Is this a phantom pregnancy?

[PinkyMe]

I had unprotected sex 19 days ago and I think about 3/4 days later as well.
All pregnancy tests have come up negative so far. I would have thought that by now the sensitive tests would be positive if I was pregnant.

Thing is I have experienced all sorts of early pregnancy symptoms. Although the only thing which is constant is a bloated feeling and very bad indigestion.

I've had lower belly cramps, Sore nipples faint dizziness, constipation, tiredness and very mild nausea.

My husband thinks it may be a phantom pregnancy, i.e. I have convinced myself I am pregnant and so I'm getting the symptoms.

I didn't think this would be possible with clinical symptoms. But when I googled it, it is possible.

What do you think. Is there still a chance I'm pregnant?

[PinkyMe]

Sorry put this in the wrong place. Going to ask for it to be moved.

[chitchat07]

Of course there's a chance you're pregnant! Positive results in pregnancy tests are very reliable, negative ones not as reliable. Have you taken it first thing in the morning? (With your... ahem... first wee?) A blood test would tell you one way or the other.

[PinkyMe]

Chitchat Yes I have done, but have come out neg. I think the GP will only do the blood test if I still feel like this in a weeks time.

[hairymelons]

I got negatives until the day after my period was due. Where abouts are you in your cycle?

[PinkyMe]

That's the problem, I don't know. I've been off the pill for about 6 weeks now, so have not had a proper period which I could use to track my dates.

[Claw3]

I did 2 tests, which did not show up as positive until my period was 2 weeks late.

[BuddhaFul]

It could be coming off the pill. I got pretty much every pregnancy symptom after coming off the pill. It surprised me because I expected my hormones to be all over the place straight after coming off the pill, but the symptoms started 6 weeks after I came off the pill. I kept taking tests for a couple of weeks as I was convinced I was pregnant, but all negative. After a couple weeks I started getting sharp abdo pains so went to GP and asked for blood test (in case was ectopic) but that was negative. Gynae thought the stabbing pains were my ovaries kicking back in with hormone production, so I guess my hormones were causing the symptoms.

[hairymelons]

So have you just had the period when you stopped and nothing since? You could be pregnant but might have to wait another week or so until it shows up on a test, depending on when you ovulated etc. Must be very frustrating!

[LibertyGibbet]

Could be ovulation.

Ovulation to me feels like sharp aches low down at the front, a constipated poker in arse feeling at the back, nausea and a mild headache/dizziness.

There is a hormonal shift after taking the pill too.

[BertieBasset]

I got my bfp 6 weeks after coming off the pill, and I was convinced I was about to have AF.

You could be pregnant. Give it a week and try again. Easier said than done though (says a woman who nearly had to remortgage due to the amount of tests bought)

[emptyshell]

Your mind CAN play tricks on you though - especially after a few days of googling pregnancy symptoms. In the past (3 years TTC so I've had plenty of time to drive myself nuts symptom spotting I've convinced myself of nausea, atomically large nipples, bad tastes in my mouth, fatigue, trapped wind and assorted other symptoms. You can always quite effectively make your period late by fretting about it - fun huh?

Tests don't give false positives but you can get a false negative by testing before the hormone's sufficiently concentrated - and the usual advice is just to wait a few days and use first morning pee (someone on here described it as "use the stuff that smells like a men's urinal").

I've also skipped a period for no apparent reason a couple of times too - generally about once a year I'd get a freak one like that. You can drive yourself quite effectively nuts so step away from Google!

[TotorosOcarina]

Hmmm,

I came off the pill recently,

stopped pill, had period, 31 day cycle ... and am now on day 38 of my cycle, I've had abdomen cramps for about 10 days, tiredness etc.. and 2 negative tests.

I too think that if I were pregnant by now it would show up so I think its just irregular cycles after coming off the pill so am waiting for my period.

[DawnAS]

I came off the pill literally the month before I conceived my DD and since I'd been on the pill for 18 years before that, I didn't remember what it was like to have a normal cycle.

My DD is now 14 months old and I've been amazed at how many PG symptoms I get every month before my AF turns up - even when we haven't BDd!! . I think when you've been on the pill for a long time, your body has very different monthly symptoms and after you come off the pill, things can feel very different.