Apr 5, 2017 3 min read

Here’s a question/response from April 9, 2007. Ten years! I could answer this type of question at least three times a month (and I do, privately). Follow up – this young woman was not pregnant.

Q: My period is late and I’m worried that I might be pregnant. Sometimes I don’t have a period every month. I’ve used a condom every time I’ve had sex. The last time I had sex was the fifth day of my last cycle. The condom broke that time. That was in February. Do you think I should be worried? How can I know if I’m pregnant? I’m just scared.

17-year-old female

Mary Jo response: Let’s talk about pregnancy. A person of childbearing age usually releases an egg (called ovulation) from an ovary mid-cycle (in the middle of the menstrual cycle). A period starts 12 to 14 days after ovulation. It is very difficult to “feel” ovulation, although a few people can tell when it happens. Mittelschmerz (German for “middle pain”) is a medical term for “ovulation pain” or “midcycle pain.” About 20 percent of women experience mittelschmerz during their reproductive years, but not always every cycle. After ovulation, the egg (ovum) lives inside the Fallopian tube for 24-48 hours. Studies show sperm can survive inside the Fallopian tube for three to five days; conception can therefore occur in the days leading up to ovulation if sperm enter the vagina.

Please remember how challenging it is to figure out fertile times (times when conception might occur) during a menstrual cycle. The period starts 12-14 days before the next period, not 12-14 days after the last one.

I suggest you take a pregnancy test. You can buy one over the counter in most drug stores. The tests are accurate 97- to 99 percent of the time, if used correctly. A visit to your doctor, nurse practitioner or gynecologist can confirm a pregnancy with a blood test or exam. Relying on other symptoms like nausea/vomiting (so-called morning sickness, which doesn’t only occur in the morning) or breast tenderness isn’t as accurate.

If you’re not pregnant, I suggest a regular check-up with a health care provider. You may want to discuss the irregularity of your menstrual cycles at the visit. Share your concerns and seek advice. Please take the time to talk about responsibility with your partner. Communication is key in a healthy relationship. You mention a failed condom. Plan B (emergency contraception) is available for times when unprotected sex was unplanned. You should not use it as birth control, but only in true emergencies. Plan B is available over the counter at most drug stores.

Pregnancy scares can be a wake-up call. Let’s stay in touch – making healthy choices about sexuality is important. I’ll be happy to listen as you sort out your feelings about this important decision in your life.