I has intercourse two weeks ago and my period is four days late. Is it too early to take a pregnancy test? what do I do?
I'm on the pill and my period is late, could I be pregnant or is it stress related?
Question posted by KellyAlice on 4 Dec 2012
Last updated on 27 August 2018 by suzanne66
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14 Answers
Official Answer
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 17, 2020.
If taken correctly, birth control pills are very effective in preventing pregnancy. With typical use the combined contraceptive pill and progestogen only pill are around 91% effective. This means that with typical use 9 out of every 100 women taking birth control pills will fall pregnant. They are 99% effective with perfect use.
The main thing that makes the pill not work is not taking it every day.
But other things, like having vomiting or diarrhea for more than 48 hours may reduce how well the pill prevents pregnancy. The pill may be a little less effective for very overweight women. Some medicines or supplements can also make it not work as well eg, Rifampicin, Griseofulvin, certain anti-seizure medicines and St. Johns Wort.
Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period.
Other reasons that may cause you to miss a period include excessive stress, extreme dietary changes involving rapid weight loss, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and excessive exercise.
Quick links to helpful articles:
suzanne66
27 Aug 2018
If taken correctly, birth control pills are very effective in preventing pregnancy. With typical use the combined contraceptive pill and progestogen only pill are around 91% effective. This means that with typical use 9 out of every 100 women taking birth control pills will fall pregnant. They are 99% effective with perfect use.
The main thing that makes the pill not work is not taking it every day.
But other things, like having vomiting or diarrhea for more than 48 hours may reduce how well the pill prevents pregnancy. The pill may be a little less effective for very overweight women. Some medicines or supplements can also make it not work as well eg, Rifampicin, Griseofulvin, certain anti-seizure medicines and St. Johns Wort.
Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period.
Other reasons that may cause you to miss a period include excessive stress, extreme dietary changes involving rapid weight loss, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and excessive exercise.
For more information visit:
Cjsmom2012
11 July 2018
My pet peeve was I was kinda stressing over this subject and would see people on here never get back on and share what they found it’s very unnerving when u are needing advice or answers so I’m back to report mine ...
I’m not pregnant:) what happened I am on the pill have been for many years and skipped a period which I had never done before and am on the same bc so it worried me then 12 days before I was due for next month period I started spotting did that for 10 days everything I read on here was saying I was pregnant I’m very strict with my pill I have phone reminders I don’t miss pills but still everything on here had me thinking I was the 1% i kept thinking well I had left my purse in the car on hot days of vacation did I mess up the effectiveness ?? Well I know I won’t do that again I am 42 so maybe it’s premenapause but it says pills regulate that I don’t know I’m chalking it up to we did a lot of exercise and walking before the missed one so maybe that is what happened but yea I’m having very heavy flow now so AF came thank goodness I kept thinking I didn’t have spotting when had my first Child’ which was planned but reading online still scared me to death so warning don’t go by what everyone says on here and make yourself worry much more I’m not saying you can’t get pregnant taking bc 100 percent correct but I think it’s very unlikely unlless u take antibiotics or are sick or maybe the heat thing ...
grace_irene
1 April 2018
did you ever get your period?
Rubywoodsx
4 Sep 2017
I just have a question reallt worried here.. so I was on the pill and I missed 1 day had sex and he says he doesn't know if he ejaculated in me or not so I got the morning after pill just incase and my period was due on Saturday it's now Monday could I be pregnant???
Carlaajadee
1 May 2017
I'm 18 and been with my partner 2 months, I've been on the pill since January time and had a period every month, I have missed some pills in this time and I've missed my period. Could I be pregnant? When can I do a HPT. I'm usually due start of the month and my last period was around 6th march x
Girlmoon
31 July 2016
Sometimes de pill makes your period be late. Did you take it everyday? If you did then you're not pregnant.
Cmple04
15 May 2016
Helo, Just want to add my question too, Its my first time to take pills and i finished 1 pack of the medicine they say 7days after u finish the pack u will have your period but mine doesn't come yet.
I'm irregular too. please give me some advice coz im over thinking about it.
tnx.
Chinesecandycane
29 May 2016
@Cmple04
It takes 3 months roughly for your cycle to become regular on birth control. So automatically assume you're going to have your irregular periods for a couple of months while your body gets used to taking the pill. :)
KP23
22 Sep 2015
I have jst had the same thing. I take my pill all the time along with using a condom. But it broke last week and my period was 4 days late but it eventually came. Give it time...
Jessica2387
13 Aug 2015
I'm on protection i had my regular period 7 days, later I was bleeding for 4 days light my husband and I had sex before my second bleeding now I'm late 6 days I been on a diet lost some pounds can I be pregnant
happybrandee
4 Dec 2012
Hello KellyAlice, As long as you have been taking your pill every day at about the same time every day, (you can be an hour or two one way or the other), you should be ok. The pill is around 99.9% effective in preventing pregnancy if taken right, but there is always a small chance that you can get pregnant. I think that you are probably ok, but if it will make you feel better take a home pregnancy test! There are home test now that can tell you if you are pregnant before you even miss your period, read the labels or if you are not shy about it, ask the pharmacist when you buy the test. I really hope that averything works out for you! good luck hon! :))
DzooBaby
4 Dec 2012
As long as you are taking your pills correctly and havent missed any, you are very unlikely to be pregnant! 4 days late is no big deal. It will most likely come in a day or two. Your period may not always come on the same day each time. Occasionally on the pil you may miss a period or you may only have light spotting and that is it. As long as you are taking the pills correctly, you should be ok. The pill, when taken correctly, is 99-99.9% effective. If you miss two periods in a row then it is time to take a test.
Kingjr95
13 Dec 2015
What if it's been 7 days since the day I was supposed to receive my period? I never miss a day without taking my pill.
Ziggy0483
13 Jan 2016
Well hun it could be stress or I suggest gettn tested! I diidn't get my period yet and I am on my 3rd suger pill wth is wrong with me! I always had my peroid and I do not have sex ever! I am on Birth Control for 5 years now and it is only for regulating my peroids cuz, I am abnormal I freak out too every month! I right now just have painful cramps so probually I will get mine tomarrow! I got my peroids November and December soa, I hope I will get mine very soon, I do have a 11 year old daughter in 2004 soa, I knew I was pregnat cuz of all da crappy symptoms that went with it! lol
hydz
24 Jan 2016
2nd week of month i have period. Then i start taken pills on the day ive got sex contact with my husband. I finish my pills pad but haven't yet my period. And already delayed my period. It possibble i pregnant?
Mena97
7 Oct 2016
I missed one bill because it was my brothers wedding and my doctor said I can't drive alcohol so I didn't take it and I have sex 4 days later but the next day of my brothers wedding I took the pills what should I do I think my period is late
Mena97
7 Oct 2016
Whoops I meant to say drink not drive
kaismama
4 Dec 2012
Birth Control pills work 3 ways. They prevent ovulation. They decrease the lining of the uterus, and they thicken the mucous at the cervix.
This means that if you take your pill every day at roughly the same time, you will not get pregnant. There are some medications that decrease the ability of the pill to work. One of them is antibiotics, so that if you’re on them you should use a backup method of birth control.
You will not get pregnant when you are on the inactive pills. YOU DO NOT OVULATE WHEN ON THE PILL.
You may have a very light or even no period from time to time because of the decrease in uterine lining.
You do not ever need to take plan B. The only reason for condoms when on the pills is to prevent STDS.
If you forget a pill your chances of getting pregnant increase slightly. The more pills your forget, the more your chance of pregnancy.
When first starting the pill you need to use back up birth control for at least the first week. After you start the pill, when you have your period has nothing to do with taking the pill. You just keep taking them one pack after the other. You do not stop them if you start spotting, you do not stop them if you don’t have a period, bleeding has nothing at all to do with when you take your pills, once you’ve started them.
So if you have taken the pill correctly, you aren't pregnant. 2 days late is no big deal since our periods come when they want pretty much even on the pill.
Jean26
22 July 2015
Hello I have a little concerned too..hope someone can answer me..I had sex last end of may unfortunately its just happen 1 time after my menstration is finish but we use condom that time and I take pills too... but in June I have 7 days spotting between my period due..and I take only 1 pad of pills that time... and this July currently my period didn't came yet usually its should be by 22 onwards I was just thinking if I'm pregnant or its just effect from the pill..thanks
ninjacupcake-s
24 July 2015
What if your on your last day of sugar pills and still no period? I've taken my pills at the same time every day.
Jean26
24 July 2015
I finish all my pills last June and its just spotting and this month my period didn't came yet..
Shuttlebug
12 Nov 2015
I have a question I haven't had my period long and it never comes at the same time every month. I started taking birth control pills yesterday 11/11/15 and I still havnt got my period I am sexually active is there anything I should be worrying about?
Rururulab
25 Oct 2016
Hi! I have a concern, maybe you can help me because I dont know what to do anymore. I had an intercourse with my husband last 2 weeks this october and I took an emergency pill which I searched from google, wherein You're gonna take 8 pills, 4 pills first and then another 4 pills after 12 hrs. After that a week after we did it again and so I took the pill regularly since that day. My period is supposed to be 24th day of the month. But until now, its not coming yet. Should I take the test or just wait for it to come.
Inactive
4 Dec 2012
Hello KellyAlice,
I suggest you get 2 different brands of pregnancy tests.
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