[jonesk9003]

Hi! I am now 18 days late. I have a very regular cycle. Always on time since I have taken birth control for over a year! I have been on Low-Ogestrel and last month I missed about 4 pills the week before my period was to show. When I realized this I took two and then continued taking the period pills. My period has not shown so I did not take any more until I know Im okay to. I have taken about 7 tests all negative. My breasts are tender, stomach is bloated, craving foods, and then I developed an AWFUL yeast infection about day 13. Which I heard was thrush and that could be a symptom as well. I don't want to go get a blood test because I don't have insurance and I have also heard that if home test is negative so will the blood test. I plan to wait a couple more weeks to see if I just missed a month. What do you think I should do? Could I be pregnant even though tests say no?

[Alty]

It can take some women well into their second trimester to get a reliable at home test. False negatives are very common and often due to testing too soon, human error, or a faulty test.

You missed 4 pills, that's a lot. That alone could throw off your period. Now you've stopped the pills entirely, which could also throw off your period. It can take months for your body to get back to normal after abruptly stopping your birth control pill.

When did you test? You stated you've tested 7 times. You're only 18 days late. You shouldn't test until you're 2 weeks late (14 days) and you should always test using first morning urine. Human error seems to be playing a part in this.

Test again, use first morning urine (your very first pee of the day). Follow the directions exactly.

If that test is negative, wait for your next period. Your period is likely off because of missing pills, stopping the pill altogether, etc. But pregnancy is possible. Sadly, the way you're testing isn't really going to give you an answer.

A blood test really would be your best bet, but I'd wait until you miss a second period before you go that route, and no, just because you got a negative with an at home test, doesn't mean a blood test will be negative. Blood tests are more accurate than at home urine tests.

If you are pregnant, you're going to have to find the money for doctors appointments, insurance or no insurance, once a month until the third trimester, and then weekly during the last month, if you're having a normal pregnancy. Delivering will also cost around $12,000 if there are no complications. So really, a blood test is the least of your financial contributions during pregnancy.

Good luck.

[Fr_Chuck]

A blood test will show correct results, home tests do not always show correct sometimes till 2nd month.

So your information on blood testing is not correct.

Since you can not start testing till day 14 late, you were testing too early.

But missing so many pills can also alter period.