What is normal, really?

Like many women, it would probably be better to make a doctors appointment rather than worry ourselves with our own research.  BUT,  here is my what's going on. Between a week and a week and a half, starting around 02-01-13 I started spotting dark brown blood, not enough to fill a tampon. Then the 9th and 10th I spotted regular red blood, once again not enough to fill a tampon (the 11th was when I started my new birth control cycle)

I had premenstrual side effects during the brown blood spotting, usually I do not have premenstrual side effects
--cramps (which is odd, because I am one of the lucky few who rarely, if ever, get cramps during a cycle),
--I had nausea that seemed to only happen at night before bed.
--mood swings
--A little dizziness
-- very slight sore breasts
--bloating

Of course I am thinking I am pregnant, I had sex January 10th, I'm on birth control, no condom was used. I started my period January 11th . But I am also a bit worried about pre-cancerous stuff, my mother had and beat cervical cancer. While I was at the doctors for another, unrelated reason, they checked my urine for pregnancy (though I was not technically "late" yet) and a UTI. It of course came back negative for pregnancy and a very slight UTI which I took care of.

What should my next move be. At home pregnancy test or should I shut the hell up for worrying about such petty things.

[KyleeAnn]

I should clarify the past two days, 13th and 14th (today) I have barley any symptoms or at least a decrease in the amount of symptoms, except a little nausea which I am blaming hunger on.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
If you had your periods on January 11 and then there is no history of any unprotected intercourse then chances of pregnancy are less. To confirm the status of pregnancy, I suggest you to test for pregnancy by a highly sensitive pregnancy test 10 days post ovulation with a sensitive ( 20 - 25 mIU ) pregnancy test. Also then I would suggest you to get your serum HCG levels estimated since this is more specific than urine for pregnancy tests. If it comes negative then other causes of intermenstrual spotting should be explored.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.