when to test??

[sharla28]

Can someone please help me try and figure out when I should do a pregnancy test? The first day of my last period was 20th June, I only know this because it was the day after a smear test. I dont normally record my periods as not trying to conceive and they seem to be all over the place.

I think I have a very short cycle I only usually have 2 weeks and upto 3 weeks max between periods and they last about 5 days not even sure if this is normal, thats what I dont understand when people say the length of their cycle - is it the first day of the last until the first day of the next?? Anyway the reason I need to know is I feel pregnant, boobs very tender, feel tired, been having very vivid dreams and terrible headaches but not sure if I'm imagining it. So when can I test and get a reliable result?

Some tests say that they will give reliable (?) results on the day that your period is due. So if your cycle is short, that may be around now.
Could you do a test tomorrow morning and see what it says with a view to doing another in a few days time if still no period has arrived?
Have you been pregnant before? Did you feel the same way last time?

Cycle length is first day of your period to the first day of your next period.
In your case that sounds like 19/24 days. Does that found right?

Because we don't know when you ovulated, I think you should count 15 days from when you last had unprotected sex. That would give you a pretty reliable result.

However, if you were pregnant enough to have symptoms you would alo be pregnant enough to get a positive test, most likely. Bear in mind though those symptoms are all symptoms of progesterone (ie of having ovulated) and so you can get them in a non-pregnant cycle too.

Hth.

Thanks for your advice.

Yes have been pregnant before and I sufffered terrible migraines that is what made me question in the first place. My boobs are so tender and I am also feeling slightly nauceous, noticing peoples perfume etc.

Its just that if I am pregnant it must be very early days and dont remember suffering this early on the first time?? I may buy a test tomorrow with a view to testing first thing friday morning as have a busy day tomorrow thats if period doesnt arrive of course. Think I've kind of convinced myself I'm pregnant now and I may even be dissapointed if I'm not.

Also meant to say only had unprotected sex once and that was a couple of days after my period finished so would have been roughly 26th - 27th June. Its really too early to know isnt it...

Not really. If you had sex on 27th, add 3 days to that (sperm can live for up to 5 days but are far more likely to fertilise an egg within the first 3 days) and that brings you to the 30th. We are 11 days on from that and most tests are pretty accurate from about 12 dpo. I vote test tomorrow and you can be fairly certain of the result. Wait another 5 days if you want to be totally certain.

ok will try and pick one up tomorrow if I dont get round to doing it tomorrow will do it friday morning.

thanks for your advice.

well did a test yesterday afternoon and it was negative. Still no period as yet, if it's not come by Monday I'll test again as it was a pack of three for 99p. By the way just wondering are these tests to be trusted as I really would have expected my period by now.

It's possible that you didn't ovulate or ovulated later in your cycle, in which case you wouldn't be pregnant but equally you also might not yet have your period.
Do you want to be pregnant? If you're not this time, maybe consider charting your temps or observing your cervical mucus to identify when you ovulate?

I didnt want to be pregnant until I thought I was this month.

Maybe its time to start trying.