Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Getting Pregnant after Just Starting the Pill | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I have been taking birth control pills for about two months. The month before I started the pills I was late with my period by five days. I am never late. This month I was supposed to get my period a week ago, and I haven't yet. Could I be pregnant?— Steph in Hauppauge, NY | | | ANSWER |
August 17, 2001 | | | Dear Steph,
Yes, I think there is a possibility that you are pregnant. Many women have bleeding in early pregnancy that seems like a period. Usually this is not a perfectly normal menstruation-like bleed, but that may not be obvious until you look back on it later. On the other hand, many women have irregular cycles as they are getting used to the pills--and this can include missing a period. So it also is possible that you are not pregnant.
The simplest way to answer this question, even though it may be a difficult step to take, is to run a home pregnancy test. These tests are accurate even for women on the Pill. It is safe to continue your pills until you run the test--there is no evidence that they cause birth defects or any other problems if you are pregnant.
Take care.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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