VERY confused. am i preg? or is this normal?? (TMI, sorry)

[justmeeh91]

okay, so my periods have been sooo irregular that when i skip a month, i dont think twice about it. and i have not been on birth control for 3 and a half years!! I am 20 yrs old. 

So, Sunday when i got home around 830pm, it went pee, and when i wiped, there was a little blood, like i was starting my period. the next morning when i go to change my tampon there was HARDLY any blood at all, so i changed it, then put in another, then changed that one at night, again hardly anything at all! not even worth using a tampon for, really. and i am usually a heavy bleeder. so the next day goes by, same thing, but like NO blood. and this morning i went to change it, and there wasnt anything on it, at all. So i am thinking that i am just spotting.

but i havent been on any kind of BC in almost 4 years. the last time i had intercourse was.....about a week ago. is it possible that im pregnant?? should i be concerned about the spotting? Thanks for any input and answers! im quite worried! 

[kitchensqueen]

It's hard to say since you're cycles are so irregular. Implantation can cause a little bleeding, and that can happen around 7-10 days after fertilization in most women. I would say you should wait another week or two and then take an early-detection home pregnancy test.

Or you could've just had a really light period. And if you're really concerned about the possibility of pregnancy, I'd recommend birth control of some kind, even though your periods are irregular.

[justmeeh91]

that is what someone just told me as well, that it could be implantation. I am not so worried about getting pregnant, i am just worried if there is something wrong with me. 

[dejagerw]

It could just be breakthrough bleeding. Have you ever charted? You could try taking your temp in the morning before getting out of bed for a couple days. That may give you an indication as to whether you have ovulated this cycle.

For example, if my temps were 97.5 or higher, for me I would think that I may have ovulated and then a pregnancy test could be taken in the next couple weeks and I could see if I was pregnant.

If I temped and my temps were around 97.0, I wouldn't be too concerned. Because I know I probably wouldn't have ovulated yet that cycle and the bleeding couldn't be implantation, and more likely breakthrough bleeding.

[justmeeh91]

I have never charted. that sounds very helpful! thank you. i think ill wait a week or so and take a test. 

[Jaimee]

Implantation bleeding is not common at all and would not likely last more than 1-2 days.  What is much more likely since you say you have irregular periods is that you're experiencing bleeding from hormonal fluctuations.  Dips in progesterone and surges in estrogen can causing breakthrough bleeding, which might just be some spotting or could be full on bleeding that looks like a period, but is not as it was not preceded by ovulation.   Your body can have this type of annovulatory cycle randomly or all the time.  This is where charting can be very helpful.  Charting your basal body temperature and observing your cervical fluid will tell you when you are fertile, when/if you ovulated, how long your luteal phase is (the time between ovulation and AF), when to expect AF, when is a good time to take a test, if you're pregnant, and if there is anything of concern happening with your cycle.  If you'd like more information about charting, just post!

But since we don't know if/when you ovulated this past cycle, it is difficult to tell when an HPT would be accurate.  I would second the recommendation to wait a week and test again.  If you still do not have full bleeding by then and you get a negative result, you could consider going in for a blood test to rule out pregnancy entirely and then start charting to see what is happening with your cycles.  Are you actively TTC?