To take regular pregnancy tests

[Differentstarts]

Do people who are on contraception that has stopped their period or made it irregular take regular pregnancy tests just in case or am I paranoid. I always have this fear I'd be one of them women who just gave birth without realising I was even pregnant. So I take them every 2 months just in case (only cheap ones) I was talking to a friend about it and she thought it was bizzare and she would only test if she had actual symptoms. I'm just curious what others do.

I’m team friend on this.

But then what if it's to late to do anything about it when you find out. I'm on birth control because I don't want a baby right now. So if I became pregnant I'd want to know as soon as possible so it can be sorted

That's weird. Hidden pregnancy is extremely rare.

I don’t think it’s weird, if you don’t have periods due to BC or have hugely irregular periods then it makes sense.
Most women’s first and most obvious symptom of pregnancy will be a missed period, if you don’t have this it’s not going to be easy to know.

Thankyou this is what I think. I don't really have periods maybe twice a year. So unless I had significant symptoms early on I don't know how I would know as I still get pms symptoms occasionally like sore boob's and feeling exhausted.

I take them every two weeks because I'm 5 months postpartum and I haven't got my period back yet. We're using withdrawal method until it returns and then we'll switch back to condoms. Like you, I'm paranoid about a cryptic pregnancy. Despite being horrendously sick in my first trimester.

Oh god please don’t rely on the withdrawal method! You do know that you will ovulate before you have your first period post partum?

odd

I have taken 4 tests in my life, positive every time

In my day, you just tested if period was 2 weeks late

Yeah, I think it's a bit over the top. I have the implant (aka the 'anti baby stick') which means I have no period symptoms and I have 2 or 3 times in the ten years I'm on it done a test if I've had symptoms that might feasibly be pregnancy (bloating for example, or spots on my chin, which was an early sign both times I was pg). But otherwise not.

I am 47 now, so increasingly not worried about it anymore!

I do the same as I’m on a contraception which stops my periods or causes irregular bleeding. I take one cheap test every two months just to put my mind at ease as I’ve been pregnant on the pill before.

How can you test when your period is 2 weeks late if you don’t have one yet though or have then very infrequently, which was OP/ situation?

I think that sounds totally sensible if you dont want a baby. How would you know if you're pregnant if you don't have a missed period?

If you’re happy doing it, then crack on. But I certainly don’t think it’s necessary or normal.

I take a cheap pregnancy test every 6ish weeks. As I got pregnant while taking the pill. ( I did everything right ,no sickness etc) It's was only by sheer luck I found out at 8 weeks gone

My dd does this.

She is on the pill, plus they use condoms, but she tests monthly anyway because she absolutely doesn't want a baby yet so would want to know ASAP.

It's not weird at all.

I’m on the implant, and I’m 5 months pp. I don’t have periods on this contraception. I do a cheap strip pregnancy test once a month, just to make sure, as I’ve heard horror stories of people getting pregnant on it, and not knowing. Last thing I need is an unplanned pregnancy. It puts my mind at ease, especially as I don’t have any period to miss.

Thanks everyone I'm glad I'm not the only one and others do this to. I just think its sensible if you don't want a baby right now. I just can't think of anything worse then an unplanned pregnancy where it's to late to have any options.

I totally agree.
I’d rather know ASAP so I still have options, especially since I am definitely not ready for another child. Any contraception can fail, even the supposedly “foolproof” ones.

I don’t think you understand how pregnancy works?!

Yep, I do this because I don’t get periods being on the mini pill. Seeing as it’s possible to get pregnant while on the pill I take a test every 6 weeks or so.

I’ve been on a mini pill for 7ish or so years with a break between when TTC and pregnancy and don’t have periods and not even once I tested just randomly. I take them religiously every day at the same time, never in these 7 years I had any problems and I have only one planned child so they obviously work so I don’t see a need to test it, so yeah, I would say it’s weird.

If it gives you comfort then I see it as nobody else’s business

It’s fine OP. It’s not like there’s any danger involved. The cost and inconvenience are minor. As long as it isn’t making you anxious then it’s a pretty sensible idea. I never bothered when I was the combined contraceptive pill and having monthly withdrawal bleeds but I absolutely have taken pregnancy tests at times when I was using other forms of contraception because my natural cycles are slightly irregular. I couldn’t tell the difference between being late with early pregnancy symptoms and just having pms symptoms and my period being a day or two away still. So at those times I’d just take a test, even if I had no reason to think our contraception might have failed.

Yes, I know that. The risk is low enough for me, until I start having a regular cycle again. We wouldn't be upset if I did get pregnant again.

If we absolutely did not want to get pregnant, then we would use more reliable contraception.

This is why there’s only a 10 mth gap in age between my parent and their sibling….my poor nanna!!!