i dont know whats going on

[jen_123]

hi about 3 weeks ago i had some spotting and i had it again today. my period was supposed to start 3 days ago i've been really thirsty and my stomachs been bugging me (no vomiting). i've had all these symptoms in the past but never at the same time so i dont really no what it could be.

thanks in advance!

p.s. just in case age could have anything to do with it i'm 18.

[JJety]

Have you had unprotected sex?

[jen_123]

me and my boyfriend just use the pull out method i know its bad but i had to stop taking my birth control pills a while ago and neither of us really get any pleasure if we use a condom.

[girlybuff]

If I were you, just to be safe, I would take a pregnancy test now and then again in about a week.
It could be nothing but it's better to be safe than sorry and better to know earlier rather than later.
And also, unless you want a baby, I would go back on the pill or find another method of birth control besides the pull out method.
I'm 32 years old and 34 weeks pregnant because my fiance and I used the "pull out" method.

[jen_123]

thanks but i just thought maybe i could be sick or something ..i never really thought i could be pregnant im going to go get the test after work thanks again!

[girlybuff]

It's always possible when you don't use protection.
I hope you feel better.
Good luck.

[young_single_mother22]

I hope that you realize that the pull out method is NOT a method at all. During the entire time of having sex some sperm is still released and at any point you could get pregnant. If you are not wanting to have a child and condoms are not what you are wanting. Then get back on birth control. I hope that you did realize this before. I would take a preg. test because it sounds like you are preg. and that you have every reason to be now.

[JJety]

That's not entirely true.  Sperm is really only present in the pre-ejaculate if the man has not urinated since his last ejaculation.  While pulling out is only the next best thing to nothing, it's actually surprisingly effective - something like 85%.

[Jakataer]

I do the pull out method, too.  I am married, but I still don't want a baby.  I tried bc pills, but I'm not good at taking pills everyday at the same time.  From my understanding, if you don't take your bc pills around the same time, you can still get pregnant.  So I stopped the pills.  Pull out method sucks.  For me, I'm going crazy each month because I think I'm pregnant.  I mean I have all the symptoms.  I even feel like something is forming in my stomach.  I go absolutely crazy each month because I can't afford another baby.  I have two already (well my daughter is 9 and my son is 3).  I pay $1040.00 for daycare for the whole month.  Don't be like me.  Use condoms!  Get on bc!

[Adevotee]

Why not try the birth control patch. It's as effective as birth control pills but without having to remember to take a pill everyday.

[young_single_mother22]

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE WITH THE HOPES THAT THE PULL OUT METHOD ACTUALLY WORKS. THIS IS FROM ASK DR. AMY!

What are the chances of getting pregnant using the withdrawal (pull out) method?

Withdrawal (pull out) is not an effective method of birth control. Of women using the withdrawal method for one year, approximately 25% will get pregnant sometime during the course of that year. In fact, it is possible to get pregnant the very first time that you use withdrawal.

There are several reasons for this. A ¼ teaspoon of semen can contain 100 million sperm or more. That means that if any semen gets near your vagina, there is a significant possibility of pregnancy. So if your partner pulls out just a fraction of a second later than he intended, you could get pregnant. If he ejaculates anywhere near your vagina, you could get pregnant.

Even if your partner times everything perfectly, and ejaculates away from your vagina, you could still get pregnant. That’s because fluid released before ejaculation (“pre-***”) also contains some sperm.

Of course, withdrawal does nothing to prevent STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). You are still at risk for genital warts, herpes, gonorrhea and other infections.

It makes sense to think of withdrawal as, at best, a method of postponing pregnancy, not preventing pregnancy, since if you use withdrawal enough times, you are almost guaranteed to get pregnant.

[JJety]

It does work.  It just has slightly higher than desirable failure rate.  :-)

Another resource is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pull_out_method

[mslkpage]

No one here is advocating withdrawal as the most reliable form of birth control. I think we all agree that if you don't want to get pg, this is not the method to use. However, if the man gets the timing down right each and every time (that's the hard part...no pun intended), then it is pretty effective.

[jen_123]

thanks for all the advice im still havent taken the test but im going to go get one today.  i'll defentitly make a appointment to go get back on birth control. after reading all that you guys were saying i was talking to my friend who said that if a man ejaculates it is impossible for him to wipe off all the sperm on his penis in less he uses soap and water! is this true? because (sorry to get into detail) my bf has a little problem with premature ejaculation and he'll go sometimes 3-4 times into a towel or something and than we just keep going after each time!
thanks jen

[Adevotee]

I agree with mslkpage, and I am not advocating it as being effective but my dh and I used it for 3-4 years and never once got pregnant.

I would say that if you don't want to get pregnant then you NEED some form of protection. If it doesn't matter one way or the other if you get pregnant then you can use the withdrawl method.

[JJety]

This is a problem.  He would still have live sperm in his urethra.  This is what I was speaking of when I said that pre-*** contains sperm if the man has not urinated since his last ejaculation.

You're definitely playing with fire.

[young_single_mother22]

Everything is opinions but then again your encouraging a person that has no other methods of protection. I believe that she needs to look into other forms of birth control if she is not capable of taking the pill.

-The Patch: Ortho Evra
    The contraceptive patch is a thin plastic patch -- about the size of a matchbook - that a woman wears on her skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch contains hormones just like the ones in most birth control pills. It releases these hormones through the skin and into the bloodstream. Instead of taking a pill every day, a woman sticks on a new patch each week. The patch works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.


-The Shot: Depo Provera
    Depo Provera is a shot that a woman gets 4 times a year (every 12 weeks) to prevent pregnancy. It contains medicine that is like progesterone - a hormone that is naturally present in a woman's body. The shot works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.


-Cervical Cap
   The cervical cap is a small latex cup that a woman inserts into her vagina before sexual intercourse. The cervical cap fits snugly over the woman's cervix. It is smaller than the diaphragm and is used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The cervical cap works by blocking sperm from entering the uterus.


-Diaphragm
    The diaphragm is a soft latex dome that a woman inserts into her vagina before sexual intercourse. It fits over her cervix and is held in place by her vaginal muscles. It always needs to be used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The diaphragm works by blocking the opening to the uterus so that sperm cannot enter.


-Intrauterine Device (IUD)
     The IUD is a small, T-shaped piece of flexible plastic that fits inside a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are 2 types of IUD's: copper and progestin (a hormone found in birth control pills). The copper IUD lasts 10 years and the progestin IUD lasts 5 years. IUDs work mainly by preventing fertilization, and interfering with the sperm's ability to reach the egg.


-Spermicides
     Spermicide is a chemical that kills sperm. It comes in different forms: foams, film, creams, jellies and suppositories. A woman inserts spermicide deep into her vagina just before having sexual intercourse. Spermicides provide some pregnancy protection when used alone, but they are much more effective when used with another method, like the condom, diaphragm or cervical cap.


-The Ring: Vaginal Contraceptive Ring
     The Ring is a small, flexible plastic ring - about 2 inches wide - that a woman places in her vagina each month to prevent pregnancy. The Ring contains hormones just like the ones in most birth control pills. It releases these hormones into a woman's body through her vagina. Instead of taking a pill every day, a woman puts in a new ring each month. The Ring works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.



And if you are still wanting to pursue the withdraw method then go to your ob/gyn and ask for the morning after pill, at least you have something that helps.

-Emergency Contraception ("EC")
    EC (sometimes called "the morning after pill") is a special dose of birth control pills that prevents pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner EC is taken, the more effective it is. EC is very safe. It is not an abortion pill. EC works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

[mslkpage]

Uh, what thread are you reading? No one here has "encouraged" her to use withdrawal as BCP. In fact, I believe I said, "No one here is advocating withdrawal as the most reliable form of birth control. I think we all agree that if you don't want to get pg, this is not the method to use."

Disputing your opinion on something doesn't mean we're encouraging her to continue what she's doing.

[chikita25]

Hi my concern is about how women get pregnant using the pull-out method? I've used this method for about a year and i didnt have a problem until my last intercourse. I've been feeling tired and i've also change my eating habits. another thing i notice was the frequent urination, which i never experience before. i want to know if this means that i could be pregnant? i this is true please post a comment answering my question. Thank you.

[cbm25]

actually i just got off birth control, its been about two weeks. Me and my bf use the pull-out method. Is there a greater chance getting pregnant after just getting off birth control?