Expert: Kristy - 12/8/2006

Question
I had my last 'normal' period on oct.18. By nov.1 I started spotting. In total throughout the month of nov I spotted 17 days. I've done a few preg tests because I have been really tired and my breasts are sore/swollen, all have been negative...Please shed some light on my situation.

Answer
Hi Nicole :)

Sounds to me, like you could be suffering from a hormonal imbalance. You have done a few pregnancy tests, and they have came back negative. Tests these days, are fairly accurate, but there are some excemptions. I will explain that a little later.

Hormonal imbalances are caused by several reasons. Stress, weight gain, weight loss, and changes in diet all can have a direct impact on your cycle. Also, conditions with thyroid, or illness such as flu, cold, or any trama to your system can also delay, or cause irregularities with your cycle.

This is usually not a serious issue, and often it corrects itself on its own. So this definately could be a possibility. It can be hard to decipher sometimes, because hormonal imbalance symptoms can often mimic pregnancy symptoms to a tee. The only way to be conclusive, is to be tested. So this indeed, could be a viable possibility with you right now.

Now, back to pregnancy possibility. This to, could be a possibility. You did say you took tests. Well, perhaps to be sure you should retest again. At this point, the result would be accurate. However, I am going to give you some hints, just to assure that your test result, has higher accuracy.

When you do your pregnancy test, its essential to do it first thing in the morning. Your urine, is more concentrate in the morning. So if you are pregnant, and carrying the HCG hormone, it will be more prominate. In many cases, ladies who are indeed pregnant, test during the day or evening after they have had lots to drink. Well the fluid intake, can dilute their urine. This can weaken the hormone that detects pregnancy, and the end result is they get a false negative result. So doing the test in the morning is essential.

Also, make sure you give the test full time allowance. Even if the test may look negative for the first 3 minutes, it can turn positive at any given time. So if the test says, to read after 5 minutes, make sure that you give it the full 5 minutes, then read to get your official result. Also, Note, that if you check the test say 10-20 minutes after taking it, and it is positive after getting a negative result, this could be a false positive reading. Sometimes, the test will keep activating after the 5 minute mark, but usually these results are false, and inconclusive.

Also, keep in mind that you can also get a beta hcg blood test done with your doctor. Its a conclusive diagnoses to your condition. So food for thought there.

So, if your tests is negative, and your doctors test is negative, these symptoms are most likely due to an imbalance. Its generally not serious, and as I said earlier it corrects itself. In the event for some reason it doesnt correct itself, their are medications available to help regulate your cycle :)

I hope this answers your question, and thankyou for writing! If you have any more concerns, please dont hesitate to write back :)

-Kristy