Pregnancy Paranoia

LegacyUser

Not asking for medical advice, but I'm driving myself around the bend. I'm a 24 year old female and as long as I've been sexually active, have been worrying that I'll get pregnant. I take every precaution that I can, I'm on the pill and take it properly and always use condoms as well and check them afterwards. I'm in a LDR and only saw my BF for a month in August. We had sex a good few times but he mostly pulled out without ejaculating and I finished him off by hand, as I was paranoid about getting pregnant. Twice I let him come inside, checked the condom and it was fine, and another time he forgot he wasn't supposed to come - the condom was a bit stretched but I blew air in it (gross I know) and it was fine. Yet I am still worried about being pregnant. I feel very nauseous/sick and I don't know how much of it is in my head. I have bad sinuses atm and new glasses which don't feel right and both these could cause it, but I'm convinced its cos I'm pregnant. I'm also constipated, but I have bowel trouble so it wouldn't be unusual for me. I took two tests and both were negative but since we last had sex only a week and a half ago, it's still too early to know for sure.

Normally I wouldn't worry THIS much, but I have a college scholarship and have signed a contract for a studio I can't get out of. I think the thought of messing this all up is what is making me so worried. Logically I know it's really unlikely, but I keep thinking, maybe I touched him then touched the condom with precum on my hand, or maybe I forgot to wash my hands when he came on them then touched myself, or maybe taking the pill 2 hours later than my usual time one day and half an hour late many days has made it not work or maybe having loose stools made it not work even though the pill leaflet specifies that I only need to worry about actual diahrrea. The stress is driving me mad, and I won't have a definite answer until Tuesday!! Help me!

January

Listen, the chances of you being pregnant are virtually zero. You need to calm down and think rationally about this, you're giving yourself unnecessary stress, which can give off the symptoms of pregnancy and delay your period even more.

I think you need to go to a GP or doctor and discuss some long term contraception plans. Maybe the Mirena Coil or the contraceptive bar in your arm. You may also need to go and see a counsellor because to me it sounds like you might have a phobia of getting pregnant.

implausible

I think paranoid doesn't even cover it, I've never heard of anyone taking so many precautions at the same time. There isn't a hope in hell that you are pregnant. You should take a look at the Trying to Conceive forum to see how difficult it can be to actually get pregnant.

I'd second the above poster, in that you may need to talk to someone about this. Your fear would be a rational one if you hadn't taken so many extreme steps to prevent it happening. You really need to take a step back and look at this logically. Maybe your boyfriend could help you with this, if not, a counsellor.

That's a lot of worrying you've put yourself through. You are going to make yourself ill if you carry on like this.

LegacyUser

Thanks for replying, made me feel much better! I know the chances are low but I searched online and it does apparently happen. I know that in my case I checked the condoms and they did not break but I can't stop worrying. The thing is, I am so nauseous all day and I cannot stand the taste of alcohol anymore - just tried to have a sip of beer and it tastes so strong to me! I've never really had that before unless I was really hungover. I did drink a lot over the last month, could that be it? I'm so worried!

LegacyUser

My girlfriend is very similar to yourself. She is on the pill and takes it correctly at all times. When we do have intercourse I wear a condom. At the start (for the first 2 and a 1/4 years) I never came inside her. Always had to pull out and always had to check the condom. I understood where she was coming from. Again like yourself having signed contracts in relation to scholarships etc.. I think the more we bacame sexually active and the more she began to believe in the methods we were using she began to relax.

But at times she still tells herself she may be pregnant!Its something I think thats just in built into her. I know this probably doesnt help you but ur not alone in thinking the way you do.

I know she has felt sick, in my opinion from stress of thinking she may be pregnant, but she believes its morning sickness etc.. I agree with the previous posters that you need to talk to someone. I assume seeing as your boyfriends does not come inside you that he is aware of how you think and i think you (as a couple) should possibly take a step back from sex for awhile (personally we did, only having intercourse in the week coming up to her period so as if she did worry it was for a short period of time rather than 20+ days). You can still have fun doing all the other stuff. Hope this helps.

Firetrap

I think your mind is playing tricks on you because you're so wound up about it all. Look, you're on the pill. You used condoms that didn't break. Perhaps it's time to talk to your GP about contraception options.

Moomoo1

paranoidindub wrote: »

Thanks for replying, made me feel much better! I know the chances are low but I searched online and it does apparently happen. I know that in my case I checked the condoms and they did not break but I can't stop worrying. The thing is, I am so nauseous all day and I cannot stand the taste of alcohol anymore - just tried to have a sip of beer and it tastes so strong to me! I've never really had that before unless I was really hungover. I did drink a lot over the last month, could that be it? I'm so worried!

it even takes people who _want_ to get pregnant a few months usually... frankly you stand more danger of being run over by a bus...

LegacyUser

Unfortunately most contraceptives are not available to me for medical reasons. I am on the minipill as this is the only thing that's really possible right now.

lynsalot

Hi OP,

You poor poor girl. Honestly, there really is no need to be THIS worried. I'm on the mini pill aswell. At first it stopped my periods altogether. So naturally you wonder without the tell tale signs each month, could I pregnant. I've taken well over 20 tests over the years at this stage. I used to be just as paranoid as you. But believe me, you're doing everything correctly. I've been on the minipill for 2 years, I've a brutal memory and don't take it at the same time, all the time. And sometimes we don't use condoms and I've never been pregnant. I'm not suggesting you should be less precautious but using condoms and a pill is enough so you shouldn't be this worried.


I would definitely speak to the family planning centre or your family GP so you can just explain how u feel. They should be able to put ur mind at rest from a medical point of view. I used to be this panicky about STDS and looking up the net is the worst thing u can do. There was nothing wrong with me and I was convinced I had AIDS even though I'd used condoms that hadn't split. It's just not rational. I hope the advice you receive here helps. If you need to chat, just PM me.

Take care and STOP WORRYING

dreadlocks

The pill is 99% effective, including the other precautions makes it 100% effective. You are overly paranoid and need to talk to someone about this. Surely sex can't even be enjoyable for you if your're worrying and making your patient boyfriend worry about taking over the top precautions. Being sick will only negate the effects of the pill. If the worst comes to the worst (which it won't in your case)there's always an abortion.

deisemum

Whenever I've got sinus problems I end up feeling nauseous from swallowing the post nasal drip and it also affects my sense of taste, even my favourite foods don't taste right.

sachamama

Give up sex?

No contraception is 100% but it hardly seems worth it for all the stress you are putting yourself under?

Faith

paranoidindub wrote: »

Unfortunately most contraceptives are not available to me for medical reasons. I am on the minipill as this is the only thing that's really possible right now.

The contraceptive implant is progesterone only - like the mini-pill. Speak to your doctor about this as an option. Also, there is a non-hormonal coil which you can get. Doctors are reluctant to insert it in women who haven't had children, but they will do it.

LadyMayBelle

I understand what you feel, there has been many a time where I have made myself physically sick with worry and almost began to believe I was putting on weight/sick in the mornings/ pregnant but the test is telling lies... It's the most horrible feeling BUT everytime i have just been overreacting. Im lucky to have a boyf who is as paranoid as me about ti, but it helps to avoid all that internet literature that tells you stuff that makes your head boggle.

Its hard to come round to trusting the pill and condoms and I'm still not fully there myself but just want to let you know you're not the only one x

dudara

No contraceptive is 100% effective (except for complete abstinence) but you are taking more than a reasonable amount of precaution.

By behaving in this manner, you are placing yourself under huge stress, and more importantly, placing your relationship under stress as well. Your boyfriend must be an incredibly tolerant man, but eventually this behaviour will probably start to grate on him.

You really do need to see what you can do to make yourself more comfortable and relaxed.

LegacyUser

It's me again. I took a test about 2 weeks after the last intercourse and it was negative, so I stopped worrying. However, today I had some discharge containing blood, and I never bleed with my contraceptive pill. Googling the symptoms brought up' 'implantation bleeding' in pregnancy and now I'm panicking again. I am starting college on Monday and so stressed. If I somehow am pregnant everything would be ruined. I thought I could put my mind to rest and then this happens.

January

Do another test, it's the only way you'll know.

LegacyUser

Hey just wondering if anyone out there is on the yasmin pill
and how effective it is as a contraceptive

i am 4 days late now and freeeaking the **** out

HELP