase without being pregnant. So I wouldn't worry.

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.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 4:56pm
Wow, you both seem to really know what you're talking about, thanks! I've tried using spermicide in addition to a condom, but it seems to burn and be uncomfortable in such high amounts.

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.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 5:10pm
Actually if you want it all explained in detail, look for a class in your area on natural family planning. A lot of Catholic churches have classes like that where you can learn all the basics. Unless you've been charting your periods for a long time, I wouldn't recommend using nothing after ovulation. Sometimes it's hard to tell exactly what is going on until you've gotten a lot of experience with the method.

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.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 5:23pm
Yeah it is a little scary at first. But I've read TCOYF several times, my b/f read it once. And once you realize, wow there is only about 24 hours in every month I can get pregnant and its my b/f who is fertile every single day, it kind of changes your perspective :) Also we belong to an online support group where everyone can check out my charts if I have questions. But by all means there is nothing wrong with using a barrier after ovulation! It will increase the effectiveness beyond the 98-99% which is awesome. And I agree, if you can find a class or a doctor (tough to find unless you call around) that is a great asset! Also you need to practice for at least 3 months before risking sex at ANY time without backup :)