Expert: Bob Kambic - 7/5/2007

Question
Hi, my hubby and I have been ttc. I have been on Ortho-Tri Cyclen for 5 years, and just came off it the end of may, and trying all of june. I didnt get my period which was due june 20th, and I know we did have intercourse my most fertile times. And I am pretty sure I did ovulate, I had EWCM, and Ovulation pains, and just felt like I did. Then I have been 2 weeks late now, and I have a long list of pregnancy symptoms. I did have 1 day of spotting which would have been 6 Days Past Ovulation. And since have had tons of symptoms. I have taken home pregnancy tests, and they are negative. I am trying to get into the doctor for a blood test, and my doctor wont do one.  I tried getting in to the health department and they are busy. Our pregnancy resource center wont open until July 9th so I may go there, but could I be pregnant and a home test not show it. Also could it be an ectopic pregnancy?? I do have some abdominal pain, and I did have pain in my left shoulder, which is a symptom of that. Please help. I am out of answers, and have too many symptoms!

Answer
Let me answer in two parts. First when 100 couples try to get pregnant, no pills, no birth control, at the end of a year 80 will be pregnant. Some get pregnant the first month, some the second month, etc. It is impossible to predict which couple will get pregnant when. The 20 couples not pregnant after a year are considered infertile and usually go for medical help. You can't tell where you are until you try.

Now second, coming off the pill is similar. Some women return to normal cycling with no problem, others take sometime to resume normal cycling. You can't predict what will happen because all women are different.

So putting the two issues together, coming off the pill, first you will have to resume a "normal" cycle, then you will have to try to get pregnant. I suggest monitoring fertility will increase your understanding of all this and your confidence that your body is working correctly. Check http://www.irh.org/nfp.htm

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/HelpCenter/FFBook/ff_fertility_signs.html

Be sure to try to get a teacher to work with you until you really understand your fertility.