Sex, The Pill, and Pregnancy Tests – A Reader Wants to Know…

Recently, the following question was posted in the Contraception Forum:

"Hi, I need some advice: about 3 months ago I sort of half slept with a guy (he was drunk and didn’t finish, we used a condom, but I realized it came off. I think I was taking my pill but can’t be sure… it’s a pill that stops all ovulation)….

So, 3 months down the line, I start thinking if there is there any chance I could be [pregnant]. I got a bit scared so did a test and it was negative, but bearing in mind I can’t take the test the day my period is due as I don’t have periods [due to using the birth control pill]. I don’t know whether to believe it."

This question brings up many important points! First, for the most part, all birth control pills work by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg).

• How Does A Little Pill Prevent Pregnancy?

Though a condom was used in this case, it is important to know that even if intercourse is not completed, pre-ejaculate fluid is ejected before a man climaxes. This fluid can contain at least 300,000 sperm (and it only takes 1 sperm to fertilize an egg)! This is one of the main reasons why withdrawal is not a reliable birth control method.

• All About Withdrawal

Fianlly, home pregnancy tests are reliable indicators of pregnancy as long as the test is taken approximately one week after a missed period. The female body will begin to release the hCG “pregnancy” hormone once a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. For most women, this occurs about 6 days after conception. The hCG levels increase with each passing day of a pregnancy. Most women (with 28 day cycles) should begin their period about 14/15 days after they ovulate; therefore, if a woman waits 7 days after a missed period to take a pregnancy, about 15 days will have gone by since the fertilized egg has implanted, so there is enough hCG hormone in the urine to be detected by a home pregnancy test. For the scenario above, a home pregnancy test taken 3 months after a possible conception should yield highly reliable results.

• Home Pregnancy Tests

Do you have birth control questions or a scenario that you would like some feedback on? Post it in the Contraception Forum.

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