Expert: Norman Solberg - 6/6/2011

Question
hello,  

i am on birth control pills and may 11th was the last sugar pill of my birth control pack. i  had sex with my boyfriend without a condom that night and i was afraid i could be pregnant even though i was on the pill. i started a new pack of pills the next day, may 12th.  i got my period on june 5th, yesterday, and took a pregnancy test, yesterday, june 5th, and it said i was not pregnant.  however, i read on the e.p.t. pregnancy test website that it is only 99% accurate until you test AFTER your missed period.  i did get my period but i read that it is not a real period on the pill and you could still be pregnant even if you get your "period." also, i read about implantation bleeding if your pregnant and worrying if my period is implantation bleeding (even tho my period looks like a menstrual period and not implantation bleeding) and i am getting all sorts of anxiety.  i tested for pregnancy 25 days after we had sex (june 5th--had sex on may 11th)...is that enough time? should i test again? could i be pregnant?

Answer
Hello Lee,
I think you're doing a lot of worrying for nothing.  As long as you don't miss any pills, pregnancy is very rare while on the pill.  As long as your period comes when expected, you're not pregnant.  Implantation bleeding is fairly rare, and is talked about more than it happens.  A pregnancy test will usually be positive by 2 weeks after conception, and will always be positive by 3 weeks after.