Dear Anne
I am two weeks overdue for my period and have had unprotected sex. Are there any signs of being pregnant? Sarah
Dear Sarah
You sound quite anxious about the possibility of being pregnant. Yes, there are signs that might confirm your condition. They include a change in the smell of your first urine in the morning; tingling, tenderness or discomfort in the breasts and perhaps pains rather like period cramps. But not everybody will experience these signs. It's a better idea to buy an over-the-counter pregnancy testing kit from your local chemist's, and the sooner the better, so that you can plan your course of action. If, for example, you're going to keep the baby, what arrangements do you need to make for your and the baby's wellbeing? And if you're not, the sooner you have a termination the better. Such procedures will not normally be carried out after more than 16 weeks or so. If you find you are pregnant, the sooner you see your doctor, the better all round. Your GP or your nearest Brook Advisory Clinic can offer practical help and advice so that you can make the best decision possible, and it may be that your GP can offer you a pill that will bring on your period to allay your anxiety. This only works if you're not pregnant.
On the other hand, anxiety can also delay the onset of a period. If it turns out you're not pregnant, wouldn't investigating conception be a good idea? Setting aside the risks of getting pregnant, what about protecting yourself from sexually transmitted diseases? HIV, genital herpes, chlamydia the list goes on. Protecting yourself makes sense!
I hope, Sarah, that whatever happens you will take care of yourself physically and emotionally. I wish you luck. Back to Ask Anne
