Grab a test! (For anyone wondering if they're pregnant)

Suggestion—we should probably rename this thread to HELP ME, SOMEONE!!!!!!

Really hoping there are some other moms or moms-to-be in here who actually get what I'm going through...😬

darkranger69 said:Suggestion—we could just rename this thread "SOMEONE CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD!!!!!!"

😂 oh yeah, how could anyone possibly forget 🤣

How reliable are pregnancy tests? Timing also matters—does it make a difference if they are taken before or after a missed period?

If I’d noticed symptoms like extreme fatigue or tender breasts, I probably would have taken a test a few days before my period was even due.
Pregnancy tests work by detecting levels of HCA Healthcare hormone—specifically the pregnancy hormone—so if conception actually happened, the test will pick up on that hormone and confirm you're pregnant.

Honestly, it might be smarter to just wait until your period is actually late; by then, those hormone levels should be high enough for the test to give you a clear answer.

Amanda Stewart69 said:How reliable are pregnancy tests really? And does timing matter—like, should I take one before or after my period starts?

When my test came back positive, I rushed straight to my OBGYN all excited to get blood work done just to be sure. She basically told me, "The tests are totally reliable, no need for blood work. Just come back for an ultrasound in two weeks."

Amanda Stewart69 said:How reliable are pregnancy tests actually, and does timing matter—like, should I be testing before or after my period starts?

Reliability:
If the test says you're pregnant, there's about a 99% chance you really are! That specific hormone they look for basically only shows up when you're pregnant—unless you have one of those super rare medical conditions, which, let's be honest, is pretty unlikely.
On the flip side, if it says you're *not* pregnant, it’s maybe 70% reliable. The thing is, if you test too early—like, within 10 days or less of conception—there might just not be enough hormone in your system yet for the test to pick up.

Timing:
It really all comes down to how regular your cycle is—do you know exactly when you ovulated or when you might have conceived?
Honestly, the best time to test is the day your period is actually supposed to start.
Now, if you are feeling *super* impatient (I totally get it!), you can try testing as early as 4 days before your expected period.
But just a heads-up—if you get a negative result that early, you can't really trust it yet. It doesn't mean you aren't pregnant!

alexxx said:3. When should I actually take the INTIM plus test?
You can run the test whenever you want—whether you're on your period or if you think you've already missed it. How do you figure out when your period is due? Just count the days from the first day of one period to the day before the next one starts. That total gives you your cycle length.

* If your cycles are all over the place, just go with the number of days from your longest cycle in the recent period before testing.
* If you have zero clue when your period is coming, wait at least 19 days after having unprotected sex before taking the test.
* If the result comes back negative but you still haven't gotten your period, hang tight for at least 3 days before testing again. You might have just jumped the gun.

http://www.walgreens.com/...ion_menu=intim

Just throw that into the rules during the initial forum registration, right alongside everything else, and then boom—problem solved.😬

Xenia 😘

Don't sweat the parents. I was in a relationship (married now), 29 years old, killing it at work, and my old man ended up in prison. Now he calls me every single day just to ask if he’s become a grandfather yet.

I know this topic has been covered a thousand times before, but since I can't get an appointment with my OB-GYN until Monday, I figured I’d reach out here to see if anyone has gone through something similar.

About three months ago, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. To be honest, he lied and told me he was using a condom. I spiraled into a panic the next day. I bought a pregnancy test just a few days later, and it came back negative. Shortly after, I got my period right on schedule—it was totally normal, so I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, some time later, a condom broke during sex. Once again, I panicked, but once again, the test said I wasn't pregnant. I've taken a few more tests just to be safe, and they’ve all been negative. My period in August was also regular, though it arrived ten days early this month (my cycles are usually pretty irregular). It lasted a normal amount of time, and nothing seemed unusual, except for a bit of thick, reddish-brown discharge on the first day that felt almost creamy, before the standard flow started.

I thought things were settling down, but lately, I’ve been noticing what feel like classic pregnancy symptoms, which makes me wonder if my periods haven't actually meant anything. My breasts have been swollen and sore; the tenderness has eased up a bit recently, but they definitely look larger. I am also dealing with constant exhaustion. Even right after waking up, I just want to sleep. Basic daily tasks feel like marathons now—just walking up a flight of stairs is tiring, let alone standing for long periods at the gym. Everything just wears me out in ways it never used to. I’ve noticed some weight gain too (though maybe that’s just because I’ve been eating more lately), and I’m dealing with intense bloating, like I’ve swallowed something heavy. I get heartburn frequently and sometimes feel like I can't catch my breath. For years, I've always slept on my stomach, but lately, that's become really uncomfortable. On top of that, I’m dealing with gas, headaches, irritability, and increased hunger. For the last week or two, my gums have been bleeding and quite painful, which has never happened before. I’m also feeling lower abdominal pains similar to my period cramps, and sometimes it feels like something is rolling around in my stomach. On one hand, I could blame all of this on stress, as I was dealing with some major issues at college back when this all started in September. But I’ve always been a pretty laid-back person, so it’s strange that stress would hit me this hard. I was also diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago, but I never finished treatment because I couldn't handle the medication, so I often worry that getting pregnant might be difficult for me.

What do you think? Is it possible I'm just imagining this whole thing, or could I actually be pregnant? I'll have everything cleared up by my doctor on Monday, but I’d love to hear if anyone has had a similar experience. It would help me know which direction to lean in, because I’m barely sleeping and the stress is really getting to me.

Hey girl, what exactly do you want us to tell you here?
Could you be pregnant—even if you’ve had your period? Honestly, yeah, it's possible. It’s super unlikely, I know, but it could happen.
Are you actually pregnant? Well, only God and your OB-GYN can really give you a definitive answer to that one. 🙂

Honestly, I think you’re just feeling the seasonal shift. It happens to the best of us. As for the breast enlargement? Your hormones might just be acting up. If you’ve started seeing someone more serious lately—not that I’m fishing for details—your subconscious can actually trigger hormonal shifts that result in things like fuller breasts or even a better complexion.
If you were actually pregnant, you’d probably be dealing with a whole host of other symptoms by now.
Anyway, once you figure out if you are or aren't, let us know. We need to know whether to factor your "symptoms" into the equation next time! Bye!

I’m not expecting any specific answers; I just wanted to see if anyone else has gone through something similar. I've been feeling so anxious about all of this that I’m actually counting down the days until Monday!

8472, thank you. I really want to believe it's just a shift in my hormonal cycle—that’s what I’ve been telling myself—but there's just so much going on. To be honest, the stomach pains and bleeding gums are what really throw me for a loop, since I’m super diligent about my dental hygiene and have never dealt with this before. Most of the symptoms I'm experiencing look exactly like early pregnancy signs, though my period hasn't changed. Even my complexion seems worse lately. I’m honestly just hoping I’ve been overthinking the whole thing.

Serpent said:Whether you're actually pregnant—well, that’s a secret known only to God and your OB-GYN. 🙂

So, am I once again looking at prime material for my next big "God" complex moment? 😬 🤣

cosmiccyclist412, you really picked the wrong guy 😬 , I mean, look what your subconscious did to you🤣

On a side note, my dog went through those exact same symptoms when she had a false pregnancy. The only difference is her gums weren't bleeding, and I couldn't exactly tell if she felt something "rolling around" in her stomach.
But man, the gas was unreal, she was eating like she hadn't seen food in weeks, and she was just totally wiped out...
It’s highly likely you might end up producing milk too; that’s exactly what happened with her.😎
Seriously, just go see a decent gynecologist right now.😁
Oh, and we ended up getting our dog spayed after all that, and honestly, she's been much better since...👍

Richard Smith31 said:By the way, my dog went through those exact same symptoms when she had a false pregnancy.

I totally forgot to mention—my dog was just as 😳 except, on top of all that, she started hoarding every single toy onto her bed, obsessively nesting like she was preparing for a massive arrival 🤣
It sounds like you might have a little pup with a false pregnancy on your hands 🧐

Linda Hernandez15 said:I forgot to mention my dog acted exactly the same way 😳 except on top of those symptoms, she kept gathering all her toys onto her bed and constantly nesting them there. 🤣
It sounds like you’ve got a false pregnancy on your hands. 🧐

Oh man, mine did the exact same thing! I completely blanked on mentioning that. 🤣

Well, it looks like I’m the only one taking this seriously.

Look, if you've already run through a few pregnancy tests and they all came back negative, then you aren't pregnant. You can't just feel random things happening in your body and assume it’s a baby—that’s not how this works. A baby would have to be at least four or five months along for you to be feeling stuff like that.

I honestly think you're just overthinking it. And frankly? I wouldn't sleep with a guy ever again if he lied to me about using a condom!

cosmiccyclist412 said:Alright, I see nobody is taking this seriously.

Look, honey—it's all laid out for you right here: .

And by the way—we aren't "targeting" the people who jump in with two or three posts claiming they’re pregnant after running thirty different tests—it’s not personal. It’s just that we’re all exhausted from hearing the same thing over and over again.