Expert: Lyndsay Mercier - 6/16/2008

Question
I'm currently 20 days late. I have taken numerous HPT's up to 18 days late (all negative) and two blood tests (quantitative) at 7 and 14 days late and both showed negative (<2). I have been on mircette for 3 months, but started the previous pack late one day late.  My doctor told me to keep taking the pill and said that with the two negative quantitative tests (beta HCG) that I probably just missed my period.   I'm still not convinced.   I read stories of women who supposedly took blood tests and still found out they were pregnant weeks later.  The last time we had sex was 5/24, so wouldn’t have something showed up by now if I was indeed pregnant?   I have been urinating a lot, but I think it's because I'm nervous.   I haven't been getting up in the middle of the night like I did with my daughter.   My breasts do not hurt, nor am I vomiting/nauseous.   Have you ever heard of people missing their period on mircette or having two negative quantitative tests and still coming out pregnant?

Answer
Tara,

No, I have never heard of anyone having two negative blood tests and still being pregnant. You aren't experiencing any pregnancy symptoms except for your missed period, so I would guess that you most likely are not pregnant.

And yes, if your period is 20 days late, you would indeed be showing other symptoms by now. Most women experience symptoms around 14 days after their missed period.

I've also never heard of people missing their periods on Mircette, but everyone's body is different. Have you ever missed periods before, or is your period always very regular? If your doctor says that you probably just randomly skipped a period, then he is probably right. I wouldn't worry about it until you miss another period, and then I would get more tests done.

I have heard of some people experiencing a side effect of birth control where their period totally goes away, such as the Depo Provera shot. I myself used that method and didn't have a period for 3 years. I'm not sure if the same thing would happen on Mircette, or why it wouldn't have done it for the first three months you've been taking it.

Good luck, and I hope everything turns out okay for you,

Lyndsay