I am 15 years old and have been sexually active with my boyfriend for a couple months. We have used a condom every time - but until recently I was not very consistent with my birth control. The last time we had sex was 3 weeks ago, and I had just ended my period. But last Monday I began taking my birth control again - a double dose because I had missed Sunday, and I puked the morning afterwards. I had not eaten anything after taking the pills and throughout the morning. Now, my stomach has felt like a dull ache and bloated for the past week. I also don't know when to expect another period because it comes at irregular times. Could I be pregnant or is it too early to tell? Could these symptoms be from starting birth control again? I'm so paranoid, and plan on taking a test Thursday.

Well anytime you have sex, regardless of using birth control or not, you run the risk of becoming pregnant.

Usually most women do not experience pregnancy symptoms until about 4 weeks or so... if they do experience any early symptoms, it is usually sore breasts, headaches, and fatigue.

If you just had your last period 3 weeks ago, it is probably too early to register on a HPT if you are pregnant. You will probably want to wait at least 4 weeks from your last period. Unfortunately early pregnancy signs are very similar to PMS.

I know it sucks, but really it's just a waiting game now. I would wait 4 weeks from your last period and if you don't have one by then take a HPT... if negative, follow up with your doctor and get a blood pregnancy test.

Keep in mind, as you probably know from having irregular periods... it is not uncommon to be late or miss a period altogether every once in awhile... especially if you are under stress (like thinking you are pregnant).

First of all, kudos to you for using two methods of birth control. Chances are, if you've been properly using the condoms, you are probably not pregnant. The vomiting, being bloated, and dull ache is most likely from taking a double dose of birth control pills. From the information you provided, it looks like you are scheduled for your period soon but the birth control pills will probably throw that off and you will most likely start a little later. It is ,however, a good idea it wait a bit and take a HPT just in case and treat your body as if you were pregnant until you start your next period. In the meantime, find a way that helps you remember to take your pills everyday; I use to set an alarm on my cell phone as a reminder. Keep using condoms as a back-up method if you are going to continue to have intercourse and remember that sex=pregnancy... keep that in mind. Good luck.

Very comendable. When I was 15 I wasn't even thinking of ANY kind of birth control. I am very proud of you. And I would say the effects are from taking the double dose of birth control. If you were pregnant it would still be a little too early to be having symptoms like that anyway.

I'd just like to point out that I got pregnant on THREE forms of birth control, using it correctly.

If you're that paranoid about being pregnant--DO NOT HAVE SEX.

I agree with everyone else, though, that now you're playing the waiting game.

I highly suggest that you find something ELSE to do with your boyfriend besides sex if you're not ready to be a parent.

Can I just add don't take a double dose, it won't work. Birth control pills work by maintaining a low 'noise' level of oestrogens, higher than you bodies natural level. This is to stop your natural variations in oestrogen levels. http://www.womentowomen.com/images/menstrualcycle_060809.gif
(it's down the bottom notice how it rises and dips, the high level stimulates the release of Follicle Stimulating Hormone- FHS and luteinizing hormone - LH which equal ovulation)

In a natural cycle in dips low then skyrockets to induce ovulation, the continuous level dose prevents the raising of oestrogens in this way. Seems a little counterintuitive but it works.
It's the black line on here, the red being the 'normal' cycle oestrogen levels
http://www.contraceptiononline.org/slides/slides/t022_s010_lg.gif

So you see taking two will not really help, they probably made you sick because the oestrogen or progesterone doses was too high.

On a side note and for completions sake the progesterone in contraceptive pills is there to mimic pregnancy, thicken cervical mucus etc. Basically you can't get pregnant if you already are/ your body thinks you are.

Good luck to you, hopefully you have gotten away with it. Remember stress can delay periods so try not to think too much about it.

EDIT - before someone sciency tells me off - this is just a basic idea of how they work, other things are involved as well

I've always had regular and on times and was only a day late when the thought of pregnancy crossed my mind I left it another week and still hadn't come on so took a home oregnancy test which confirmed I was pregnant I was over the moon even though I am to young and was on the pill at the time so that test was followed by a further 8 which all came up positive I'm now 38 weeks and 4 days into my pregnancy id give it another week at least till you take the test but try not to worry as this will add delay to your period but id like to say well done on taking 2 types ov birth control its very adult and mature of you well done and good luck xx