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you asked...

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Can the Pill alter pregnancy test results?

Re: Can the Pill alter pregnancy test results?

The Bump Expert Your question makes sense, because the Pill contains hormones, and home pregnancy tests work by measuring hormone levels. However, birth control contains estrogen or progesterone (or both), while pregnancy tests look for a different hormone called HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). So, birth control has no effect on home pregnancy tests.

Dr. Joseph Hill | May 01 , 2009 10:50 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I recently stopped my birth control (Lessina) in which had been taking for 11 years. I have been taking prenatal vitamins for three months and have had three menstral cycles. For about two months now my hair has been falling out. My aunt says that this could be because of the change in my hormones from stopping the pill and that this can last for up to a year. Is this true? And what can I do to prevent my hair from falling out? I'm not pregnant yet but when I am, is this something that's going to continue to happen? I'm really scared.

gem23pr | March 25 , 2010 10:30 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Gem23pr, I am feeling the same way... I have been on birth control for 11years as well, and on prenatal vitamins for 6 months and have had 1 normal menstral cycle and since then I have been losing a lot of hair... is this normal? I am also scared.

crissebastiao | June 07 , 2010 1:54 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

me too, i have been off the pill only for 3 weeks so far but i thought i was going crazy, globs and globs of hair in the drain, i am glad to see that i am not alone in this.

babyhunbun7 | June 27 , 2010 6:33 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I don't know what the explanation is for hair loss, but that happened when I was TTC with my son. Everything was fine - just a lot of hair loss. I can tell you that my hair only got thicker post-baby. I think that new hair was coming in as old hair was falling out.

CindyTJ | July 08 , 2010 4:44 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

To help with hair falling out/thinning try the shampoo Nioxin. Hairdressers typically recommended it for people who lose hair while on the pill. Opposite cause, but same issue...

DMGyles | July 15 , 2010 12:54 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Also happened to me with both of my daughters, my hairdresser just said to completely change shampoo and conditioner, to anything different and I noticed an improvement within a week.

evanskimberly | November 01 , 2010 8:41 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Ok I've hadn't had a cycle in over a month now to be exat 5 weeks and everytime a take a HPT it say NOT PREGNANT. And I stop taking my birth control pills about 4 1/2 weeks ago. So what should I do?

TylerWilliams318 | December 25 , 2010 1:59 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I am in the same boat as you. Stopped taking BC beginning of November, started my cycle a few days early and then haven't had one since. It's been a little over 5 weeks and all of the tests say not pregnant. I'm glad I'm not alone but it would be nice to know if this is normal or ir there is something we could do.

ehacker | December 28 , 2010 1:24 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I have been a hairstylist for 12 years and the reason you are losing hair is because you have stopped you birth control pills. Hormones are extremely powerful and affect everything. A person's hair texture can change up to 7 times in life, usually due to hormonal changes. When you get pregnant your hair grows faster, you shed less so your hair becomes much thicker. Then after you give birth you lose most of the hair, then after you stop breast feeding you lose all the hair that did not shed during pregnancy. Then it grows back in and you have "baby hairs" figuratively as well as literally. Please don't panic, it is normal.

aclover37 | January 16 , 2011 1:50 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I have been on bc since I was 15 or 16. I am 26 now. I stopped taking it August of last year and had the one period following the pack. The next month i had a 2 day spotting and havent had anything since. I have done several pergnacy tests just to make sure but I am not pg yet. im getting frustrated.

jodeelaray | February 19 , 2011 2:40 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I stopped taking the pill in August of 2010. Since then I had one menstrual cycle in september, then nothing till january, now it's almost march and still nothing. Should I be worried? All pregnancy tests say not pregnant and im starting to worry that one of us is broken :(

chantalcorey | February 27 , 2011 12:46 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Re: chantalcorey - I too stopped BC Augusut 2010 and I never got my period, naturally that is. I went to my doctor and he said everything was fine with me and it usually takes about 3-4 months for the average woman's body to balance out with your hormones. I went back at 4 months and he said, you are healthy, just give it time. Hard to give it time when you wanted a baby and haven't really started yet! So I got a new doctor and I love her! I was not getting my period for 4 1/2 months at this point. I reccomend you go to your doctor and talk to her about PCOS (poly-cycstic ovarian syndrome) - it sounds scariery than it is. Basically, if you have PCOS, you do not get your period naturally because cycyts on your ovaries (not-life threatening) prevent 1 of your eggs from dropping, hence ovulation and your period. You can get an ultrasound to check out how your ovaries look...which will help ease some pain and see if anything else is wrong. Treatment are pills. They can give you progesterone to make your period start. And to Ovulate you can take something called Chlomid - comes in 50mg pills. I did two cycles, the first at 50mg and the second at 100mg. Neither one worked for me. The pill is suppose to stimulate the eggs in your ovaries and cause one to drop. So I am not on the 150mg cycle and go for my ultrasound on Monday to see if it worked. Hopefully that works for me, but if not do not get discouraged there are plenty of other options to help.

smilngrl54 | April 12 , 2011 11:25 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

smilngrl54, did you experience any pain from your ovarian cysts. i stopped the pill at the end of march and have not gotten a period. For the pst five day's i've been experiencing severe pain on one side of my lower abdomen. i initially thought it could be a tubal pregnancy, but the test was negative. I called my dr and the nurse said it could be a cyst or an ovary trying to ovulate. This didn't give me much peace of mind. I want to make an appointment but i don't want them to think i'm crazy either. any advice? Obviously if I have cysts this will put a huge damper on getting pregnant, right? ahhh so frustrating.

mariainfalvi | May 02 , 2011 9:42 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Marianfalvi, Don't worry about your doctor judging you. If you have a concern make an appointment. Talking to someone and getting answers is much better than sitting at home stressed out. Especially since stress can stall ovulation (and pregnancy!) Whatever your questions are, I'm sure they've heard crazier ones! To all the women not sure

JacquiSLO | May 17 , 2011 10:33 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

Sorry, cat bit me and I hit enter without finishing my post :) To all the women not sure if the are pregnant, I suggest charting your cycle. It will tell you what's going on with your body, like whether or not you are even ovulating. There are helpful books that will explain the process. It will give you much more peace of mind!

JacquiSLO | May 17 , 2011 10:38 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I have been off of birth control for over 3 months now. I have had three normal periods. I was supposed to start two days ago and haven't. About a week ago, I took a pregnancy test and it was negative and my doctor did a blood test which was also negative. But why haven't I started my period? I've been so regular up until now. Could I be pregnant but it was too early for the tests I've already taken? I don't want to take another test and get my hopes up if I'm just being silly.

jennyfulton | July 22 , 2011 5:32 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I accidentally left my birth control at home when we went on our honeymoon June 6-11, so We know there is a chance I am preggers. My last 2 "periods" had been super light (only a wipe in the morning) when they usually last about 4 days of bleeding. We decided for me to go off my medicine permanently about a week ago, but I was wondering if it might be that I am pregnant? I have been having some major signs, in addition to the unusual periods. I was pregnant once before, and it took 4 months for me to get a positive hpt result, so even though I had taken a couple tests and had negatives, I am not convinced, because its happened to me before. The other day I took a test, and when I looked at it, it was invalid (it didnt have ANY lines) Then I happened to glance at it the next day, and it had 2 lines, the control line, and the positive test line. I was wondering if maybe it could have just taken the pee a bit longer to get all the way to being read? And the second line is NOT an evap line, I know what those look like. It is definately blue. Opinions?? We are actively trying now, just in case, but I dont know if we should make a doc appt to be sure, or if it just sounds like hopeful thinking???

acpearce | July 25 , 2011 3:23 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

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janeslot143 | August 02 , 2011 2:45 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I went off BC 4 months ago and have been TTC 2 months. I'm ovulating but each period is lasting two weeks!!!! And it's heavy! I'm only not on my period 1 1/2 weeks out of the month. I feel disgusting. Has anyone else had this problem? I see my OB in a little over a week but was curious if any of you guys had advice or thoughts?

jennyfulton | August 05 , 2011 2:20 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

FOR GIRLS WHO STOPPED BCP'S MID PACK: I stopped mid-pack (on a tuesday), we had sex friday night, I started bleeding saturday for 5 solid days. Was this a period?? No spotting, full-on period. If you stopped mid-pack how long before you conceived?

wannabemommy2012 | August 31 , 2011 8:47 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I am having symptoms, but still on birth control. Could we be pregnant? (trying not to get my hopes up)

jackersCU | September 05 , 2011 8:23 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I stopped taking birth control pills on the 19th of August and started a "period" (withdrawl bleed??) on the 21st that lasted until the 27th. So assuming a 28 day cycle I should have started my period on the 18th of September but nothing. I took a HPT on the 18th and it was BFN. I took another HPT on the 23rd and still BFN. I experienced cramps and very moody on the 24th like I was going to start my period. Still nothing...now it's the 30th of September. Anyone out there have any idea of what the cramps were? Should I take another HPT?? It's very dissappointing seeing the BFN so I'd rather wait. I don't have any idea when and if I might have ovulated since I haven't had a "normal" cycle in like 10 years.

richappe10 | September 30 , 2011 11:05 AM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

I stopped taking BC July of this year and I got a regular period 5 days after stopping. But now it's been 3 months since then and I haven't had another period. About a month and a half ago I felt like I was going to start my period a little bit of cramping but nothing ever happened. I've taken a total of 3 PTs and everyone has come back negative. I'm making an appointment with the Dr but I'm wondering if i could be pregnant. I'm gaining weight but I know some gain weight when getting off the pill. I've been getting a lot of headaches and I've been naseous the last couple weeks but nothing else out of the ordinary. I don't know if I should take another PT or just wait till the Dr and take a blood test. I feel like I'm going crazy! Any advice woiuld be helpful!!

KrisB08 | October 10 , 2011 11:46 PM

Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

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Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

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Q&A: Pregnancy tests and the Pill?

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